Module: Norse Mythology

Introduction
Norse mythology originates from the ancient Scandinavian cultures and is the body of
mythology of the North Germanic peoples stemming from their beliefs in gods, giants, and
creatures. The myths and stories were passed down orally for generations before being recorded
in texts like the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda. These myths explore themes such as creation,
death, love, fate, and heroism.

Lesson 1: Overview of Norse Gods and Figures

The Aesir and Vanir
Norse mythology divides its gods into two primary families: the Aesir and the Vanir.
 The Aesir: These are the principal gods, often associated with war and power. Key
members include Odin, Thor, Frigg, and Balder.
 The Vanir: These gods are connected with fertility, prosperity, and nature. Key figures
include Njord, Freyr, and Freyja.
Major Gods
1. Odin: The Allfather, god of wisdom, war, and death.
2. Thor: God of thunder and protector of mankind, famous for wielding the hammer
Mjolnir.
3. Frigg: Odin’s wife, goddess of marriage and motherhood.
4. Loki: A trickster god who often caused trouble but also helped the gods in times of need.
5. Balder: The god of light and purity, beloved by all.

Lesson 2: Creation Myth

The Norse creation myth begins in the void of Ginnungagap, a great chasm between fire and
ice. The fire came from Muspelheim, and the ice came from Niflheim. When these two met, they
formed the first being, Ymir, a primordial giant. Ymir’s body was used by the gods to create the
world:
 His blood became the oceans.
 His flesh became the earth.
 His bones became the mountains.
 His hair became the trees.
The gods created humans from two trees: Ask (ash) and Embla (elm).

Lesson 3: The Story of the Theft of Thor’s Hammer

One of the most famous stories is the theft of Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, by the giant Thrym.
Thrym demanded the goddess Freya as his bride in exchange for returning the hammer. To
retrieve it, Thor and Loki devise a plan where Thor disguises himself as Freya. Dressed as a
bride, Thor attends the wedding feast, but the giants begin to suspect something is off.
Eventually, Thor reveals his true identity and, with the help of Loki, uses Mjolnir to defeat the
giants.

Lesson 4: The Death of Balder

Balder, the son of Odin and Frigg, was beloved by all gods and creatures. However, his mother,
Frigg, made everything in the world vow not to harm him—except for the mistletoe, which she
overlooked. Loki, in his trickster ways, crafted a spear made of mistletoe and tricked Balder’s
blind brother, Höðr, into throwing it at him. The spear killed Balder, and his death caused great
grief among the gods. To bring him back, Odin traveled to the realm of the dead, Hel, but was
unable to save him.
Balder's death was a prelude to the prophesied Ragnarök, the end of the world.

Lesson 5: Ragnarok – The End of the World

Ragnarök is the foretold battle that leads to the death of many gods and the destruction of the
world.
The events of Ragnarok include:
 The awakening of the giants: Led by Loki, they march toward Asgard.
 The death of Odin: Odin is killed by the wolf Fenrir.
 Thor's death: Thor kills the serpent Jörmungandr, but is poisoned by its venom and
dies shortly after.
 The rebirth of the world: After the destruction, a new world will rise from the ocean,
and some surviving gods will rebuild the earth.

Lesson 6: Norse Mythology’s Influence in Modern Culture

Norse mythology has had a significant influence on modern culture, especially in literature, film,
and video games. For example, Marvel's Thor character is based on the Norse god of thunder,
and the Lord of the Rings features many elements drawn from Norse myth. Additionally, video
games like God of War explore the gods, giants, and realms of Norse mythology.

Aesir Gods and Goddesses

1. Odin – The Allfather, god of wisdom, war, death, and poetry. Odin is the chief of the
Aesir and is associated with the runes and the quest for knowledge. He sacrificed his eye
for wisdom and is often depicted as a wanderer.
2. Frigg – Odin's wife and the goddess of marriage, motherhood, and fertility. She is a
protector of families and homes and is often associated with foresight and wisdom.
3. Thor – The thunder god, son of Odin and the earth goddess Jörð. Thor is the god of
lightning, storms, and protection. He wields the hammer Mjolnir and is known for his
battles against giants and his role as the protector of humanity.
4. Balder – Son of Odin and Frigg, Balder is the god of light, purity, and beauty. His death
is one of the most tragic stories in Norse mythology, and it foreshadows the coming of
Ragnarök.
5. Tyr – The god of war and justice. Tyr is known for his courage and self-sacrifice, notably
when he lost his hand to the wolf Fenrir while trying to bind it. He represents law and
order.
6. Loki – The trickster god, often causing trouble for both gods and mortals. Though a
blood brother to Odin, Loki is unpredictable and can be both helpful and destructive. He
is the father of the monstrous Fenrir, Jörmungandr (the Midgard serpent), and Hel
(goddess of the underworld).
7. Heimdall – The god of light, vigilance, and the guardian of the Bifrost (the rainbow
bridge connecting Asgard to Midgard). Heimdall has keen senses and is destined to blow
the Gjallarhorn to signal the start of Ragnarök.
8. Frigg’s Handmaidens:
o Eir: The goddess of healing and medicine.
o Fulla: A goddess associated with the protection of women.
o Gná: A messenger goddess who serves Frigg.

Vanir Gods and Goddesses

1. Njord – God of the sea, wind, and wealth. Njord is associated with sailors, fishermen,
and the prosperity of the sea. He is the father of Freyr and Freyja.
 2. Freyr – God of fertility, prosperity, and good harvests. He is associated with peace and
plenty and is often seen as a symbol of natural harmony. Freyr is also the ruler of
Alfheim, the realm of the elves.
3. Freyja – Goddess of love, beauty, fertility, and war. She is a powerful figure in Norse
mythology, known for her ability to choose half of those who die in battle to live in her
hall, Sessrúmnir, in the afterlife. Freyja also owns the magical necklace Brísingamen.

Other Notable Gods and Goddesses

1. Skadi – A giantess and goddess associated with winter, hunting, and skiing. She became
a goddess of the Aesir after she sought revenge for the death of her father Thjazi and
married Njord.
2. Sif – Thor's wife, a goddess of fertility and the earth. She is known for her golden hair,
which Loki once cut off, leading to a series of events involving the creation of magical
items for the gods.
3. Idunn – Goddess of youth and immortality. She is the keeper of the golden apples that
grant the gods eternal youth and vitality.
4. Bragi – The god of poetry and music. Bragi is known for his eloquence and skill with
words and is often depicted as having a long beard and an endless capacity for
storytelling.
5. Höðr – The blind god of winter. He is often depicted as the unintentional murderer of his
brother, Balder, when Loki tricks him into throwing the mistletoe spear that kills Balder.
6. Vidar – Son of Odin, Vidar is the god of vengeance and strength. He is foretold to
avenge his father’s death at Ragnarök by killing Fenrir.
7. Vali – Another son of Odin, Vali was born specifically to avenge Balder’s death by killing
Höðr, who was manipulated by Loki.
8. Forseti – The god of peace, justice, and reconciliation. He is the son of Balder and Nanna
and is said to reside in Glitnir, the hall of justice.
9. Aegir – A jötunn (giant) who is also considered a god of the sea. Aegir is married to Ran,
a sea goddess, and they have nine daughters who personify the waves.
10. Ran – The goddess of the sea, wife of Aegir. She is known for her net, which she uses to
capture sailors who are lost at sea.
11. Hel – The daughter of Loki and the giantess Angrboða, Hel rules over the realm of the
dead, which also bears her name. Hel’s realm is where those who die of sickness or old
age go in the afterlife.
The Norns
The Norns are powerful female beings who control the fate of all living creatures. They are
similar to the Fates in Greek mythology. The three main Norns are:
1. Urd – The Norn of the past, representing what has already happened.
2. Verdandi – The Norn of the present, representing what is happening now.
3. Skuld – The Norn of the future, representing what is to come.
These three Norns live by the Well of Urd beneath Yggdrasil, the World Tree, and they weave the
fates of all beings.
In Norse mythology, the cosmos is divided into nine realms, each representing a different aspect
of existence, governed by various gods, giants, and other creatures. These realms are connected
by the immense Yggdrasil, the World Tree. Below are the most important places in Norse
mythology:

1. Asgard
 Realm of the Aesir gods, including Odin, Thor, Frigg, and others. Asgard is the home of
the gods and is located high in the sky. It is often depicted as a majestic city with grand
halls and fortifications. The gods' hall of meetings, Valhalla, is located here, where slain
warriors chosen by Odin are welcomed after battle to prepare for Ragnarök.
2. Midgard
 Realm of humans. Midgard is the Earth, where all mortals live. It is connected to Asgard
by the Bifrost, the rainbow bridge. The gods often intervene in the lives of humans,
protecting them from threats like giants and other evil forces.
3. Jotunheim (Jotunheimr)
 Realm of the giants (Jotnar). This is the land of the Jotnar, beings often in opposition
to the gods, representing chaos and destruction. Jotunheim is depicted as a wild, harsh,
and mountainous land, with little civilization or order. Loki, the trickster god, is the blood
brother of Odin but has ties to the Jotnar as well.
4. Vanaheim
 Realm of the Vanir gods. Vanaheim is the home of the Vanir, gods associated with
nature, fertility, and prosperity, including Njord, Freyr, and Freyja. The Vanir were
initially in conflict with the Aesir but later made peace and exchanged hostages, including
Freyr and Freyja, becoming part of the Aesir's pantheon.
5. Alfheim
  Realm of the Light Elves. Alfheim is inhabited by the Ljósálfar (Light Elves), ethereal
and beautiful beings associated with light and goodness. The Light Elves are often seen
as helpers of the gods, in contrast to the dark elves (Svartálfar), who are more
mischievous.
6. Svartalfheim
 Realm of the Dark Elves (Dwarfs). Svartalfheim is a dark, underground realm inhabited
by the Svartálfar, often referred to as dwarfs. Dwarfs are known for their skill in
crafting magical items and treasures. Many of the gods’ powerful artifacts, such as Thor’s
hammer Mjolnir and Odin’s spear Gungnir, were created by dwarfs in Svartalfheim.
7. Niflheim
 Realm of Ice and Cold. Niflheim is a world of ice, mist, and cold, located in the
northernmost part of the cosmos. It is often associated with death and darkness. The
Helheim (realm of the dead) is part of Niflheim, where those who die of sickness or old
age are sent to be ruled over by the goddess Hel (daughter of Loki).
8. Muspelheim
 Realm of Fire. Muspelheim is a fiery, chaotic land, inhabited by the fire giants,
including the giant Surtr. Surtr is foretold to play a major role in Ragnarök, where he
will destroy Asgard by setting it on fire. Muspelheim represents destruction and
transformation.
9. Helheim
 Realm of the Dead. Helheim is ruled by Hel, the daughter of Loki, and is where those
who die of illness or old age go after death. Unlike Valhalla, where warriors are chosen
by Odin to prepare for battle, Helheim is a cold and gloomy realm, where souls exist in a
state of stasis.

Other Important Locations

1. Valhalla – Hall of the slain. Located in Asgard, Valhalla is a magnificent hall where
Odin welcomes fallen warriors who die bravely in battle. These warriors, known as the
Einherjar, are honored and trained to fight alongside the gods in the final battle of
Ragnarök.
2. Bifrost – The Rainbow Bridge. Bifrost is the shimmering bridge that connects Asgard
to Midgard. It is the path that gods travel when visiting Earth, and it is described as
being made of fire, water, and air. The god Heimdall is the guardian of the Bifrost,
keeping watch for any invaders.
3. Yggdrasil – The World Tree. Yggdrasil is a vast, cosmic tree that connects all nine
realms. Its roots and branches stretch into each of the realms, and it is central to the
 structure of the universe. The tree is a symbol of life, fate, and the interconnectedness of
all beings in the cosmos. The Norns, the three goddesses of fate, dwell at its base, and the
Well of Urd (where the Norns live) is located under one of its roots.
4. Hvergelmir – The Well of the Primordial Waters. This well is located in Niflheim and
is said to be the source of many rivers, including the river Élivágar, which played a role
in the creation of the world. The well is one of the oldest sources of water in the Norse
cosmos.
5. Gjallarhorn – The Horn of Heimdall. The Gjallarhorn is a magical horn that Heimdall
uses to signal the coming of Ragnarök. It is said that when Heimdall blows the horn, it
will be heard in all the realms, signaling the start of the final battle.
6. Jörmungandr’s Coil – The Midgard Serpent (Jörmungandr) is so large that it encircles
all of Midgard, holding it in a giant, eternal coil. When it releases its tail, it will signal the
beginning of Ragnarök.

Multiple Choice Questions

Lesson 1: Overview of Norse Gods and Figures

1. What are the two primary families of Norse gods?

a. Titans and Olympians
b. Aesir and Vanir
c. Asgardians and Jotnar
d. Light Elves and Dark Elves
Answer: b
2. Which god is known as the Allfather?
a. Thor
b. Loki
c. Odin
d. Tyr
Answer: c
3. What is Thor’s hammer called?
a. Gungnir
b. Brísingamen
c. Gjallarhorn
d. Mjolnir
Answer: d
4. Who is the goddess of marriage and motherhood?
a. Freyja
b. Idunn
c. Frigg
 d. Skadi
Answer: c
5. Which god is often referred to as the trickster?
a. Balder
b. Loki
c. Heimdall
d. Freyr
Answer: b
6. Who is the god of light and purity?
a. Tyr
b. Odin
c. Balder
d. Njord
Answer: c
7. What role does Heimdall play?
a. God of fertility
b. Protector of the Bifrost bridge
c. God of poetry
d. Creator of the mistletoe spear
Answer: b
8. Who is the goddess of love and fertility?
a. Sif
b. Freyja
c. Fulla
d. Ran
Answer: b
9. Which god sacrificed his hand to bind Fenrir?
a. Tyr
b. Vidar
c. Balder
d. Forseti
Answer: a
10. What do the Norns control?
a. The weather
b. The fate of all beings
c. The strength of warriors
d. The size of Yggdrasil
Answer: b

Lesson 2: Creation Myth

11. What is the void in Norse creation mythology called?

a. Ginnungagap
b. Muspelheim
 c. Yggdrasil
d. Bifrost
Answer: a
12. Where did the fire in the creation myth come from?
a. Niflheim
b. Muspelheim
c. Asgard
d. Jotunheim
Answer: b
13. Ymir’s flesh was used to create what?
a. The oceans
b. The mountains
c. The earth
d. The trees
Answer: c
14. What were humans made from?
a. Ice and fire
b. Trees
c. Rocks
d. Rivers
Answer: b
15. Which two trees were used to create humans?
a. Ask and Embla
b. Oak and Pine
c. Elm and Maple
d. Birch and Ash
Answer: a

Lesson 3: The Theft of Thor’s Hammer

16. Who stole Thor’s hammer?

a. Loki
b. Thrym
c. Fenrir
d. Surtr
Answer: b
17. What did Thrym demand in exchange for Mjolnir?
a. Odin’s spear
b. Freyja’s necklace
c. Freyja as his bride
d. Half of Asgard
Answer: c
18. Who disguised himself as Freyja in the story?
a. Odin
 b. Loki
c. Thor
d. Heimdall
Answer: c
19. What weapon did Thor use to defeat the giants?
a. A sword
b. Mjolnir
c. Gungnir
d. A spear
Answer: b
20. Who helped Thor retrieve his hammer?
a. Odin
b. Loki
c. Frigg
d. Njord
Answer: b

Lesson 4: The Death of Balder

21. What was the only thing that could harm Balder?
a. Fire
b. Ice
c. Mistletoe
d. Lightning
Answer: c
22. Who crafted the mistletoe weapon?
a. Loki
b. Höðr
c. Heimdall
d. Thor
Answer: a
23. Who was tricked into killing Balder?
a. Vidar
b. Tyr
c. Höðr
d. Forseti
Answer: c
24. What realm did Balder’s soul go to?
a. Valhalla
b. Helheim
c. Jotunheim
d. Alfheim
Answer: b
 25. Balder’s death is a prelude to what event?
a. The creation of the world
b. The theft of Mjolnir
c. Ragnarök
d. The binding of Fenrir
Answer: c

Lesson 5: Ragnarök

26. Who leads the giants in the battle of Ragnarök?

a. Fenrir
b. Loki
c. Surtr
d. Jörmungandr
Answer: b
27. Which god kills Fenrir?
a. Vidar
b. Odin
c. Tyr
d. Balder
Answer: a
28. What happens to Thor after killing Jörmungandr?
a. He survives unscathed
b. He is poisoned and dies
c. He becomes king of Asgard
d. He is captured by the giants
Answer: b
29. What will rise after Ragnarök?
a. A new world
b. The end of all realms
c. Eternal darkness
d. An endless war
Answer: a
30. Which horn signals the start of Ragnarök?
a. Gjallarhorn
b. Brísingamen
c. Gungnir
d. Mjolnir
Answer: a

Lesson 6: Influence in Modern Culture

 31. Which Marvel character is based on a Norse god?
a. Iron Man
b. Hulk
c. Thor
d. Captain America
Answer: c
32. Which video game explores Norse mythology?
a. Assassin’s Creed
b. God of War
c. Skyrim
d. Witcher
Answer: b

Miscellaneous: Realms and Locations

33. What connects the nine realms?

a. Valhalla
b. Yggdrasil
c. Bifrost
d. Helheim
Answer: b
34. What is the realm of humans?
a. Asgard
b. Midgard
c. Alfheim
d. Vanaheim
Answer: b
35. Where do fallen warriors go?
a. Valhalla
b. Helheim
c. Jotunheim
d. Alfheim
Answer: a
36. Which realm is associated with fire?
a. Niflheim
b. Muspelheim
c. Jotunheim
d. Svartalfheim
Answer: b
37. Where do the Light Elves live?
a. Alfheim
b. Svartalfheim
c. Vanaheim
 d. Niflheim
Answer: a
38. Who guards the Bifrost?
a. Heimdall
b. Loki
c. Thor
d. Vidar
Answer: a

Additional Questions

39. Who is Loki’s daughter that rules Helheim?

a. Skadi
b. Hel
c. Ran
d. Idunn
Answer: b
40. What are the Norns’ roles?
a. Controlling death
b. Shaping fate
c. Crafting weapons
d. Protecting Valhalla
Answer: b
41. Who is the god of poetry?
a. Bragi
b. Forseti
c. Vidar
d. Njord
Answer: a
42. Which goddess owns the Brísingamen necklace?
a. Idunn
b. Frigg
c. Freyja
d. Sif
Answer: c
43. What is Njord associated with?
a. War
b. Fertility
c. The sea
d. Light
Answer: c
44. Who avenges Odin’s death?
a. Vidar
b. Balder
 c. Thor
d. Tyr
Answer: a
45. What creature encircles Midgard?
a. Fenrir
b. Nidhogg
c. Jörmungandr
d. Sleipnir
Answer: c
46. What does Idunn guard?
a. Mjolnir
b. The golden apples
c. The Gjallarhorn
d. Yggdrasil
Answer: b
47. What is the Well of Urd?
a. A place for warriors
b. A source of primordial water
c. A realm of ice
d. The Norns’ dwelling
Answer: d
48. What weapon does Odin carry?
a. Mjolnir
b. Brísingamen
c. Gungnir
d. Gjallarhorn
Answer: c
49. What triggers Ragnarök?
a. Balder’s death
b. The Gjallarhorn’s call
c. Yggdrasil’s collapse
d. Loki’s betrayal
Answer: b
50. Where do the gods hold their meetings?
a. Bifrost
b. Valhalla
c. Asgard
d. Glitnir
Answer: c