MYTHOLOGY Monday, April 6, 2020 Required Reading

Home , Baldr, Borr, Einherjar, Freyja, Freyr, Ginnungagap

West Plains R-VII Public Schools Lesson Outline for April 6 - 10, 2020 West Plains Schools 610 East Olden Street Teacher: Schilmoeller West Plains, MO 65775-2617 Phone: 417-256-6150 Teacher’s EMAIL: [email protected] Fax: 417-256-8616 Dear student and parent/guardian,

Due to the prolonged school closure, we are asking parents to join in helping ensure their child(ren) continue to complete the following assignments. While set “class times” will not be held, teachers will regularly be sending learning activities and assignments for collection as evidence of your child’s work during the extended closure. Work will be collected when school resumes.

Your child’s teacher will be in contact with you through our already established communication avenues including (1) email; (2) automated phone calls; and (3) website updates. Parents need to be sure they have updated contact information on file with the school district. Please login to Infinite Campus at https://www.zizzers.org/domain/67 and ensure your information is correct. If you need to update the information, please contact your school and provide updated phone and/or email to ensure you don’t miss key information from the school district. Plans for April 6 - 10, 2020 Subject: MYTHOLOGY Monday, April 6, 2020 Assignment (s) Required Reading: Read the section named “Norse Mythology” We are going “Norse Mythology” to start the Norse unit as best we can. A warning about my file--these are older files from my backup flash drives. I am always amending, correcting, and improving my notes and these are potentially out of date with my process.

Is there a handout attached for this assignment? ◻YES ◻NO Tyr’s Day, April 7, 2020 Assignment (s) Required Reading: You should have read the Mythology section below. I “Norse Mythology” would like you to quiz yourself, either see what you remember and look at the reading, have someone else quiz you, or any other way you can challenge yourself to see if you know how the Norse see their world’s creation.

Is there a handout attached for this assignment? ◻YES ◻NO Woden’s Day, April 8, 2020 Assignment (s) Required Reading: Please read the Pantheon notes through the Aesir. That is a “Norse Pantheon” Geography through Aesir lengthy list of new names, so we’ll take this slow and easy. Some of the names you will probably recognize, but there are a lot of crazy spellings as this is a new and different mythos than we are used to. Remember that Norse is one of the major foundations of our predominantly European- informed culture. Is there a handout attached for this assignment? ◻YES ◻NO

Thor’s Day, April 9, 2020 Assignment (s) Required Reading: Today is a lighter day with only the Vanir and Jotun. The “Norse Pantheon” Vanir and Jotun Vanir are an older, rival race of gods that the Aesir defeated. This is similar to the Greek Olympians replacing the Titans that came before them.

Is there a handout attached for this assignment? ◻YES ◻NO Frigga’s/Freya’s Day, April 10, 2020 Assignment (s) Required Reading: The last section of the Pantheon includes humans, monsters, “Norse Pantheon” Humans through Artifacts/Things creatures, artifacts, and some interesting things. Next week, I will be giving you brief stories about various things on these two documents from this week. If you would keep them handy, review them, and have them at hand to help you navigate through the various stories and their actors. Is there a handout attached for this assignment? ◻YES ◻NO

Norse Mythology (mainly from Bulfinch, some Hamilton) Many of the Norse stories come from the Edda; the Elder Edda 1056 and the younger Edda 1640. They were written by a Christianized man in Iceland wishing to preserve the tales for poets (Snorri Sturluson). Before the world and heaven were made, there was a bottomless deep and a misty fountain. From the fountain flowed twelve rivers, which froze as they flowed away, forming layers in the deep, filling it to make a world of ice. In the south, there was light and warmth and where the two met, Ymir the giant sprang into being, nourished by his cow, Audhumbla. The cow licked the ice, Ymir drank its milk. The cow uncovered a god who married Ymir’s daughter and they gave birth to Odin, Vili, and Vé who grew up and slew Ymir. From his corpse, they made the heavens and earth, his blood became the seas, mountains were made of his bones, trees from his hair, his skull made the heavens, the brain made the clouds and Midgard was made from his eyebrows. Hamilton varies in that she adds the frost maidens and Ymir formed by the drops of water between north and south, Ymir’s son was Odin’s father, and Frigga was a frost maiden. She also adds sparks from Muspelheim (the south) formed the sun, moon, and stars, and the north is called Niflheim. Odin regulated the sun and moon, day and night, but still felt the world needed mankind. Aske, the first man, was made of an ash tree. Embla, the first woman, was made of an alder (Hamilton—elm) tree. Odin gave the humans life and a soul, Vili granted reason and motion, and Vé gave her speech, the senses, and expressive features. Odin has several “pets” to help him watch over the world: two ravens, Hugin (thought) and Munin (memory) who bring him tidings and news, his wolves Geri and Freki, and his eight-legged horse, Sleipnir, who can outrace the wind. The universe is held up by Yggdrasill, which has roots extending to Asgard, Jotunheim and Niflheim, sprang from Ymir’s corpse. The root to Asgard is guarded by the Norns - Urðr (Past), Verðandi (Present) and

Skuld (Future) – and its water, Urda’s Well. There is also the Well of Knowledge guarded by Mímir the Wise. The serpent, Niðhögg (darkness), gnaws the root to Niflheim which will kill the tree. Four harts, the winds, run through the tree, eating its buds and Ymir shakes the tree when he tries to throw it off him. The giants, Frost and Mountain, live in Jotunheim and represent the powers of the earth and will overcome the gods of Asgard in the end, during Ragnarok, the Last Battle. Ragnarok will be heralded by three years of war, followed by three years of winter without summer and then earthquakes will shatter the bonds of Loki and his children and the final battle of Gods and Giants will take place. Heimdallr sounds the Gjallarhorn and Bifröst shatters as the giants come across to Asgard. Tyr kills the wolf, Garm, but dies in Surtur’s fire. Thor kills the Midgard Serpent, Jormungandr, but dies from its venom. Odin falls to the wolf Fenris which in turn is killed by Vidar. Heimdall and Loki battle until they slay each other. Surtur kills Frey and burns the universe down, the sky and stars go out and the earth sinks into the sea. There is possible Christian influence on the rest of the tale, which is that One greater than Odin, the Alfadur, will bring a new heaven, a man and woman who were hidden in Yggdrasill will repopulate the world, and the children of the gods will be there as the cycle starts again. Other versions say that Baldur will come back and bring in this new age. In any case, we have little evidence these hopeful tales are what the ancient Norse believed.

Norse Pantheon: Geography: -Ginnungagap: the crevice between Niflheim and Muspelheim that fills with ice, creating the plane of the universe; where life sprang from (Ymir), foundation for Yggdrasil. -Yggdrasil: the ash tree that supports the nine worlds of the universe; the world tree fed by three wells: Hvergelmir in Niflheim, guarded by the dragon Nidhogg; Mímisbrunnr, Well of Mímir, in Midgard, guarded by the god Mímir, also called the Well of Knowledge; Urdarbrunnr, the Well of Urd, in Asgard, guarded by the Norns. -The Higher Level: the heavens, includes Álfheim, Asgard, and Vanaheim. -Álfheim: the world of the elves, home and realm of Frey. -Asgard: the world of the Æsir, the gods, many homes and keeps, but Valhalla is probably the most famous hall belonging to Odin. It is the resting place of the Einherjar, the dead heroes the Valkryies gather for Odin against Ragnarok. -Vanaheim: the world of the Vanir, a rival race of gods. -The Middle Level: -Jötunheim: the world of the giants with three main strongholds/cities, Gastropnir, Thrymheim and Utgard. -Midgard: “Middle Earth”, home of men. -Nidavellir and Svartalfheim: homes of the dwarves and dark elves respectively — possibly the same place. -The Lower Level: -Helheim: the world of Hel, goddess of the underworld, home of the dead who died peacefully or of old age and/or sickness; “For those who die a peaceful death are excluded” from Valhalla. It is often called Hel, same as its ruler. -Muspelheim: world of fire, home of the fire giants, in the south.

-Niflheim: world of ice and cold, home of the frost giants, in the north. -Bifröst: the rainbow bridge between Midgard and Asgard. -Ocean: the water around earth, home of Jörmungandr.

The Gods, Giants and Creatures: -Æsir: clan of gods in Norse mythology, thought to be a later group, associated with war and unity. They warred with the Vanir, but now allies. -Vanir: clan of Norse gods, associated with fertility, riches, pleasure and peace. -Norse gods are not immortal, but lived for a long time because they ate Idunn’s golden apples. Norse gods may be euhemerized heroes — historical persons that have been deified. -Jotun: the giants are forces of chaos and often enemies of the gods, destined to fight them in Ragnarok. There are frost, fire and mountain giants. -Norns: Three goddesses that weave Fate; Urðr (Past), Verðandi (Present), and Skuld (Future).

The Æsir: -Baldur: god of innocence, beauty and light; son of Odin and Frigga, killed by Loki’s treachery, will rise again after Ragnarok, imbued with many traits similar to Jesus; married to Nanna; also called Baldr or Balder. -Bragi: god of poetry, music, bards (skalds) and wisdom; son of Odin and Frigga, married to Idunn. -Frigga: (Frig) queen goddess of the home and family; wife of Odin; able to foretell the future but does not share what she sees; Friday is possibly named for her. -Heimdall: guardian of the gods, guarding Bifröst against the day of Ragnarok; super senses; son of nine mothers; magical horn Gjallarhorn; his hall is Himinbjörg (Heaven-protection) and his horse is Gulltoppr (Gold- top); kills and killed by Loki at Ragnarok. -Höðr (Hoder): son of Odin and Frigga; blind god of darkness and winter; killed Baldur when tricked by Loki; slain by Vidar or Vali. Idunn: goddess of youth, fertility and death; tends the Golden Apples that the gods eat to stay young; married to Bragi. -Nanna: married to Baldur; died on Baldur’s funeral pyre, broken-hearted. -Odin: also called Woden or Wotan; the Allfather of the gods and men; son of Borr, married to Frigga, father of Thor, Baldur, Bragi, Höðr, Vidar and others; with his brothers, killed Ymir, created the earth and heavens from his corpse and created mankind with them, giving man life and a soul; King of Gods, god of war, wisdom, magic, poetry and inspiration; shape changer; gave an eye to Mímir to drink from the Well of Knowledge, plus other ordeals including dying; Odin wears a magic gold ring, Draupnir, wields spear Gungnir, served by two ravens, Hugin and Munin (Thought and Memory), two wolves, Geri and Freki, an eight-legged horse, Sleipnir; eaten by the wolf Fenris at Ragnarok; Wednesday is named for him. -Sif: wife of Thor; famous for her golden hair which Loki cut off. -Thor: (ðor) son of Odin and Jord (Earth, possibly an alter ego for Frigga); married to Sif; father of Modi, Thrud and Lorridi (with Sif) and Magni (with Jarnsaxa, a giantess); god of thunder, lightning, storms, law, Protector of

West Plains High School West Plains Middle School West Plains Elementary School South Fork Elementary School 602 East Olden St. 730 East Olden St. 1136 Allen St. 3209 US Hwy 160 West Plains, MO 65775 West Plains, MO 65775 West Plains, MO 65775 West Plains, MO 65775 Phone: 417-256-6150 Phone: 417-256-6150 Phone: 417-256-6150 Phone: 417-256-2836 Fax: 417-256-8907 West Plains R-VII Public Schools Lesson Outline for April 6 - 10, 2020 gods and men; renown for fighting (giants mainly), drinking, feasting, not too bright; has several magic items to aid him: Mjöllnir his hammer, Megingjord, a belt that doubles his strength and iron gauntlets; his chariot is pulled by two giant rams, Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr (Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder); dies after killing Jörmungandr; Thursday is named for him. -Magni and Modi: sons of Thor who inherit his hammer after Ragnarok and become leaders among the gods. -Tyr: god of law and order, honor, battle-god; son of Odin; his hand was eaten by the Fenrir when he put it its mouth while the gods chained the wolf; called One-handed; dies after battling Garm, the guard wolf of Hel during Ragnarok; Tuesday is named for him. Váli: son of Odin and the giantess, Rindr, born full-grown in order to punish Höðr for killing Baldur, although some stories indicate Vidar avenges Baldur. Vé: brother of Odin; helped kill Ymir; gave mankind speech, senses, and expressive features. -Viðarr (Vidar): son of Odin and Gríðr, a giantess; god of silence, stealth and revenge; kills the Fenrir at Ragnarok and survives Ragnarok. -Vili: brother of Odin; helped kill Ymir; gave mankind feelings, thoughts, reason and motion.

The Vanir: -Freya: (Freyja) sometimes confused with Frigga; sister of Frey; goddess of beauty, love and sex; wanted by many as wife; Friday possibly named for her. -Freyr: also Frey; god of fertility, rain, sunshine and crops; owns the magical boat Skíðblaðnir, and a golden glowing boar, Gullinbursti; lost his magic sword to gain the love of Gerðr, a giantess; killed by Surtr because he doesn’t have his sword. -Njörðr (Njord): god of seamanship and sailing.

Jotun (Giants): -Angrboda: wife of Loki, mother of Jörmungandr, Fenrir and Hel. -Gerðr: wife of Freyr, the reason he gave up his sword. -Gríðr: mother of Vidar with Odin. -Jarnsaxa: mother of Magni with Thor. -Loki: Giant who lives among the gods; often referred to as the god of mischief but is mainly a trickster who saves the gods on various occasions and also brings great grief, such as the death of Baldur; shape changer; fathered Jörmungandr, Fenrir and Hel with Angrboda and is himself the mother of Sleipnir; kills and killed by Heimdall. -Surtr (Surtur): leader of the giants at Ragnarok; kills Freyr and burns down the world. -Thrym: stole Mjöllnir and demanded Freya’s hand in marriage to return it; killed by Thor disguised as Freya. _Utgard-Loki: Chief of the giants; challenged Thor and friends to rigged contests to test their strength and flees. -Ymir: Conceived in Ginnungagap when the ice of Niflheim met with Muspelheim's heat and melted; fed by the cow, Auðumbla, and eventually killed by Odin, Vili and Vé and his corpse is used to make Migard.

Humans: -Ask: first man formed of an ash tree. -Embla: first woman formed of an elm tree. -Sigmund: son of Völsung, father of Sigurd; his brothers were killed by Signy’s, his sister, husband; together they conceived Sigurd and avenged their kin. -Signy: daughter of Völsung, mother of Sigurd; marries Siggeir, who kills Völsung and her brothers, except Sigmund; in disguise, conceives Sigurd with her brother. -Sigurd: son of Sigmund and his sister, Signy; slayer of the dragon, Fafnir; loved by the Valkryie, Brynhildr; married Gudrun; killed by treachery of spurned Brynhildr. -Skírnir: messenger of Freyr; takes Freyr’s sword as payment for getting Gerðr for Freyr.

Others/Creatures: -Auðumbla: the cow that licked the ice and Ymir drank her milk. -Fafnir: Dwarf who guarded a horde, becoming a dragon, killed by Sigurd. -Fenrir: (the Wolf Fenris) child of Loki, kills Odin, but killed by Viðarr. -Garm: wolf guardian of Hel’s gates. -Geri and Freki: wolves of Odin, “Greedy” and “Ravenous” -Hugin and Munin: “Thought” and “Memory”; ravens of Odin who brought him news. -Jörmungandr: Child of Loki; The Midgard Serpent that surrounds Midgard; kills and is killed by Thor at Ragnarök. -Niðhöggr: serpent that gnaws at the roots of Yggdrasil. -Regin: Dwarf, brother of Fafnir; killed by Sigurd in self-defense when Sigurd is perceived as trying to seize Andvari’s treasure. -Sæhrímnir (Schrimnir): Boar that is eaten in Valhalla every night and regenerates to be slaughtered and cooked every day. -Sleipnir: The eight-legged horse of Odin; Child of Loki and the horse, Svaðilfari. -Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr: Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder, Thor’s goats.

Artifacts/Things: -Draupnir: Magical ring made by dwarves along with Mjollnir and Gullinbursti; had the power to multiply itself. -Gjallarhorn: The Horn of Heimdall, blown at the start of Ragnarök. -Gleipnir: magical chain-ribbon fashioned by dwarves to capture Fenrir; made of the sound of a cat’s footfall, the beards of women, roots of mountains, sinews of a bear, breath of fish, and spittle of birds. -Gullinbursti: magical golden boar made by dwarves for Loki. -Mjollnir: Magical hammer of Thor made by dwarves for Loki; returns to Thor when thrown, featured in many stories and Thor’s symbol. -Naglfar: Ship made of nails of the dead used to ferry the giants to Ragnarök.

-Skíðblaðnir: Magical boat made by dwarves for Loki, given to Frey, could hold all the gods yet fold small enough to be put in a pocket.

Suggested Websites for further research: https://norse-mythology.org/ Norse Mythology for Smart People This site is well-written, enlightened, and amusing. https://atlanticreligion.com/ The Atlantic Religion is not limited to Norse as it covers all pagan European religions. https://pantheon.org/ Encyclopedia Mythica was mentioned