Ragnarok Worksheet

Ragnarok 231

RAGNAROK

Also known as “the Twilight of the Gods,” Ragnarok, the Norse Doomsday, is the ultimate battle between good and evil—an event similar to the apocalypse of the Bible. According to the Norse myths, Ragnarok will contain a number of specific events, which are related here. But is it the end of the world—or just the beginning of a new one?

hat tidings are to be told of Ragnarok? First, there W will come a winter called the Fimbul‐winter, where snow will drive from all quarters, the frost will be so severe, and the winds so keen and piercing that there will be no joy to be found— not even in the sun. There will be three such winters in succession without any intervening summer. Great wars will rage over all the world. Brothers will slay each other for the sake of gain, and no one will spare his father or mother in that carnage. Then a great supernatural tragedy will happen: The two wolves of darkness that have pursued the sun and moon since the beginning of time will finally catch their prey. One wolf will devour the sun, and the second wolf will devour the moon. The stars shall be hurled from heaven. Then it shall come to pass that the earth and the mountains will shake so violently that trees will be torn up by the roots, the mountains will topple down, and all bonds and fetters will be broken and snapped. Loki and the Fenrir‐wolf will be loosed. The sea will rush over the earth, for the Midgard Serpent will writhe in rage and seek to gain the land. Three immortal roosters will crow to signal that Ragnarok has begun. The Fenrir‐wolf will rampage with wide‐open mouth—fire flashing from his eyes and nostrils. His jaws will be so wide that even though his bottom jaw rests on earth, his top jaw will reach to heaven. The wolf would open his jaws even wider on that day if he could. The Midgard Serpent will vomit forth venom, defiling all the air and the sea. In the midst of this clash and din the heavens will be torn in half, and the fire giants of Muspelheim, the realm of fire, will come riding through the opening. Surt the fire giant will ride first—an army of fierce flame coming before and behind him. He has a terrible, fiery sword which shines brighter than the sun. As these fire beings ride over Bifrost, it will break to pieces. The fire giants will direct their course to Vigard—a plain one hundred miles on each side. Meeting them there will be the Fenrir‐wolf and the Midgard Serpent. To this place will come

Loki and with him all the frost giants of Jotunheim. In Loki’s army will be all the ignoble dead of Hela. While these things are happening, Heimdall will stand up and blow with all his might on his horn to awaken all the gods, who will then hold counsel. Odin will ride to Mimir’s well to ask advice of Mimir. Then the World Tree, Yggdrasil, will tremble, and all things in heaven and earth along with it. The gods will speedily arm themselves and rush forth to the battlefield. First will be Odin riding out with his golden helmet and his spear Gungnir—advancing against Fenrir. Thor will stand by his side but can give him no assistance, for he will have his hands full in his own struggle with the Midgard Serpent. Frey, the godly brother of Freya, will encounter Surt and heavy blows will be exchanged before Frey falls. Things might have been different if he had not lost that famous sword which he gave up to the giants.* On that last day even the dog Garm, the watchdog of Hela, will break loose. He will rage against Tyr, and they will kill each other. Thor will slay the Midgard Serpent, but retreat only nine paces before falling to the earth dead, poisoned by the serpent’s venom. Fenrir will swallow Odin and thus cause his death. But then, Vidar (one of Odin’s noble sons) will immediately turn and rush at the wolf, pinning the beast’s lower jaw to the ground with his foot. With his hand Vidar will seize the upper jaw and rip the beast’s mouth apart—killing him for good. Loki will battle against Heimdall, and the two will kill each other. Thereafter, Surt will fling fire over the earth, burning all the world. The World Tree will be consumed in flames— and so a world that has always been, will end. But what will happen after heaven and earth are consumed in flames? When all the gods and all men are dead? Something new. The earth will rise again from the sea—green and fair. The fields will produce their harvests—even without being sown. Vidar and Vali, two of Odin’s sons, will survive Surt’s fires, and they will dwell on the plains where Asgard stood before. The two sons of Thor will come forth, too, and with them, Mjolnir, the mighty hammer. Then Balder and Hodur will come up from Niflheim—hand in hand, for Balder will have forgiven his brother. They will all sit together and talk about the things that happened aforetime. They will find lying in the grass those golden game pieces which the gods once had. In another secret place there will be concealed two mortals—surviving Surt’s fire—called Lif and Lifthrasir. They will feed upon the morning dew. From these will come so numerous a race that they fill the whole world with people. But that is not the greatest wonder. Sol the sun will have somehow hidden away a daughter—just as fair as she was—and she will rise and ride across the sky in the same heavenly course as her mother once did. And the world will be whole once again.

* In one of the Norse myths, the god Frey has to give up his magic sword when he courts and marries a giantess.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

. How does Ragnarok compare to other descriptions of the end of the world? . What do you think of the death of the most famous gods? Do they meet a noble end? Explain. . Do you think each god is equally matched against his opponent? . What do you like about the idea of a new world reborn from the ashes of the old? Explain.