Hrimthurs, a giant in disguise as a human stonemason, came to the gods of Asgard one day offering to build the walls around Asgard in only one winter. However, for his services he wanted to have Freyja as his bride, Sol, and Mani, but the gods were wary of the stonemason. Loki did not believe he could finish such a task and so he convinced the gods to accept the stonemason. As Hrimthurs began work, he brought along his horse, Svadilfari, to help him. The deadline was approaching quickly and the gods were beginning to get worried that they would lose not only Freyja but also the sun and moon so since Loki had been the one to talk them into hiring Hrimthurs, they sent Loki to do something about the problem. As a result, Loki disguised himself as a mare to lead Svadifari away from Hrimthurs thus causing Hrimthurs to chase after Svadifari and fall behind on work. Hrimthurs dropped his disguise in anger at being tricked and seeing that he was a giant, Thor instantly killed him with Mjollnir. Afterwards, Loki disappeared for several months before returning to Asgard with an eight-legged colt named Sleipnir that he had given birth to as a mare when he failed to escape from Svadifari.
“Construction of Asgard.” Timeless Myths.1999. 9 December 2008. http://www.timelessmyths.com/ norse/beginning.html.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Sif’s Golden Hair
As Loki watched the sun sparkling down into the forest one day, he was reminded of Sif’s golden hair. He found Sif braiding her hair and when she questioned him on why he was there, he told her that Thor had asked him to help her to look the most beautiful she has ever been before he returns. Hearing that her beloved husband had asked Loki to help her, she agreed but as soon as Sif was distracted by a noise coming from the other side of the forest, Loki took the chance to cut off her hair. When Thor came home to find his beautiful wife’s golden hair gone, he told Loki to find a way to fix what he had done. Loki didn’t know how he could possibly fix this until he remembered the dwarfs. Immediately, Loki went to the Sons of Ivaldi and asked he to make a headpiece for Sif. However, the sons returned with not only a beautiful golden headpiece but also a magical spear and a magical boat. As he left the cavern, he tricked two other dwarves into making him more gifts. Brokkr and his brother, Eitri, got to work and despite the fact that Loki changed himself into a fly and tried to distract them from their work, the two brothers were able to successfully complete a magical ring that cloned itself every nine days, a boar with gold-tipped tusks, and Mjollnir, a magical hammer that never missed its target. In Asgard, the gods were surprised to see Loki return with not only several gift but also two dwarves. Everyone was pleased with their gifts and since Loki had made a bet with Brokkr and Eitri, he declared himself the winner but as punishment for tricking them, the brother sewed Loki’s mouth shut with thread, that would prevent him from talking until the thread ran out.
Grullon, Joshua. “Sif’s Golden Hair.” Deities, Myths and Heroes. 9 December 2008. http://www.bol.sapphiremoon.info/dmh/myth_sif.htm#top.
Grullon, Joshua. “Sif’s Golden Hair.” Deities, Myths and Heroes. 9 December 2008. http://www.bol.sapphiremoon.info/dmh/myth_sif.htm#top.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Norse Mythology Questions
Why do the gods care when Idunn is kidnapped?
Idunn is important to the gods because of the fact that in truth she decides whether they live or die since her golden apple keep them youthful. Her apples prevent them from aging.
From reading the myths of Northern Europe, what do we learn about their culture and values. Be specific. Support your claims with examples.
From reading the myths of Northern Europe we learn that their culture doesn't necessarily believe in immortality which means that everything has limits. We also learn that to the Norse people that they value loyalty and kindness.
Who is more like Prometheus, Loki or Odin? Support your decision.
Odin is more like Prometheus because he is willing to sacrifice so much of his own comfort for the ultimate benefit of others no matter what the price might be such as giving up an eye and hanging from a tree.
Identify three other ways in which Norse mythology is like other myths that we have studied so far. Be specific.
Norse mythology is like other mythology we have studied so far in the way it has a beginning before the universe was actually created (Ginnungagap), it has a story of how the world was created (out of Ymir's corpse), and it has a story of how human being were created (from an ash tree and a elm tree).
Provide three reasons that Loki is such a popular figure?
Loki is a popular figure because he is funny, he has a fairly well balanced personality, and he has large range of different emotions that easily relate to many different people.
Idunn is important to the gods because of the fact that in truth she decides whether they live or die since her golden apple keep them youthful. Her apples prevent them from aging.
From reading the myths of Northern Europe, what do we learn about their culture and values. Be specific. Support your claims with examples.
From reading the myths of Northern Europe we learn that their culture doesn't necessarily believe in immortality which means that everything has limits. We also learn that to the Norse people that they value loyalty and kindness.
Who is more like Prometheus, Loki or Odin? Support your decision.
Odin is more like Prometheus because he is willing to sacrifice so much of his own comfort for the ultimate benefit of others no matter what the price might be such as giving up an eye and hanging from a tree.
Identify three other ways in which Norse mythology is like other myths that we have studied so far. Be specific.
Norse mythology is like other mythology we have studied so far in the way it has a beginning before the universe was actually created (Ginnungagap), it has a story of how the world was created (out of Ymir's corpse), and it has a story of how human being were created (from an ash tree and a elm tree).
Provide three reasons that Loki is such a popular figure?
Loki is a popular figure because he is funny, he has a fairly well balanced personality, and he has large range of different emotions that easily relate to many different people.
Norse Mythology Images
"Yggdrasil." 6 November 2005. Illustration. Photobucket. 1 December 2008. http://media.photobucket.com/image/yggdrasil/iori_ragnarok/yggdrasil.jpg?o=5.
"Fenrir." 2007. Illustration. Kat Harpin.net. 1 December 2008. http://www.katharpin.net/fenrir.html.
Norse Mythology Definitions
- Vikings: Vikings were a brutal and pessimistic sea culture from Finland, Norway, and Sweden that believed in fate.
- Ginnungagap: Ginnungagap was the dark void before the universe was created.
- Nifleheim: Nifleheim was the land of fog and ice.
- Muspellheim: Muspellheim was the land of fire.
- Yggdrasil: Yggdrasil was the world Ash Tree connecting all worlds.
- Asgard: Asgard is the land of the gods or where the gods preside.
- Midgard: Midgard is the land of human beings.
- Hel: Hel is the land and home of the dead.
- Bifrost Bridge: The Bifrost Bridge is a divine bridge usually depicted as a rainbow that connects Midgard and Asgard.
- Ymir: Ymir was a wild, fierce, and evil frost giant who is killed and then used to create the world.
- Odin: Odin was the oldest and greatest of all the gods who gave one of his eyes for knowledge about everything and ruled the domains of thunder, battle, and fertility.
- Frigg: Frigg is Odin's wife, known as the cloud-spinner, whose domains were love destiny and marriage.
- The Valkyries: The Valkyries were Odin's daughters who decided who would be killed and who would be heroes.
- The Norns: The Norns are the Fate Maiden of the past, present, and future.
- Thor: Thor was Odin's fierce tempered son of thunder, battle, and fertility who wielded the hammer known as Mjolliner.
- Balder: Balder was Odin's most beloved son that ruled radiance, rebirth, justice, and light, and was ultimately killed by Loki.
- Njord: Njord was Odin's brother who ruled the wind and sea.
- Frey:Frey was Njord's son that ruled over prosperity, sun, rain, and fertility. He can be compared to Apollo.
- Freya: Freya was Njord's daughter who ruled love, fertility, beauty, magic, war, and death. She can be compared to Aphrodite.
- Idunn: Idunn is Odin's daughter-in-law who grows the golden apples that keep the gods youthful.
- Loki: Loki is a half-blood god who is the son of giants and is a trickster with magic powers.
- Fenrir: Fenrir is Loki's son who is know as "the wolf destroyer."
- Jormungandr: Jormungandr is the evil world serpent.
- Ragnarok: Ragnarok is doomsday. This is when Loki and his children destroy the world and evil triumphs over good.
- Runes: Runes are symbols usually carved into small rocks that are used as a form of communication. The Runes can be used to read a person's Fate laid out by the gods almost like tarot card readings. These Runes have many unique purposes to the Norse culture. Runes have hidden meaning behind each symbol.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
"The Bad Wife" Non-Verbal Representation
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