Norse Mythology Definitions

MUSPELLHEIM


Yngling, Elenwe. "Muspellheim." 2007. Photograph. Muspellheim. 1 December 2008 http://www.ancientsites.com





1. Vikings are people that are from Norway, Finland and Sweden.
2. Ginnungagap is a dark void.
3. Nifleheim is the land of ice and fog.
4. Muspellheim is the land of fire.
5. Yggdrasil is the world ash tree that connects all 3 worlds.
6. Asgard is the home of the gods.
7. Midgard is the home of man.
8. Hel is the goddess of the underworld.
9. Bifrost Bridge is the bridge that connects Asgard to Midgard.
10. Ymir the first frost giant.
11. Odin is the god of gods and humans.
12. Frigg is Odin’s wife.
13. The Valkyries are Odin’s daughters.
14. The Norns are the fait maidens.
15. Thor is the strongest son of Odin.
16. Balder is the most beloved son of Odin.
17. Njord is the god of the wind and sea.
18. Frey the fertility god.
19. Freya the daughter of Odin and goddess of love.
20. Idunn has golden apples, and the gods have to eat them so they stay young.
21. Loki is evil and also a trouble maker to the gods.
22. Fenrir is the evil wolf and son of Loki.
23. Jormungandr is the world serpent and a child of Loki.
24. Ragnarok is the end of the past worlds and when a new one comes into being.
25. Runes are stones that can foreshadow the things in your life.






1.Why do the gods care when Idunn is kidnapped?

2.From reading the myths of Northern Europe, what do we learn about their culture and values. Be specific. Support your claims with examples.

3.Who is more like Prometheus, Loki or Odin? Support your decision.

4.Identify three other ways in which Norse mythology is like other myths that we have studied so far. Be specific.

5.Provide three reasons that Loki is such a popular figure?

Gabcast! Assiniboine Frog Myth #1

FROG
The Assiniboine frog myth explains to us how the Frog came to living in the water. You see, Frog’s children were very ugly and Man’s were beautiful. So one day Frog decided to take the youngest good-looking child during play time, when it was first learning to walk. Frog raised him. When Frog was out with the pretty child, one of Frog’s children came up to him and asked, “Why is he hot and why am I super ugly?” Frog replied, “I washed him in red water, therefore, he is beautiful.” As soon as the father knew of his child’s kidnapping, he came and recaptured his child. The father was very angry at frog, frog was very afraid of the father and as a result he immediately went into the water. For this reason, Frog continues to live in the water.

“Frog.” Indian Mythology. 2006. 6th November 2008. http://www.indianmythology.org

Jeff B. “Kermit The Frog.” 2007. Kermit the frog picture. Flickr. 11 November 2008.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/96525092@N00/415211280

Melo, Fred. “Angry Man.” 2006. Photo of a angry guy. Flickr. 11 November 2008. http://www.flickr.com/photos/fredereco/131052944

HERO QUEST

The hero is the founder of something new. Atalanta was the first women who was better than men at something; “Some… felt it beneath them to go hunting with a woman”

Universal is the representative of every man with a special characteristic that sets him apart. Atalanta had a father and had given birth; “Atalanta’s father… a daughter… was born to him.” “Atalanta had borne a son.”

The major flaw in the hero is where the hero is special but defiantly not perfect. Atalanta did not like men unless they were hunting with her; “She had no liking for men except as the hunt and she was determined never to marry.”

The call to adventure on a hero’s journey would be that the hero is given a goal or assigned a quest. Atalanta’s call to adventure was that she was a great hunter and knew that that was what she had to do; “She became in the end more than their equal in all the arduous feats of a hunters life.”

Initiation in a hero’s quest is when the hero enters a strange world and leaves behind the familiar. In Atlanta’s case her initiation was her first big kill of two centaurs that were stalking her when she was alone; “Centaurs, swifter and stronger by far than any mortal, caught sight of her… she stood still and fitted an arrow to her bow and shot… both centaurs fell, mortally wounded.”

The hero’s journey is the road of trials, battles and obstacles they go through. Atalanta’s first big journey was the killing of the Calydonian boar; “Then came the famous hunt of the Calydonian boar.”

Companions and friends of a hero journey are the sidekicks, partners and support for the hero. Atalanta had a friend who secretly loved her; “Meleager fell in love with her… Atalanta treated him as a good comrade.”

Supernatural guides in a hero’s journey provide information, magic, weapons or charms for the hero. Atalanta had help from Aphrodite; “Aphrodite, always on the lookout to subdue wild young maidens who despised love.”

The ultimate battle in the hero quest is the final test the hero has to go through. Atalanta’s final battle was the race between her and her future husband; “she had caught up with him and the goal was now very near… she saw the gleam through the green, she could not resist if… her lover panting and winded touched the goal.”

The transformation the hero goes through alters them in some way in the final battle. Atalanta’s transformation was that she no longer free with the forest; “Her free days alone in the forest and her athletic victories were over.”

The death and rebirth in the quest is out with the old and in with the new. Atananta’s death and rebirth was that she was turned into a lion with her husband; “The two are said to have been turned into lions.”

Finally the boon in the quest is the gift that is to be shared. Atalanta’s gift was her son; “Atalanta had borne a son, Parthenopaeus, who was one of the seven against Thebes.”

Mythology Academic Vocabulary

A myth is an explanation that helps us understand natural events, tell us stories and how the earth was created. An example is the Babylonian creation myth.

A hero is a human who is universal and who goes through a series of events that in the end has a gift for us all. An example is Hercules who was a hero because he went through a journey and had to do tasks that brought us all something at the end.

A hero journey is the several events that the hero goes through to strengthen him and to help him overcome fears. An example is when Hercules had to go down to the underworld to bring Cerberus back up to earth.

Something that is universal is something that applies to everyone. An example would be that Hercules is universal because he is bad tempered and is not very smart.

Something archetype is the original or first. An example is the Yin and Yang myth.

Cyclical is something that is Circular, recurring or continuous. An example is the Egyptian sun god Ra who has a very cyclical life.

Duality is two things that are Opposites or a state of two. A boy and a girl would be duality.

Creation is the origin or beginning of someone or thing. The myth of Osiris, Isis, and Horus is one myth that explains the earths creation.

Life from Death is when something is killed to help give life to something living. An example is when Marduk killed Tiamet, her remains created the earth and all living things.

Non-Verbal Representation

Interpretation Essay

Baucis and Philemon

Ever stop to think about how being nice to someone could change your life forever? Baucis and Philemon went out of their way and were nice to some strangers and it changed their life. Baucis and Philemon’s story is important because it shows people that good deeds do not go unnoticed. The levels of interpretation are important because they allow us to take myths like Baucis and Philemon and help us break them down to something that means something to us each individually, like how they can represent joy to us psychologically because they were happy with so little. The myth explains how an oak and a linden tree grew from the same trunk. Baucis and Philemon helped out the two gods Mercury and Jupiter who were disguised as two people in poverty. The two gods went around knocking on people’s doors looking for a place to stay and the only people who let them in, were Baucis and Philemon. Because of this Baucis and Philemon got a reward. They wanted for one to never have to live without the other. So the gods changed them into the two trees that grew from one trunk.

What Baucis and Philemon’s story represent to us naturally would be poverty and togetherness. The story shows and tells us that this couple is very poor and do not have a lot. They do have each other though and have been together, and lived in the same poor cottage their entire life. Even though they lived there and did not have much, they were still happy and they loved each other very much. Baucis and Philemon helped out two gods, though they were in poverty.

Socially they can represent relationships, family, hospitality, helpfulness and love. They help represent these because they are all they have and always want to be together. These things are important to us socially because in a community if no body helps each other out we would not have joy and happiness in our lives.

Psychologically they mean so much to us each individually. They can mean hope, kindness and happiness. They can bring us hope because Baucis and Philemon were together in that little cottage for their entire life and were happy. Today families hardly ever stay together no matter how rich or poor they are. They bring us happiness through kindness to one another because when someone is nice to you it brightens your day in a way and makes you feel good. When someone is nice to you it makes an impact on you and you are nice to someone else. Hope and happiness are important to us individually because if we do not have those then what is the point in life? If there is nothing to hope for or to be happy about, why wake up in the morning? Happiness can be related to this myth because Baucis and Philemon were happy and shed their happiness on some strangers, they were forever rewarded because of their little cottage and happiness they had in each other.

This myth illustrates that when you decide to do something nice for someone, it will probably not go unnoticed. Not saying that you will get changed into a tree with your lover, but people do notice. So be kind and care if someone needs your help or something done because it will make an impact on your life.