Norse Mythology

Vikings- One of a seafaring Scandinavian people who raided the coasts of northern and western Europe from the eighth through the tenth century.

Ginnungagap- a primordial void, filled with mists, existing between Niflheim and Muspelheim.

Nifleheim- a place of eternal cold, darkness, and fog, ruled over by Hel: abode of those who die of illness or old age.

Muspellheim- is the realm of fire in Norse Mythology, it is home to the fire giants.

Yggdrasil- an evergreen ash tree, the three roots of which bind together Asgard, Midgard, and Niflheim.

Asgard- the home of the Aesir and location of Valhalla and the palaces of the individual gods: connected with the earth by the rainbow bridge, Bifrost.

Midgard- the middle earth, home of men, lying between Niflheim and Muspelheim, formed from the body of Ymir.

Hel- the goddess ruling Niflheim: a daughter of Loki and Angerboda, the home of the dead; Niflheim.

Bifrost Bridge- is the bridge leading from Midgard, the realm of mortals, to Asgard, the realm of the gods, which the gods travel daily to hold their councils and pass judgments.

Ymir- he earliest being and the progenitor of the giants, killed by Odin and his brothers. From his flesh the earth was made, from his blood the waters, and from his skull the heavens.

Odin- the ruler of the Aesir and god of war, poetry, knowledge, and wisdom; Wotan: the chief god.

Frigg- wife of Odin and chief of the goddesses.

The Valkyries- “Choosers of the Slain” purpose was to determine the victors of battles and wars, and to choose the most heroic of those who had died in battle.

The Norns- Any of the three goddesses of fate in Norse myth.

Thor- the god of thunder, rain, and farming, represented as riding a chariot drawn by goats and wielding the hammer Mjolnir: the defender of the Aesir, destined to kill and be killed by the Midgard Serpent.

Balder- a god, a son of Odin and Frigg and the twin brother of Hod, by whom he was killed.

Njord- the god of winds, navigation, and prosperity, and the father of Frey and Freya; king of the Vanir.

Frey- the god of peace, prosperity, and marriage: one of the Vanir, originally brought to Asgard as a hostage.

Freya- the goddess of love and fertility, sister of Frey, daughter of Njord; one of the Vanir.

Idunn- a goddess, keeper of the apples of youth and wife of Bragi; abducted by the giant Thjazi, from whom she was rescued.

Loki- a trickster god, born of Jotun ancestry but accepted among the Aesir as Odin's adopted brother: father of the monsters Fenrir, Hel, and the Midgard serpent, and the instigator of Balder's death.

Fenrir-a wolflike monster, a son of Loki and Angerboda, chained by Gleipnir but destined to be released at Ragnarok to eat Odin and to be killed by Vidar.

Jormungandr- a serpent, the child of Loki and Angerboda, who lies wrapped around the world, tail in mouth, and is destined to kill and to be killed by Thor at Ragnarok; Jormungand.

Ragnarok- the destruction of the gods and of all things in a final battle with the evil powers.

Runes- comprise an ancient Scandinavian alphabet, with each letter having a name and meaning, used for divination to predict all aspects of the future, for fertility, love, and good fortune.

The Wolf Man

In this story, there is a man and his two wives. These two women become sick of him and decide on how to kill him. Their husband every evening would go upon a hill and sit on a rock to contemplate. The two women decided to place a deep trap by his thinking rock in hopes and ending his life. One even after hunting, the man brought home food for his wives and they had a feast. After the meal, the husband set out for his thinking rock. Upon reaching his rock, he falls through the earth. As soon as he reaches the bottom, he becomes badly hurt, but not dead. Meanwhile, his two wives who assume he is now dead, pack up their belongings and head for another town.

Even though the women had left their husband for dead, a pack of wolves found the man and took him as their brother. Their medicine healed him and transformed his head and hands into that of a wolf. For this reason, from then on out, he is known as Wolf Man.

As a result, Wolf Man helped his fellow brothers in retrieving delicious mean from the horrific traps man made from the villages. The people of the towns noticed that a crafty creature had been taking the meat and fooling the traps. The people soon came to realize that is was the work of the Wolf Man and set out a plan to catch him.

The people of the town set up a powerful trap and catch the beastly man. They soon realize it is the missing husband and therefore see the two new village women to be liars. Wolf Man orders the people to give the women to the I-Kun-uh’-Kah-tsi, and they were never seen again.

“Wolf Man.” Indian Mythology, Stories Tales and Legends. Indian Mythology.org.
Anthropological Papers American Museum of National History. 2006. 7 November, 2008.
http://www.indianmythology.org/.

Hero's Journey

Call to Adventure: The hero is given a goal or assigned a quest.

Supernatural Guide: Provides information, magic, weapons, or charms.

Companions: Sidekicks, partners, and support.

Initiation: The entering of a strange world and leaving behind the familiar.

Journey: The road of trials, battles, and obstacles.

Ultimate Battle: Final test

Transformation: Hero is altered in some way during or after final battle.

Death/Rebirth: Out with the old; in with the new.

Boon: Gift of renewal; reward to be shared.

Mythology Definitions

Myth: A myth is a traditional or legendary story, it also explains a cultural life, and symbolizes human beings. For example, The myth of Ra explains to humanity why the sun rises and sets every day.

Hero: A hero is a founder of something new, they model for human form and they must make tough decisions. For example, Ra is a hero because he helps mankind everyday with the rising and the setting of the sun.

Hero Journey: Hero journey is the road of trials, battles and obstacles. Its also when hero's accomplish big things and preform good deeds for their community. For example, when Ra sets out on his barque and begins his trials, battle, and journey.

Universal: Universal is a representation of every man, and it is also the big picture. For example, is Atlas, because he holds the world in place.

Archetype: Archetype is an old foundation, or also an original model. For example, Jesus and the foundation of Christianity.

Cyclical: Cyclical means re-accuring in a cycle, which means beginning with the same end. For example, the four seasons of the year.

Duality: Duality means two things as a whole. For example, the genders male and female.

Creation: Creation means its original bringing into the existence of the universe. For example, woman giving birth to child.

Cosmology: Cosmology means dealing with the cosmos, stars, and universe.

Life from Death: Life from death is the making of life out of something bad. For example, trees and greenery growing after a fire has past through.

Matriarchal: Matriarchal is the foundation of female power, were the mother rules. For example, a marriage where the wife rules the roost.

Patriarchal: Patriarchal is the foundation on male power, were the father rules. For example, a marriage where the husband is the head of the household.

Sacrifice: Sacrifice means the taking of life for better of others, or giving up something important for the greater good. For example, Ra dies in the evening and is reborn every sunrise.

Interpretation Essay

Persephone, Daughter of Demeter

Ever wonder what the different views on Persephone, daughter of Demeter are?
Do you look at her as innocent, or possibly a woman who left her mother for a man of power?
Macro, meso, and micro are three simple ways to view Persephone. The first dealing with
natural, second relates to social, and finally psychological.

Spring flowers glowing with morning dew paints a picture of Persephone. She represents
growth, newness and fresh beginnings. She is spring, she is the mother earth if you will. This is
the bigger picture of Persephone, but she means much much more.

Persephone is a virgin goddess with purity and innocence. With a social view, you begin
to understand how valued she is, and just how many values she has of her own. With these
values come admirers and jealous viewers. But there is one more view of the lovely Persephone.

The view dealing psychologically is the last but most intricate. It is hard to understand
Persephone’s feelings on situations. During the part of her life where she is taken by Hades,
she has lost her mother and her freedom. Her self-esteem and self-protection must distress her
innocence. The only personal item to see her through is her experience and respect for self.

The only way to half way try and understand one’s feelings and thoughts are through the
views of macro, meso, and micro. This way, we were able to understand Persephone in small
amounts in different ways. These views can and will come in handy more than you think. Macro,
meso, and micro are all tied into the real world with the natural, social, and psychological views.
So consider viewing other gods and goddesses and even everyday people these ways to help you
understand more about their personality, feelings and thoughts.