16 Questions
What is the primary way that Norse mythology was transmitted?
Orally from generation to generation
What is the name of the poetic form characterized by the use of meter, alliteration, and assonance?
Skaldic poetry
Which of the following is NOT a main theme in Norse mythology?
Love
What is the name of the language in which the first written sources of Norse mythology were composed?
Icelandic dialect
What is the name of the mountain range that separates Sweden and Norway?
The Keel
What is the term for the two-word metaphors used in Skaldic poetry?
Kennings
Which of the following is a characteristic of Norse mythology?
Air of melancholy and despair
What is the name of the region where Norse mythology originated?
Scandinavian peninsula
What was the fate of many Pagan manuscripts and source texts?
They were destroyed by the first Christian missionaries
What is a characteristic of Scandinavian culture reflected in Norse Mythology?
Seafaring community
What is a feature of the geography in Norse Mythology?
Rivers, mountains, and seas
What was the daily diet of the Scandinavian people, as reflected in Norse Mythology?
Mostly meat and beer
What is the language in which the epic poem Beowulf was written?
Old English
What is the name of the creature that Beowulf fights in the epic poem?
Grendel
What is the name of the Middle High German epic poem that is also a source of Norse Mythology?
The Nibelungenlied
What is the name of the king of the Danes in the epic poem Beowulf?
Hrothgar
Study Notes
Norse Mythology
- Also known as Scandinavian mythology or North Germanic mythology
- A collection of pagan myths, legends, and tales told by and about the Northern Germanic tribes
- Originated from the Scandinavian peninsula, including Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland
Geographical Context
- Scandinavia: composed of Jutland, the Danish islands, and the great Scandinavian peninsula (Sweden and Norway)
- Sweden: known as the "kingdom of the Svear" and borders the Baltic Sea
- Norway: known as "the Northern Way" and borders the Atlantic
- Denmark: known as "the borderland of the Danes" and separates Scandinavia from continental Europe
Language and Literature
- Originally written in Old Northern Germanic language
- First written sources belong to an Icelandic dialect of the Scandinavian language
- Composed by poets called "skalds" and characterized by scaldic poetry
- Scaldic poetry features meter, alliteration, assonance, and kennings (two-word metaphors)
Characteristics
- Main theme: heroism in a world where evil is certain to prevail
- Heroism involves dying heroically to prove worth as warriors and human beings
- Norse myths are tragic in essence
- Other elements include melancholy, despair, death, harsh daily life, and the sea as a destructive force
Sources
- Many Pagan manuscripts and source texts were destroyed or rewritten through a Christian filter
- Pagan oral literature, legends, and songs were adapted into Christian context by priests
- Additions, omissions, and adaptations were made by the clergy
Scandinavian Culture
- Characterized by a seafaring community and skilled warriors
- Rich geography with natural resources, cold climate, and indications of horse-riding and ship-building
- Daily diet consisted of meat and beer, and they traveled extensively
Main Sources
Beowulf
- An epic poem written in Old English
- Concerning a sixth-century legend that takes place in Scandinavia
- Features the greatest hero, Beowulf, a Geat (or Goth) summoned to save the kingdom from Grendel
- Depicts a Pagan legend, but with references to Christianity
Nibelungenlied
- A Middle High German epic poem from the early 13th century
- Revolves around German characters, such as Siegfried and Kriemhild
- Takes place in the court of Burgundy
- Originally thought to be part of the Norse oral literary tradition
Explore the world of Norse mythology, Scandinavian geography, and the Northern Germanic tribes. This quiz covers the myths, legends, and tales of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland.
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