Germanic paganism

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/germanic-paganism

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the geographic and temporal scope?Northern Europe, from antiquity through the early medieval period, with regional variations
2. Who were some of the gods in Germanic paganism?Some well‑known gods were Odin, the All‑Father; Thor, the thunder god; Freya, goddess of love and war; Tyr, god of law; Heimdall, guardian of the rainbow bridge; and Loki, the trickster.
3. How did people worship in Germanic paganism?They held rituals in natural places like groves, springs, rivers, and mountains. Sacrifices of food, drink, and sometimes animals were made to honor the gods.

Animism: The belief that spirits inhabit natural objects and phenomena, such as trees, rivers, and mountains.
Wyrd: An Old English concept representing fate or destiny, a powerful force that even gods were subject to.
Eddas: Ancient Norse poetic and prose works containing mythological narratives and heroic legends.
Seidr: A form of Norse magic associated with prophecy, fate, and influencing events, often practiced by goddesses like Freya.