Norse funeral

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/norse-funeral

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 geographical focus?Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Denmark) and surrounding Norse settlements
2. What is the primary source material?Archaeological findings (ship burials, tumuli, grave goods) and textual accounts (sagas, poetry)
3. What is a Viking ship burial and why did they use ships?Viking ship burials were special funerals for important people, like chiefs and kings. They buried the person inside a ship, which was seen as a boat that would carry them to the afterlife, such as Valhalla.
4. Why did Norse people include weapons and jewelry in graves?Weapons, jewelry, and other personal items were put in graves to show what the person did in life and how important they were. These items were also believed to help the person in the next world.

Cosmology: The understanding of the origin, structure, and evolution of the universe and humanity's place within it.
Tumulus: An ancient burial mound, often large and constructed from earth and stones.
Grave Goods: Items placed in a grave with a deceased person, often reflecting their status or profession.