Old Norse religion

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/old-norse-religion

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 primary sources?Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, sagas, runic inscriptions, and archaeological findings
2. What is the cosmological structure?The Nine Worlds connected by Yggdrasil, including Asgard, Midgard, Jotunheim, Helheim, etc
3. What are the two main groups of gods in Old Norse religion?The gods are divided into the Æsir and the Vanir. The Æsir, led by Odin, are linked to war and wisdom, while the Vanir, including Freyja and Freyr, are connected to fertility and nature.
4. Why did Odin hang himself on Yggdrasil?Odin hung himself on the world tree Yggdrasil to give up his life and gain deep knowledge, showing that sacrifice can bring wisdom.

Seidr: A complex form of Norse magic, often associated with prophecy and manipulation of fate, practiced by deities like Freyja.
Ragnarok: The prophesied end of the world, a cataclysmic battle involving gods and giants, followed by a cosmic rebirth.
Valkyries: Female figures who choose slain warriors worthy of entering Odin's hall, Valhalla.