Runes

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/runes

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 earliest attested period?Approximately 150-250 CE
2. What is the primary linguistic family?Proto-Germanic and early Germanic languages
3. What are runes and who used them?Runes are ancient letters that were used by Vikings and other Germanic peoples to write stories, names, and even to tell fortunes.
4. How many runes were in the oldest alphabet?The earliest runic alphabet, called the Elder Futhark, had 24 different characters.

Runology: The academic study of runes, their history, inscriptions, and cultural significance.
Futhark: A term derived from the first six runes of the Elder Futhark alphabet, referring to runic alphabets.
Divinatory Practices: Methods used to gain insight into the future or the unknown through symbolic interpretation.
Epigraphy: The study of inscriptions on hard surfaces, including runic inscriptions.