1. retold by Olivia Coolidge
“The Fenris Wolf”
retold by Olivia Coolidge

2. retold by Olivia Coolidge
“The Fenris Wolf”
retold by Olivia Coolidge
Literary Focus
Myths
Every society has stories that connect them as a people.
Myths Tell People:
Where they came from
Where they are going
How they should live
Origin/Creation
Destiny/Journey
Values/Life Lesson

3. retold by Olivia Coolidge
“The Fenris Wolf”
retold by Olivia Coolidge
Literary Focus
*Archetypes*
The patterns that recur in the literature of many cultures.
Archetypes can be…
Characters (the brave hero, the wise old man)
Plots or Events (the heroic quest)
Settings (paradise, a dark forest, dragon’s cave)
Images or Things (a crystal ball, a trusty sword, magic potion)

4. retold by Olivia Coolidge Romeo can’t be with Juliet
“The Fenris Wolf”
retold by Olivia Coolidge
Reading Focus
Causes and Effects
Myths are narratives, which are built on a series of causes and effects.
One event happens in a narrative
Which causes another event to happen
Which causes yet another event
Romeo kills Tybalt
Romeo is Exiled
Romeo can’t be with Juliet

5. “The Fenris Wolf” Reading Focus Causes and Effects
retold by Olivia Coolidge
Reading Focus
Causes and Effects
Myths are narratives, which are built on a series of causes and effects.
One event happens in a narrative
Which causes another event to happen
Which causes yet another event
The narrator is embarrassed by Doodle
The narrator teaches Doodle to walk
Doodle pushes himself even harder

6. retold by Olivia Coolidge
“The Fenris Wolf”
retold by Olivia Coolidge
Reading Focus
Causes and Effects
As you read the myth, record causes and their effects in a chart like the one below. Create as many boxes as you need.
Cause: Fenris Wolf threatens the gods
Effect:
Effect:

7. “The Fenris Wolf”
retold by Olivia Coolidge
Literary Focus
A. Myths and Archetypes
A clever trouble-maker, Loki is an archetypal “trickster” figure. (page 1109)
What other tricksters in myths or folk tales can you name?
What do you think is the purpose/role of a trickster?
B’rer Rabbit, Bugs Bunny, Wily Coyote are also tricksters.

8. “The Fenris Wolf” Literary Focus B. Myths and Archtypes
retold by Olivia Coolidge
Literary Focus
B. Myths and Archtypes
Think of other myths and folk tales you know. (page 1110)
What archetypal PLOT element is described in this passage?
The archetypal plot element is the CONFLICT:
gods or humans versus a ferocious beast.

9. “The Fenris Wolf” Reading Focus C. Analyzing Causes and Effects
retold by Olivia Coolidge
Reading Focus
C. Analyzing Causes and Effects
(page 1110)
What is the cause of the gods’ despair?
What action do they take
as a result of their defeat?
Cause: the gods fail to bind the Fenris Wolf
Cause:
Effect: the gods’ despair
Cause: the gods are defeated
Effect: the gods ask the dwarf people to forge a new chain
Effect:

10. “The Fenris Wolf” Reading Focus D. Analyzing Causes and Effects
retold by Olivia Coolidge
Reading Focus
D. Analyzing Causes and Effects
(page 1111)
Why does Tyr place his hand in the
wolf’s mouth?
What happens as a result?
Do you believe this is the
Fenris Wolf’s destiny?
EXPLAIN!
Cause: Tyr agrees to be the wolf’s hostage so that the Fenris Wolf will agree to be bound by the gods
Cause:
Effect: Tyr places his hand in the wolf’s mouth
Effect: Tyr loses his hand
Effect:

11. retold by Olivia Coolidge
“The Fenris Wolf”
retold by Olivia Coolidge
Elements of Mythology
1. Make a list of the characters in “The Fenris Wolf”. Next to each name identify the main character trait that character revealed to the readers in the story.
2. Make a list of the five most important events in the story. Write the list in chronological order.
3. Review the characters, events, and conflicts in the myth. Determine what “lessons” or “values” the Norse society wanted their people to take from the story of “The Fenris Wolf”. Cite evidence from the text to support your claims and ideas.

12. Elements of Mythology
Using “The Fenris Wolf” as the model, what elements do you think a story must have in order to be classified as a “myth”?
Are there other elements NOT in this story that you would consider essential for a myth to have?

13. Respond and Think Critically
Literary Focus
6. Connect - In what ways does Loki seem human? In what ways is he godlike?
*Loki seems human because he is mischievous and clever. He seems godlike because he has beastly offspring.

14. Respond and Think Critically
Literary Focus
7. Compare and Contrast – What similarities and differences do you note between the Fenris Wolf and his father, Loki? Be sure to consider their relationship with the gods.
*Both characters are evil. Loki is clever and well-liked; the Fenris Wolf is ferocious and terrifying.

15. Respond and Think Critically
Literary Focus
8. Analyze – In many Norse myths, heroes face terrible enemies with great courage, though they know they will be defeated in the end. How is such behavior displayed in the “The Fenris Wolf”?
*Although Tyr knows that he will lose his hand and possibly his life, he agrees to be the wolf’s hostage.

16. Respond and Think Critically
Literary Focus
9. Analyze – Which elements of “The Fenris Wolf” are archetypal? Consider the myth’s plot and characters, and support your answer by drawing parallels to other stories you know.
*Archetypal elements include a battle between good and evil, trios of events, and a prophecy about the end of the world.
*Comparisons might include Greek/Roman myths, tales of King Arthur, or fairy tales.

17. Respond and Think Critically
Literary Focus
10. Analyze – The Fenris Wolf is presented as a larger-than-life figure. Explain how Olivia Coolidge uses IMAGERY (language that appeals to our senses) and SIMILES (comparisons between two unlike things, using words such as like or as) to convey the wolf’s dreadfulness.
*Collidge describes the monster with imagery such as “his great, red eyes burned with fury” and “he gnashed his teeth until the foam flew.”
*She describes the monster with similes such as “teeth as large as the trunks of oak trees and as pointed as knives.”

18. Vocabulary Development
Vocabulary Check – Page 1113
The queen _____ in England for many years.
I tried to hold the _____ dog still so that the veterinarian could examine her.
I had nightmares after seeing the _____ movie.
Many people will _____ if the ship sinks in the storm.
Because he did not get his way, the child behaved _____.

19. Vocabulary Development
Your Turn – Page 1113
Which days of the week are named for these Norse gods?
Odin/Woden =
Frigga/Frigg =
Tyr/Tiu =
Thor =

20. Vocabulary Development
Your Turn – Page 1113
2. Refer to the story and to a dictionary for help answering the following questions:
To what Norse name is the word hell related?
What Norse god gave us our word
thunder?

21. Historical Context
What values or qualities shown in the myth did the Norse society think were important?
Select an excerpt from the story that clearly shows ONE of those values or qualities.
Create an illustration for that part of the myth.
Create a poster for this information using the Viking alphabet instead of our alphabet.