1. NORSE MYTHOLOGY

2. Norse mythology
The religion of the Scandinavian regions, pre-Christianity. These tales are important, as they come from the Anglo- Saxons, the originators of the English language. Their stories followed them to England.
There are nine separate worlds, each one being the home of a different race: the gods’ home Asgard, the humans’ home Midgard, the giants’ home Jötunheimr, etc.
(The races and many of
the terms used in Lord of
the Rings come from Norse
mythology.)

3. Yggsdrasil – the World Tree
The nine realms are:
Humans – Midgard
Asgardian Gods – Asgard
Vanir Gods – Vanaheim
Ice Giants – Jotunheim
Elves – Alfheim
Dark Elves – Svartalfheim
Dwarves – Nidavellir
Demons – Muspelheim
the Dead – Hel

4. Odin Chief of the gods Father of Thor, Balder, and other gods
Odin pierces himself with a spear and hangs on Yggdrasil for 9 days and nights to learn the secret knowledge of runes
Has one eye because he traded it for a drink from the spring of ALL KNOWING
His two ravens are called Huginn and Muninn (Thought and Memory)

5. Valkyries and Valhalla
Valkyries are female spirit warriors who ride the battlefields and find worthy slain warriors to take to Valhalla where they will train until Ragnarok.
The northern lights are light shining off of their shields
Valhalla is the Hall of the Slain. It exists in Asgard, and every night all these heroes gather together to drink and make merriment.

6. Thor God of thunder and lightning
Mjolnir (the destroyer) – an ax- hammer that can destroy giants and mountains in a single blow
Has a chariot pulled by two goats. He can kill these goats and eat them and they will come back to life.
Is constantly fighting the World Serpent – Jormungand
He is capable of drinking an ocean

7. Balder “The Beautiful” and“The Fair” All objects on Earth have
sworn not to hurt him
Primarily known for his death and resurrection – his
death is the first event that leads to Ragnarok
The favorite child of the Asgardians

8. Frigga Mother Goddess Wife of Odin Weaves clouds
She knows events in the present and future, but is powerless to change them

9. Loki God of mischief and fire
Trickster - can shape-change and do magic
Giants for parents – sometimes he helps Thor and the other Asgardians, sometimes he’s their enemy.
Responsible for Balder’s death and severely punished for it
Jormungand (World Serpent), Hel (Ruler of the Underworld), and Fenrir (Massive Wolf) are his children
Will begin Ragnorak
…and he gives birth to an eight-legged horse.

10. Freyr and Freyja Twins God and Goddess of fertility
Gods who reign in Midgard (on Earth with mankind)
She leads the Valkyries, he has a sword that can fight on its own.

11. Heimdall “World Brightener” God of the dawn
Great hearing (can hear grass grow) and eyesight
Is the look out on Bifrost (the rainbow bridge to Asgard)

12. Hel Daughter of Loki Giantess Goddess of death and the underworld
Half black/ half white
Her face and body are human but the legs are of a corpse
Spread the plague with a rake or a broom