Detailed Summary of Norse Mythology (Grade 12 Optional English) - New course
Characters in Norse Mythology
1) Odin: Odin is the king of God and goddesses. Odin wears an eagle helmet, gold plated armour and holds a spear with him to protect himself from demons. He is the wisest king of all the world. He has a special ability to transfer himself into any creature and any character he wants. He also seems men to men and demon to demon. Odin wanted to save himself and the human world from the demons.
2) Vafthrudner: Vafthrudner
is the wisest giant of the demon world. Vafthrudner gives wisdom to people but
Vafthrudner asks some riddles to people and if they give the correct answer
then only he gives wisdom, otherwise, he cut their head into pieces.
3)Mimir: Mimir is the
wisest demon of all the nine worlds, as he drinks a draught of water every day
from that well. Mimir is also the guardian of that well.
Background of the story
Norse mythology (पौराणिक कथा) is the source of most surviving information about Odin, his
wisdom, death, knowledge, battle (युद्ध), etc. It is the body of myths of the North Germanic people. Norse
mythology consists
of tales of various deities (देवताहरू), beings, and heroes. Described as an immensely wise, one-eyed
old man, Odin has by far the most varied characteristics of any of the gods in
Norse mythology.
Odin is
considered to be the highest and oldest of all Norse gods. Odin was the wisest
of all the gods. He is known for his sacrifice (बलिदान), the donation (दान) of his right eye for gaining wisdom. He acquired wisdom not for
his personal benefit but for the benefit of the world. His role of 'All-Father'
of the gods is more of a literary theme. Odin wanted to know everything and
gain wisdom and knowledge of things hidden from him. He sacrificed greatly to
get the wisdom and understand the sorrows and troubles of the world. He drew
wisdom from the well of the giant Mimir. Having placed one of his eyes in pawn
with Mimir he appeared as a one-eyed.
Important ideas to note:
1) Asgard:
Asgard is the world of god. Odin was the king of Asgard.
2) Musphellem: Musphelem is
the world of fire that is on the left side of Asgard.
3) Alfheim: Alfheim is
the world of snow that is on the right side of Asgard.
4) Jotunhem: Jotunhem is
the world of the giant hunt or demons. Vafthrudner is the wisest giant from
Jotunhem.
5) Midgard: Midgard is
the world of humans that is below Asgard.
Summary of Norse Mythology:
This is a story about a king named Odin. He is the eldest god of
the whole world. The story shows the heroic sacrifice done by Odin for god,
goddesses, and the human world.
Complete summary of Norse Mythology:
Odin is the eldest king of all the Norse gods. He is known for
his sacrifices for the human and Gods’ world. He wanted to save Asgard (अस्गार्ड) and Midgard (मिडगार्ड) from giants. For this, he had to gain more wisdom.
He knows about the Mimir well by his two messengers raven (काग) and the wolf. He wants to drink a draught of water from that
well. So he disguised himself into Vegtan. Then, he travels to Mimir’s well.
On the way, he meets a giant. He is Vafthrunder. As Odin seems
men to men and giant to giant, Vafthrunder sees Odin as a giant. Odin also
knows about the Vafthrunder by his messengers and he also knows that he gives
wisdom to people. Odin asks Vafthrunder for wisdom. Vafthrunder agrees on a
condition. Odin has to answers three riddles that Vafthrunder asks.
If Odin gives the wrong answer Odin's head will be cut into
pieces. Odin agrees with Vafthrunder. Vafthrunder too needs to reply to Odin’s
questions.
Odin becomes ready to face Vafthrunder’s questions. Vafthrunder
asks three riddles to Odin and Odin answers all three questions. Vafthrunder is
shocked because Odin is one of the hundreds to give the right answer to his
riddles. It is now Odin’s turn to ask Vafthrunder questions.
When Odin asks the questions to Vafthrunder, Vafthrunder
recognizes that the person in front of him is none other than Odin because the
questions that Odin asks are only known to Odin.
Odin, then, asks Vafthrunder the price of drinking a draught of
water from Mimir's well. Vafthrunder tells that there is no price of drinking
water from that well because it is priceless. After drinking water from that
well people know about the present and the future.
After that, Odin moves to Mimir’s well. When Odin reaches the well, he finds Mimir standing there as he is the guard of that well. Odin asks the price of drinking a draught of water from that well. Mimir replies it will take the cost of his right eye. Odin accepts the cost of drinking the water. Mimir gives a horn full of water from that well. Odin drinks that water takes his eyes and gives it to Mimir. The pain was unbearable but he doesn't show that pain. Mimir throws that eye into the well. Odin could see his eye sinking. Odin could see the present and future now. That's how Odin saves Asgard and Midgard from giants.
