Scandinavian Mythology - Burnet Middle Schoolburnet.twpunionschools.org/subsites/slama/... · Norse...
Transcript of Scandinavian Mythology - Burnet Middle Schoolburnet.twpunionschools.org/subsites/slama/... · Norse...
Name ___________________ Date ____ Class ____ _
Europe Today
DiHerentiated Instruction
Scandinavian Mythology Norse or Scandinavian mythology refers to the religious beliefs of
the Scandinavian people before the arrival of Christianity. Much of what we know about Scandinavian mythology is contained in Old Norse literature and narrated folktales called Eddas. There were two main groups of gods in Scandinavian mythology-the lEsir and the Vanir. The lEsir were concerned with power and war, and the Vanir were fertility and prosperity gods. The following table lists some of the more important gods and goddesses of Scandinavian mythology.
Name of Deity Role
Odin king of the gods; god of war and wisdom
Frigg goddess of the home, marriage, motherhood, and love; wife of Odin
Baldr god of innocence and beauty; son of Odin
Vidar god of revenge; son of Odin
Thor god of thunder; protected humans and the other gods from giants
Sif goddess of the harvest; wife ofThor
Frey god of prosperity
Freya goddess of fertility; sister of Frey
Dagr god of daytime
Tyr god of battles and bravery
Bragi god of poetry . Forseti god of justice
Idun goddess of youth, fertility, and death
Njord god of the sea, wind, fish, and wealth
Skadi goddess of winter and the hunt; wife of Njord
Loki god of mischief; the trickster
Hel goddess of the dead; daughter of Loki
Source: Microsoft Encarta.
Directions: On a separate sheet of paper, answer the following questions.
1. Identifying Which of the above Scandinavian gods or goddesses might have been called upon by the following people: (a) a woman about to have a baby; (b) a man preparing for battle; (c) a hunter tracking antelope; and (d) someone unfairly accused of a crime? Explain.
2. Drawing Conclusions To which clan of deity do you think Tyr belonged: lEsir or Vanir? Why?
93
-Teaching Strategies for Different Learning Styles
, The following activities are ways the basic lesson can be modified to accommodate students' different learning styles.
English Learners (EL)
Have students (1) identify which Scandinavian deities were male and which were female, and (2) pick one of the deities and give a specific example of one way that god or goddess might help a mortal (e.g., Sif might ensure a good harvest).
Verbal/Linguistic; Visual/Spatial; I nterpersona I
Students should work with a partner to complete this assignment. Ask students to prepare an oral report on one of the Scandinavian deities. The report should include: (1) the name of the deity; (2) alternate names and spellings for the deity; (3) the deity's clan (e.g., iEsir, Vanir); (4) a family tree for the deity (parents, children, siblings); (5) an in-depth description of the deity's role; (6) special attributes associated with the god (e.g., Odin's spear Gungnir); and (7) a portrait of the deity.
Logical/Mathematical Have students make a crossword puzzle
using the information in the table. Clues might include family relationships (e.g., "She called Loki father"; answer: Hel) or be related to one of the deity's roles (e.g., "an important god to sailors"; answer: Njord):
Kinesthetic; Intra personal Organize the class into two groups, and ask
each to create a short skit involving some of the gods and goddesses in the table. Students should conduct whatever research they think is necessary to develop an appropriate story and dialogue. Encourage them to be creative with costumes and props as well. When students are ready, they can perform their skits in class.
94
Auditory/Musical
Ask students to write a song, chant, or cheer about the Scandinavian deity of their choice. The content and overall tone of the song should be appropriate (e.g., a song to Odin would likely be more "macho" than a song to Frigg).
Verbal/Linguistic; Intrapersonal
Asatru is a recent religious movement that seeks to revive the beliefs and practices of Scandinavian mythology. It is an officially recognized religion in many Nordic countries. Ask students to research this development and write a two-page paper about it.
Advanced Learners
Our language, literature, and popular culture are full of allusions to Scandinavian myths. Have students find some examples and report their findings in a two-page report. Students might investigate stories or movies that refer to Scandinavian mythological characters (e.g., Lord of the Rings), common words that allude to these characters (e.g., several days of the week), or even games (e.g., Dungeons and Dragons).
Below Grade Level
Carousel brainstorming generates background knowledge on a topic. Organize the class into groups of three or four students. Give each group paper, and give each student a different-colored marker. Ask the groups: What do the Scandinavian deities tell us about the practice of daily life in pre-Christian Scandinavia? Instruct one student in each group to write down an idea or a thought about the topic. Then have the next student in the group add another item, using a different-colored marker. This process continues until each student in the group has listed two or three items. Display the sheets in the classroom.