Norse Deities Trivia Quiz

Answer: Odin

Odin, the Allfather, was the supreme god of all of the gods of Asgard. In a perhaps contradictory way, Odin is the god of both war and poetry as well as magic. He is the father of both Thor and Baldr, both from different mothers. His wife is Frigg and he keeps animals as familiars to help him in his quest for knowledge: the wolves Geri and Freki and the ravens Huginn and Muninn. In one story, Odin gives up an eye in order to be able to see the cosmos more clearly. Also, after hanging from the World Tree, Yggdrasil, for nine days and nights, he was given the runic alphabet as a gift.

The day of the week 'Wednesday' is named for Odin.

Answer: Idunn

Idunn (or Iđunn) is the goddess associated with youth and apples. She is the wife of the god Bragi and she can grant eternal youth to those who she deems worthy. In one of the stories from the "Prose Edda", Iđunn is abducted by the jötunn (giant) Ţjazi after Loki tricks her into leaving Asgard where she was protected.

When the gods realize that she is missing, they all start aging, prompting them to force Loki to get her back. He abducts her from Ţjazi and flies back to Asgard where the rest of the gods have prepared a trap for Ţjazi. Iđunn is unharmed.

Answer: Thor

Thor is the god who is always depicted wielding the mighty hammer, Mjölnir. He is associated with storms and their manifestations, with trees, and strength. Through his deeds, Thor is always described as having a kindred with mankind and a will to protect them. In the manuscripts, Thor is the husband of Sif and the father of Ţrúđr (with Sif), Magni, and Móđi (both with other mothers). He is most famous for his battles with the giant snake Jörmungandr and their mutual death during Ragnarök.

The day of the week 'Thursday' is named for Thor.

Answer: Loki

Loki is the Norse god of fire, mischief, and chaos. He is mentioned in some sources as the son of Fárbauti and Laufey, a jötunn (giant) and a goddess respectively. He is married to Sigyn, and they may have one or two sons together. Loki's interactions with the rest of the gods can be both detrimental or helpful, depending on the story.

However, his major folly is when he tricks the blind god Höđr into killing Baldr with a sprig of mistletoe.

Answer: Baldr

Baldr was the son of Odin, the Allfather, and his wife Frigg. He was the shining god and was associated with light, beauty, and fairness. He was married to Nanna and they had one son, Forseti. He was believed to be immortal because of an oath that was made by his mother, but he was killed when Loki tricked the blind god Höđr to give Baldr some mistletoe, the only thing that could kill him because it contained his life as well as his death.

He was sent to the underworld and is said to return when Ragnarök happens, after which he will be the one to rule the world.

Answer: Frigg

Frigg is the Queen of Asgard and is married to Odin. She is the goddess of marriage and fertility, and she herself was the mother of the god Baldr. She was also associated with divination, however, she never revealed her prophecies. Her foresight and protective motherly instincts were what prompted her to take an oath to protect her son from all harm. When all the elements, nature, and animals all swear an oath to Frigg that they will not harm Baldr, the gods assemble and begin to test this immunity. In disguise, Loki learns from Frigg that she did not get the oath from mistletoe as it was too young a sprig. Loki gets some mistletoe and gives it to Höđr, Baldr's blind brother, and Höđr launches it at Baldr, killing him. Frigg also organizes an emissary to go to Hel to ask for Baldr's life back.

The day of the week 'Friday' is named for Frigg.

Answer: Heimdall

Heimdall was a god whose job was to protect the Bifrost, the rainbow bridge between worlds. He possessed uncanny hearing and keen eyesight, something that helped him do his job. He had an enmity towards Loki and the two battled several times; the most memorable battle between the two was when Loki stole Brísingamen, Freyja's necklace, and Heimdall went to recover it.

The two fought as seals and Heimdall was able to recover the bauble. It was foretold that they would kill one another during Ragnarök.

He is described as having golden teeth and the whitest skin of all the gods.

Answer: Hel

Hel is the goddess of the underworld said to be under one of the three roots of the World Tree, Yggdrasil. She is often referred to as the daughter of Loki and Angrbođa, a jötunn (giant) whose children are monsters. Hel lends her name to the halls she presides over and her appearance is gloomy and dark, befitting her station.

She is not evil, however, as she reaches an agreement with Frigg's emissary, Hermóđr, and agrees to resurrect Baldr if all agree to it.

Answer: Váli

When Baldr was killed by Höđr, albeit accidentally, Váli was conceived so that he could avenge his brother's death. Born to Odin and the giantess Rindr, it is said that a day after Váli was born, he had already grown into adulthood. He first went about the task of slaying Höđr, his half-brother, and then he went on to slay Loki's son, Narfi. Taking Narfi's entrails, he bound Loki with them, as Loki had been responsible for giving the mistletoe that killed Baldr to Höđr.

Answer: Freya

Though Freya shares many similarities with Frigg, they are separate goddesses. Freya is the twin sister of Freyr and the daughter of the god Njörđr, and she is married to Óđr. She receives the souls of half of the warriors that die in battle in her realm of Fólkvangr.

She is a member of the Vanir and rides about on a chariot that is pulled by two cats. Her cloak is famous for being made out of the feathers of falcons and she wears the necklace Brísingamen. She got that necklace from the dwarves and it was once stolen by the trickster Loki, but was then retrieved by Heimdall.