Norse Myth: The Death of Balder Multiple Choice Quiz | Humanities

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The gods knew well in advance that something was not right and that Balder, the god loved by all, was in danger. How did the gods know this?

Answer: Balder had a series of terrible dreams

Balder is perhaps the god with most positive associations in Norse mythology, being linked with love, beauty and truth. Balder himself possessed these positive traits and so was the most loved of all the gods. Even the giants, elves and dwarves loved him, as did his parents, Odin and Frigg.

Frigg, like all the gods, was terrified at the thought of losing Balder, and so, after hearing of her son's bad dreams, decided to take an oath from everything in the nine worlds that they would not harm Balder.

2. Loki, being more evil than ever before, was able to find that not everything in the nine worlds had sworn an oath not to harm Balder. Which plant, said to grow by Valhalla, was the one thing that was able to harm (and therefore kill) Balder?

Answer: Mistletoe

Under the disguise of an old lady, Loki went to Frigg's hall (Fensalir) and questioned her about the immunity of Balder. Frigg had been thorough with her taking of oaths, but not thorough enough, and she let slip to Loki that mistletoe had not sworn an oath, as she believed it to be too young to harm anyone.

Loki's actions can easily be put down to him being evil and malicious. He became angered by the gods' joy of throwing rocks and other objects at Balder, only to see that he would not be harmed.

3. Knowing that there was only one plant which could harm Balder, Loki fashioned a dart out of it. The trickster then handed this dart to a blind god, who would throw the dart at, and unwittingly kill, Balder. What was this god's name?

Answer: Hod

Hod was the brother of Balder and was seen as an outcast by the other gods. Although being the opposite of Balder in the fact that he represented darkness, Hod was not evil, and had no intention of killing Balder. Loki took advantage of the blindness of Hod and guided the dart towards the god of light and beauty, thus satisfying his apparent need to be evil.

4. As Balder died, the gods fell silent. Frigg, Balder's mother, was distraught, and pleaded for one of the gods to travel to Hel to return her beloved son to life. Which brave god stepped up to this challenge?

Answer: Hermod

The laughter of the gods, delighting in the game of testing Balder's invulnerability, could no longer be heard, as their silent gaze fixed on the confused Hod and evil Loki.

The tears of Frigg set off a chain reaction and soon all gods, even Odin and Thor, were overcome with emotion. In response to Frigg's pleads, Hermod, the brave and noble god, accepted the task of going into Hel to bargain for Balder's life.

5. The gods of Asgard placed the body of Balder on his own great ship, Ringhorn, ready for it to be cremated. However, not even the strongest god could pull this ship from the shore to the water, and so Hyrrokin was enlisted to pull it. Who/what was Hyrrokin?

Answer: A giantess

The descriptions of Hyrrokin are rather unflattering, highlighting her grim face, masculine form, and deathly expression.

Her chariot was drawn by a huge wolf, with vipers for the reins. Odin was sure that this wolf was trouble and so ordered four berserkers to guard it. Sure enough, the wolf began to snarl and threaten the gods and other guests, and was beaten to death by the berserkers.

Thor, who hated all giants, had to be restrained from crushing Hyrrokin's skull with his hammer, Mjolnir, as she was there on the bidding of the gods.

6. The funeral of Balder was a sad day indeed, and it was made even sadder by the death of another god, Nanna, the wife of Balder. How did Nanna die?

Answer: Her heart broke over the death of Balder

Nanna was the loving wife of Balder and mother of their son, Forseti.

The gods loaded many treasures onto Ringhorn with Balder and Nanna. Odin gave Draupnir, the gold arm-ring fashioned by Brokk and Eitri, to his dead son. Thor controlled the fire which burned on Ringhorn using magic, but he was disturbed by a dwarf, whom he kicked onto the fire in a fit of rage. The faithful steed of Balder was ritually slaughtered on the shore.

7. Meanwhile, Hermod had made a deal with Hel to restore the life of Balder. However, he was unable to carry out his part of the bargain. How did Loki, in the disguise of the giantess Thokk, single-handedly prevent Balder from leaving Hel?

Answer: He refused to weep for Balder's death

Hermod had been given the eight-legged steed Sleipnir by his father, Odin, and had ridden in the dark for nine days before arriving at Hel. He was able to convince Modgud, the guardian of the bridge, to let him pass and he eventually found Balder.

Hel was not convinced that Balder was as loved as Hermod claimed, and said that Balder would be returned to life if every thing, living and dead, wept for him. The gods immediately sent out messengers to all corners of the nine worlds and every thing began to weep. There was, however, one figure who refused to shed a tear. This was Thokk, the giantess, whom no one doubted was actually Loki in disguise.

8. In celebration of the life of Balder, the gods joined the elves in a huge feast. This was held in the hall of Aegir. Where was this hall located?

Answer: Under the sea

Aegir was the god of the sea, and he ruled over his underwater kingdom with his wife, Ran.

The gods and elves ate and drank and compared weapons and stories of prowess on the battlefield. Mead and ale flowed all night, as it was brewed in the enormous cauldron of Hymir, father of Tyr, and the gods enjoyed themselves for the first time since the death of Balder.

The joviality of the occasion was short lived, as Loki soon arrived. The malicious god traded insults with just about every god and goddess in attendance, and spread bitterness throughout Aegir's hall.

9. After ruining the feast in Aegir's hall, Loki knew his time amongst the gods was over, and he fled to a home high up in the mountains. Paranoid of being tracked down and captured, which creature did Loki transform into in an attempt to disguise himself?

Answer: A salmon

The trouble-causing deeds of Loki had gradually become evil, and the death of Balder was seen as the final straw for many of the gods. The harsh words which Loki spewed out upon his arrival at Aegir's hall simply confirmed that he needed to be dealt with.

Loki built an inconspicuous house atop a high mountain, and put a door at each wall so that he could see in every direction. As time passed, he became more and more scared of the gods finding him and punishing him for his actions.

10. Loki was right to be paranoid, as nothing escaped Odin's gaze, and a group of gods soon arrived to capture and punish the trickster. Loki was bound to a rock, where he would remain until the final battle, Ragnarok. Which other action was taken to punish Loki?

Answer: A snake's venom would continuously drip onto his face

The gods were fond of Sigyn, who stayed by her husband's side, holding a bowl between the face of Loki and the dripping fangs of the suspended snake.

The sons of Loki - Vali and Narvi - also met a gruesome end, as Vali was transformed into a vicious wolf, and attacked his brother, killing him. The intestines of Narvi were actually used as the chains which bound Loki.

Loki would remain bound to this rock until Ragnarok, where he would face Heimdall, his rival.

Source: Author doublemm

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Norse Myth: The Death of Balder Quiz

The biggest blow to the gods prior the final battle was the death of Balder, the god of light and beauty. As my final quiz in this series, this quiz looks at his death, and the events which followed. Enjoy!

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