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10 Questions about Norse Mythology | Humanities

My Norwegian ancestry prompts me to employ this subject in my first attempt at a quiz. There are many parallels in Norse mythology with other cultures' folklore regarding the creation myth and the development of the human race. God lykke!

A multiple-choice quiz by froghair2. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
froghair2

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
338,941

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
517

Question 1 of 10

1. Who was the author of "The Prose Edda", written around 1220 CE, a well known source of Norse mythology? He was a native of Iceland. Hint

Dag Hammarskjold

Snorri Sturluson

Reykjavik the elder

Hans Jacob Wang

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Question 2 of 10

2. Ragnarok is a critical event in Norse mythology. It has its counterpart in other major religions of the world. What does this event signify? Hint

the beginning of man's time on Earth

the end of the world

the ascension of Norse Royalty

the birth of Odin

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Question 3 of 10

3. By what means was Balder, the beloved Son of Odin and Frygge, and brother of Hod murdered? Hint

Mistletoe dart

A magic spell

Poisoned food

Ash tree dart

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Question 4 of 10

4. How is Nifleheim, the cold dark place of the dead that is ruled over by Hel, reached? Hint

by way of Bifrost

via one of the roots of Yggdrasil

through Asgard

through Midgard

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Question 5 of 10

5. Where do the Valkyries take the heroes who have died in battle? Hint

Saxland

Niflheim

Valhalla

Gladsheim

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Question 6 of 10

6. Who guards the well of knowledge from which Odin drank, forfeiting an eye for the privilege? Hint

Loki

Hodor

Balder

Mimir

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Question 7 of 10

7. What was the name of the ship that served as Balder's funeral pyre? Hint

Ringhorn

Skip

Naglfar

Jotunheim

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Question 8 of 10

8. Thrym, king of the frost giants, was put to death with what instrument?
Hint

A mistletoe dart

Thor's hammer

A magic sword

Gungnir

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Question 9 of 10

9. Who was one of three monstrous offspring of the giantess Angrboda, Loki's mistress, and Loki the sly one? This monster was said to have surrounded Midgard and bit his own tail. Hint

Jormungand

Balder

Ask

Fenrir

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Question 10 of 10

10. According to Snorri Sturluson, where did the family of Norse mythology originate? Hint

Turkey

Norway

Iceland

Saxland

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who was the author of "The Prose Edda", written around 1220 CE, a well known source of Norse mythology? He was a native of Iceland.

Answer: Snorri Sturluson

Snorri Sturluson was born in Iceland in 1179, the Son of a local chieftain. He became quite wealthy and politically influential in Iceland during his lifetime. His work has become a standard reference source for Norse mythology.

2. Ragnarok is a critical event in Norse mythology. It has its counterpart in other major religions of the world. What does this event signify?

Answer: the end of the world

Ragnarok can be equated to Armageddon, the great battle preceding the destruction of the world. It can also be likened to Gotterdammerung, the "twilight of the Gods" in Germanic mythology.

3. By what means was Balder, the beloved Son of Odin and Frygge, and brother of Hod murdered?

Answer: Mistletoe dart

Mistletoe was the only substance on earth that could harm Balder. Through the sly and evil machinations of Loki, Balder's blind brother Hod (also sometimes given as Hoder) was induced to throw a mistletoe dart at Balder, which killed him instantly.

4. How is Nifleheim, the cold dark place of the dead that is ruled over by Hel, reached?

Answer: via one of the roots of Yggdrasil

Yggdrasil is the ash tree or world tree with three roots, one extending into Niflheim, one into Midgard and one into the world of the frost giants. Bifrost is the bridge between Midgard and Asgard. Midgard is the home of men and Asgard is the home of the gods.

5. Where do the Valkyries take the heroes who have died in battle?

Answer: Valhalla

The Valkyries carried half of those slain on the battlefield to Vallhalla. The other half were transported by Freya/Freyja to the after-life field, Folkvanger. Niflheim is the the realm of the dead presided over by the monster Hel. Gladsheim is the home of gladness or joy and Odin's seat. Saxland is the old Scandinavian name for Northern Germany

6. Who guards the well of knowledge from which Odin drank, forfeiting an eye for the privilege?

Answer: Mimir

Mimir was killed by Odin's enemies, the Vanir. Odin saved the head of Mimir and set it to guard the well of knowledge.

7. What was the name of the ship that served as Balder's funeral pyre?

Answer: Ringhorn

As Balder's body was placed on his ship Ringhorn, his wife was so stricken that she died at the scene. She was placed on the ship alongside Balder. Naglfar is a ship made from dead men's nails. Jotunmeim is the home of the giants. Skip is the Norwegian word for any ship, not the name of a specific one.

8. Thrym, king of the frost giants, was put to death with what instrument?

Answer: Thor's hammer

Thrym, the frost king, stole Thor's hammer and asked for the hand of Fryja in marriage as ransom for it. Through trickery, Thor recovered his hammer and with it smashed the skull of Thrym, killing him. Gungnir was Odin's magic spear.

9. Who was one of three monstrous offspring of the giantess Angrboda, Loki's mistress, and Loki the sly one? This monster was said to have surrounded Midgard and bit his own tail.

Answer: Jormungand

Ask was the first man created by the sons of Bor. Balder was the son of Odin and Frigg. Jormungand, sometimes called the 'Midgard Serpent', had two other monstrous siblings, Fenrir the wolf and Hel, who presided over Niflheim.

10. According to Snorri Sturluson, where did the family of Norse mythology originate?

Answer: Turkey

According to Sturluson, the ancient antecedants of Norse mythological figures lived in Troy, or Turkey as it is known today. To really confuse the issue, the original progenitor of this race of gods was named Thor. Thor moved north and married a prophetess named Sibyl or Sif. Nineteen generations later, a son named Voden, or Odin, the chief god was born.

Two excellent books on this subject are "The Prose Edda" by Snorri Sturluson (Penguin Books) and "The Norse Myths" by Kevin Crossley-Holland (Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library).

Source: Author froghair2

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.
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