Runes and their world Trivia Quiz

Answer: It has no meaning.

The Futhark is divided into three different parts: 1. F u th a r k. 2. H n i a s. 3. T b m l R. We just use the first six runes to name the runic alphabet, much like the latin alphabet = Alpha Beta. No, you counted correctly, the "th" in Futhark is just one rune, Thurisaz.

Answer: 16.

It is divided into three Aetts. An Aett means an eighth, which is a reminder of the older Futhark, as it contained 24 runes.

Answer: False

Actually, wood was the material of choice. Runes are often straight, with little or no "roundness" at all, which is perfect when you want to carve a message on a piece of wood. Sadly, most of these messages have perished, but the ones we still have today shows us a very human side of the people who used them. They can cover transactions as well as love-letters and downright insults.

Answer: There are few horizontal strokes.

It is thought that the absence of horizontal lines may have arisen from the use of wood as a writing surface: a horizontal stroke might become lost in the woodgrain.

Answer: They were burned at the stake.

If you knew the secret behind the Futhark, you had better keep it to yourself. They were considered witches and magicians, and would inevitably end up toasted.

Answer: Secret.

That is the subject of runes in a nutshell. There is always another aspect to the interpretation, as runes are plastic in their appearance and meaning which makes them all the more fascinating.

Answer: False

They went from being very frugal to becoming masterpieces during the 10th and 11th century. The colours of choice were often red, white and black. People put them near their homes, or by the road, making sure that travellers would see them and read their often sad message.

Answer: True

They were raised in memory of those who perished far away in different parts of the world, as well as in memory of friends and family who died at home. They never buried people beneath runestones.

Answer: You put a dot on it.

A new invention was the "Dotted Rune". You could read the rune I as an E without the dot, but there was no mistaking it when it was dotted. Other dotted runes are (ordinary/dotted): K/G, U/Y, B/P, T/D, F/V.

Answer: It fits the Norse myths.

The U-rune means "Force" or "Power of the beginning", or "The original force". That is, the creation of Everything. From there we go through the runes towards a logical conclusion. The foremost spokesman for the Uthark-theory was Sigurd Agrell, a Swedish author. As always when it comes to runes, opinions differ.
If you wish to learn more about runes, I suggest that you search the Internet to begin with, or get a hold of a book or two containing the history and meaning behind the Futhark, preferably with pictures of runestones in them.