1/13/20 Laura Lian Period 8

01/13/20

Laura Lian #15

Period 8

Modern Mythology 2020

Aim: How does detail play a significant role in the telling of Norse mythology?

Do Now: 

1. Reading check quiz
2. Try to recall the details of your last dream. How much of it can you remember?

Cheknov’s Gun 

• The idea that elements within a story should always be necessary. 
• If an element is introduced in the story without having a meaningful effect on that story, it brings about  false promises.
• Discuss: What are some examples of Cheknov’s Gun in the Norse myths “The Death of Balder” and the “Last Days of Loki”? How is this also shown in other cultures?

• Mistletoe was deemed insignificant but it was used as the dart to kill Balder
• Loki is not bound yet but in the next story he was bound (in a horrifying way too)
• Odin was having bad dreams - sun and moon was swallowed and the significance here was that everything was directly related to Ragnarok.

• Overall, Cheknov’s Gun is implying that the element in the story does not go wasted or go into false promises.
• Norse mythology is familiar with the idea that details in stories must have a greater meaning in terms of themes or the story.

Balder

• Odin’s second & favorite son, most beloved of all the gods.
• Out of all he was the purest of the gods.
• His death was caused through the tricks of Loki and is considered one of the greatest Norse tragedies.
• Balder’s Dreams:
• Q: What do these dreams mean? What do the details remind you of?
• Foreshadowing of Ragnarok - three winters and Loki (who’s supposed to be brothers) fighting against the gods
• Loki tricked his brother into killing Odin
• Relates to the Old Testament (the brothers kill brothers)
• Balder’s Death:
• Invincibility and Perfection: Everyone in Asgard was sure that Balder was safe and indestructible. Clearly, Balder’s “invincibility” was not fall-proof. 
• Q: Why would the Norse tell a story of a perfect god just to off him in the cruelest way?
• To teach the younger generation; gods aren’t fully immortal; nobody can truly be immortal or perfect; 
• All good things must come to an end; nothing is permanent; they were having fun with Balder during the Autumn Festival so it suggests that people should have fun while they are alive.
• To let the gods be more relatable to humans 

Hermid’s Journey to Hel:

• Once Balder died almost everything in existence mourned for him. While all the funeral traditions were going on, Hermod the Nimble traveled to Helheim in an attempt to bring Balder back with Hel’s permission. Hel agreed, but only under the condition that there was proof everyone really did mourn for Balder. However, an old giantess declared that she was happy that Balder was dead and in Helheim, to which the gods realized it was Loki in disguise.

• Q: What does everything in existence mourning him say about love?
• Love is omnipresent; with love comes sadness
• Someone’s love for someone can cause a person to do many things for them. Sadness can turn to anger because of love. 

Loki

• Doer of Good and Evil; a crossbreed (God and Giant)
• Master trickster who’s sometimes helpful and sometimes hurtful
• Pushing the Gods too Far
• Loki drank too much during the autumn feast in Aegir’s hall and killed Fimafeng, Aegir’s servant, simply because he was praised for his diligence. He then insulted each god and goddess at the feast and left.
• The next morning he left for a home on top of a mountain with four windows to hide. He shapeshifted into a salmon and hid in the nearby pool during the day. While in hiding, he created a fishing net that no fish could escape.
• Loki’s Capture
• Realizing that he’s created a weapon that could be used against himself, Loki tries to burn the net and jumped into the pool.
• The net made the gods realize that Loki was disguising as a salmon, so they went to the pool and cast the net. Loki, realizing that his disguise failed, jumped out of the water to escape. But Thor caught salmon-Loki and tightened his grip; he squeezed and held the slippery salmon by its tail, which is why the fish has such a narrow tail. Loki was caught at last.
• Q: Why did Odin see that caused Loki to experience this event?
• Odin saw that Loki was trying to escape his fate which eventually led to him being caught. 

• Loki’s Punishment
• Loki is brought to a cave where he sees his family.
• His son Vali is transformed into a wolf and brutally murders Narfi, his brother.
• Loki is then bound to three rocks with Narfi’s intestines. A snake dripping poison from its fangs is placed directly above his face. 
• Sigyn, Loki’s wife, stayed with her husband to catch the poison with her bowl; Every time it’s filled she has to empty it. During that time venom drips into Loki’s eyes. He convulses in pain so strongly that it causes earthquakes. 
• Q: What does Loki’s punishment tell us about the Norse view of love?

• This implies that the Norse stresses importance on family → love for brother was so important so it was the worst punishment for brothers to devour one another and for the parents to watch. 
• Obligation = loyalty = love; Even if Sigyn didn’t want to be part of something, it’s her obligation to be there for her husband even though he was in the wrong and should be punished.

Reflection: 

Today, the student-conducted lesson was mainly about how details in Norse myths are all significant and play a role in either driving the story forward or divulging a bigger belief or idea. This was called Cheknov’s Gun. The group presenting also touched upon the nature aspects of the story, such as how the reason salmon have slim tails was due to Thor squeezing the tail of salmon-Loki, and how the venom dripping onto Loki causes him to convulse violently, thereby becoming the driving force behind earthquakes. The class talked about the overall Norse beliefs and how they are demonstrated in the myths, such as how Loki’s punishment showed us that the Norse viewed loyalty as an obligation and that it shows how Sign is obligated to remain by Loki’s side and help him even though he was in the wrong. Another example would be Balder’s death. His death shows how the Norse viewed nothing as everlasting, that all good things must come to an end, and that nothing is perfect.