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Odin’s Quest for Wisdom: Teacher Guide 71
BACKGROUND
hen the Norse people thought of Odin, their chief god, they did not think of a compassionate being. Odin was primarily a war god—one who coldly decided the fates of men in battle. He was also a grim god. In the great hall of Valhalla, he refuses to eat—simply throwing his portion of meat to the wolves at his feet. But in spite of his stoic nature, Odin was at times also a giving god. One of his gifts he gave to men was the knowledge of runes (or mystical writing symbols). Along with the other gods, he worked tirelessly to put off the inevitable Day of Doom, Ragnarok, which would mean destruction for the entire world and most of the immortals. Odin was also a god of wisdom, and he paid a great price to receive it—one of his eyes. But it was not this price that made him so grim. It was the wisdom that he gained. In this myth Odin sees the end of the world and how Ragnarok cannot be prevented, yet he vows to face that day boldly. It’s interesting that the Norse people, who too often get stereotyped as thoughtless Viking invaders, knew that wisdom was important, but that it sometimes brings great sadness. “Ignorance is bliss” is the old saying. Grim Odin carries the burden of wisdom upon his shoulders.
SUMMARY
aily Hugin and Munin, Odin’s two ravens, bring him news from the worlds below. Their news has become increasingly grimmer—evil is
growing, and Odin’s heart is troubled. He decides to visit the three Norns, mystical creatures who can tell him the future. Odin intends to visit the Norns by himself, but some of the other gods notice his departure and decide to tag along—much to his chagrin. When the party reaches the Rainbow Bridge, Heimdall will not allow Thor to cross with his hammer. The weight of the hammer will cause Bifrost to collapse. Thor is forced to journey to the Norns through the rivers of cloud. The gods make their way over the Rainbow Bridge and journey to the Well of Urda, where the Norns sit day after day. The Norns allow Odin to look into each of their eyes—for a glimpse of the past, present, and future. The future that Odin sees is grim—the gods and all the world will eventually be destroyed in a cataclysmic battle against the giants. Odin asks if there is any way that this future can be changed. The Norns tell him to consult with Mimir, the wise one. Mimir is the wisest creature in the world, and he always asks a steep price for a single drink from his pool of wisdom. Odin leaves the rest of the gods behind and journeys to Mimir’s Well. On his way, Odin encounters a giant riding on an enormous stag. The giant challenges Odin to a riddle game. The winner will get to cut off the loser’s head. After Odin answers the giant’s three tough questions, the giant realizes that Odin must be a god in disguise. Then Odin stumps the giant by asking, “What will be Odin’s last words to his son, Balder?” Instead of slaying the stumped giant, Odin allows him to go free. Odin finally reaches the Mimir’s Well, and Mimir asks for one of Odin’s eyes in return for a drink. Odin weighs his options and then agrees. He drinks from the well and sees that Ragnarok cannot be
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ODIN’S QUEST FOR WISDOM
TEACHER GUIDE
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prevented. However, he also perceives that after the world is destroyed, it will be reborn and new gods will rule over it. Before he leaves, he plucks out one of his eyes, and it still lies at the bottom of Mimir’s Well as a testament to the price that Odin paid for wisdom.
ESSENTIAL questions
Why is wisdom important? Can knowledge sometimes bring you sadness? Is ignorance bliss? Can your fate be altered? Why is sacrifice sometimes necessary?
ANTICIPATORY QUESTIONS
What is wisdom? How is it different from intelligence? What price would you pay in order to know the future? If the future couldn’t be changed, would you still want to know it?
CONNECT
Philosophy: Fatalism Fatalism is the belief that future events are fixed in advance and no human effort can ever change them. An opposing viewpoint would be a belief in Free Will—or that your actions directly affect your changeable future. Think about how this myth demonstrates a belief in Fatalism. How would it be different if it was influenced by a belief in Free Will?
TEACHABLE TERMS
Comedy Relief The main events of this myth are grim—Odin foresees the doom of the gods and plucks out his own eye in order to gain wisdom—but some characters have been included to provide
a relief from the dramatic tension. Which characters serve this function? Symbol Mimir’s Well, first appearing on pg. 81, is a symbol for wisdom. Wisdom is a drink. The Norse also had a myth about the Mead of Poetry, a drink that gave poetic abilities to those who drank it. Discuss these symbols. How are wisdom and poetic inspiration like a drink? Theme What theme does this myth have concerning wisdom? Consider the price that Odin paid for wisdom. What theme does this myth have concerning fate? Consider also that the gods cannot avoid their fate, but they can prolong it by noble actions. Foreshadowing Frigga’s reaction after looking into the eyes of the Norns on pg. 78 foreshadows what for Balder? What do the revelations given to Odin foreshadow for the gods?
RECALL QUESTIONS
- What is the first well the gods visit?
- Which god cannot cross over the Rainbow Bridge?
- Odin encounters a giant riding on what type of animal?
- What is Ragnarok?
- What price does Mimir ask for a drink from his well of wisdom?
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giants flourish. Men are wicked and cruel. One day it will become too much for us to control. There is no hope.
NARRATOR: Frigga bit her lip in thought.
FRIGGA: Perhaps if we consulted the three sisters? The three who keep the World Tree green and growing with their well. The Norns, Urda and her two sisters.
ODIN: What hope can they give me?
NARRATOR: Frigga took her husband’s hand into her own.
FRIGGA: Maybe not hope, but at least the courage and wisdom to face whatever lies ahead.
ODIN: (happier) You speak wisely, wife. I shall do as you ask.
FRIGGA: Good. As you know, the Well of Urd lies beneath one of the roots of the World Tree. It will be a long journey. Won’t you need companionship?
ODIN: (urgently) No, dear. The last thing I want is company on this journey. I must visit the three Norns alone.
FRIGGA: But every god here has seen your sadness. If you leave, they will wish to help. Your grief is our own.
ODIN: Then I will leave early tomorrow before Sol has begun her course across the sky. You may come with me if you wish, but I don’t want any other companions.
NARRATOR: Frigga nodded, and she did not speak a word of it. But the gods of Asgard were perceptive and knew that a journey was about to be undertaken. They
did not wish to leave their leader alone on such a quest. In the grey mists of the morning, Odin and Frigga—heavily cloaked—made their way through the gates of Asgard. Within the shadows of the gate, a deeper shadow moved and stepped forward to reveal itself as Loki the trickster.
LOKI: (coyly) Going somewhere?
ODIN: (surprised) Ah! Oh, Loki, what are you doing lurking in the shadows?
NARRATOR: The trickster smirked.
LOKI: Lurking is what I do best. Leaving early in the morning, I see—wearing suspicious‐looking hoods. I’d say someone is going for an adventure.
ODIN: (irritated) If I wanted a companion, I would have asked for one!
FRIGGA: (sternly) Odin wishes to visit the Norns alone.
LOKI: The Norns, eh? So that’s where you’re going! (annoyed) That means Balder was right. He’s always right.
ODIN: (sigh) Balder knows about this? Don’t tell me he is coming as well!
FRIGGA: (suddenly afraid) No! That won’t do at all! He’s not supposed to leave the safety of Asgard—for any reason.
ODIN: Please, Frigga! The boy is old enough to watch out for himself! (realizing he’s arguing against himself) But in this case you’re absolutely right!
LOKI: I make an excellent adventuring companion, but the rest of these fools—not
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so much. Maybe we should hurry before they get here.
ODIN: (shocked) They?
LOKI: Oh, yeah. Thor Thunder‐brain overheard Balder and I talking. I’m surprised he could understand us. We were using pretty big words. Anyway, I told Balder to just lie about where we were going. But, of course, he didn’t. Talk about a guy who needs to learn a little dishonesty.
FRIGGA: (motherly) Dishonesty. Hmph. My precious darling would never tell a lie!
ODIN: Perhaps if we leave quickly—
(muffled footsteps and talking)
LOKI: Too late.
NARRATOR: Two figures appeared through the mists. One was walking stately in perfect step. He had a handsome face and a perfectly glazed expression. He looked totally incapable of ever having a nasty thought or action. The other figure was huge and lumbering. His arms bulged with muscle, his face was overgrown with a red beard, and in his grip he carried an enormous hammer.
LOKI: (hatefully) Balder! I thought I told you to try to ditch Captain Thunder there!
BALDER: (kindly) I just couldn’t leave him behind. His heart’s in the right place.
LOKI: (sigh) His heart, yeah. But his brain? That’s a different story.
NARRATOR: Thor raised his hammer in the air and shook it violently.
THOR: (chuckling) Foolish Loki! You cannot trick the mighty Thor!
LOKI: (sudden shock) Hey, look! Is that a giant over there?
THOR: (insane rage) Where? I will smite him!
LOKI: (snicker) Heh. Heh. Sucker.
ODIN: (hissing) Shhh! Would you be quiet! You three are bad enough. I don’t want every god in Asgard tagging along! Now, let’s go.
NARRATOR: Frigga began stroking Balder’s head.
FRIGGA: (whispering sound) There. There.
ODIN: (angrily) By the Norns, woman! Leave the boy alone!
FRIGGA: (frantically) Just some traveling spells—for protection. You never know what can happen out on the open road.
ODIN: That boy will never get married at this rate.
FRIGGA: That’s fine. No woman will ever be good enough for my Balder. Will they, sweetie?
THOR: Thor is married to the beautiful Sif, a goddess with lovely golden hair.
LOKI: (sarcastically) Very good, Thor. Now, if you could only learn your address.
ODIN: I knew I should have gone on horseback.
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HEIMDALL: (shocked) Wait a minute! You can’t take that hammer on the Rainbow Bridge!
NARRATOR: The thunder god looked at him blankly.
THOR: What do you mean? I am Thor, enemy of giants. This is my mighty hammer! I take my mighty hammer everywhere I go!
HEIMDALL: (angrily) Not on this bridge, you don’t. The bridge is not as sturdy as it used to be. No offense, my friend, but you and your hammer weigh a bit more than you probably think.
THOR: I can’t believe this!
LOKI: Now that he mentions it. You have put on a pound or two. You’re kinda getting a mead‐gut.
FRIGGA: Thor, you’ve always been a bit— husky.
THOR: So I can’t cross the bridge?
LOKI: How many times does he have to say it?
HEIMDALL: (insistently) You will break the bridge! You must leave the hammer with me, or you cannot pass!
THOR: I will not leave my hammer!
LOKI: Oh well, too bad. I hate to see you go, Thor‐boy, but that’s life.
ODIN: The bridge is not the only way to Urda’s well. You could ford across those two cloud rivers there. The rivers are a
perilous path to take, as they are suffocating and deep—
LOKI: Yeah, good idea. Go that way!
NARRATOR: The thunder god looked confused. He stood silently for several seconds. Then—without a word—he dove over the edge of the bridge into the surging waves of clouds.
THOR: (fading out) Thor away!
BALDER: (distantly) Perhaps I should go that way, too. I feel sorry for him being by himself.
LOKI: Oh, shut up.
FRIGGA: (motherly) Don’t you even think about it, mister! You’re going to stay right here by your mother!
NARRATOR: The company descended the Rainbow Bridge and followed the secret paths to the root of the World Tree where Urda’s well bubbled up from the earth. There eternally sit the Three Norns—weird sisters, older than time, that water the root of Yggdrasil, keeping it healthy.
ODIN: (quietly) Say nothing to offend the Norns! They are stingy enough with their information as it is.
NARRATOR: The gods nodded their heads in agreement. Soon the giant, gnarled root of the World Tree appeared, and where it penetrated the earth sprang up a crystal pool. Three female creatures hunched around it. One was old, stooped, and haggard beyond time. One was youthful and radiant. The third could barely be seen—faded out around the edges as if maybe she were not really there at all.
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The hag‐like Norn raised her gaze from the well and pointed a warty finger at the company.
URDA: (crone‐voice) Halt! Visitors from above, what seek ye with Urda and her sisters?
ODIN: I am Odin the All‐Father.
ALL NORNS: We know.
ODIN: I have come from Asgard to seek information.
ALL NORNS: We know.
ODIN: (annoyed) Then why did you ask? As you already know apparently, I seek knowledge of the future!
VERDANDI: What is the future without present or past?
ODIN: I don’t have time for riddles! I need to know how to save the world from the evil that infests it.
SKULD: (cackle) Well, then. The answer is easy enough. The world will not be saved. Ragnarok, the Day of Doom, will come—no matter what is done.
URDA: Ragnarok—the end of all things.
ODIN: There must be some way to stop it!
SKULD: The enemies of the Æsir will overcome them.
VERDANDI: Fire will destroy the World Tree.
URDA: All of you—will die! (cackle)
NARRATOR: This news hit the gathered gods like a blow. At last, Odin spoke.
ODIN: But can it be delayed?
URDA: We cannot give you all the answers, god of above. Our answers only raise more questions, more fears. You may each look into our eyes. In mine, you shall see the past. In my fair sister’s, you shall see the present. In my faded sister’s, you shall see the future. Little hope will it bring you. You have been warned.
NARRATOR: Odin first stepped forward to peer into the eyes of each of the Norns. Afterward, his face was grim.
FRIGGA: Husband, what did you see?
ODIN: (grimly) The same doom that I heard from Hugin and Munin. I saw the fires of Ragnarok. But now I know what I must do next. Something I have put off for many years.
FRIGGA: What?
ODIN: My wisdom is not enough to see a way past this problem. I must seek another well—the well of Mimir, the Wise One.
FRIGGA: You must go then—and this time alone.
URDA: (pointedly) Queen of the Æsir, it is your turn to look!
NARRATOR: Frigga turned to confront the Norns. She looked into the eyes of the faded Norn first and then cried out.
FRIGGA: (crazily) Balder! My son! No! (weeping)
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the heights of the mountains and crossed into the land of the giants. Once he reached the far side of the mountains, Odin saw a creature approaching on the valley‐path. It was a giant riding on a humongous stag as one would ride a horse. Odin sat down by the side of the road and waited for the giant to draw nearer.
GIANT: (growling) Trespasser! Who are you and what do you want in the land of the giants?
ODIN: I am Vegtam the Wanderer, and I seek wisdom here in your land. Who are you?
GIANT: My name is not important, but know this—I am the wisest giant that ever lived, and I will kill you for passing this way.
ODIN: Is that a fact? If you are so intelligent, perhaps we should have a battle of wits?
GIANT: Fine! I will ask three questions, and then you may ask three. If you cannot answer even one of them, I win, and I shall cut off your head. If you win, you may cut off mine.
ODIN: (sarcastically) What a civilized game. Fair enough.
GIANT: You are either very brave or very foolish. I have taken many heads in my day. I have wagered my own skull in many contests, but I have never lost it.
ODIN: I see that. I understand the risk, and I will play your game.
NARRATOR: The giant dismounted, the stag was left to graze, and the two sat beneath a tree. Before the giant spoke, his knotty features assumed a cunning look.
GIANT: First question. Tell me, human— what is the name of the river that divides Asgard from Jotunheim?
ODIN: (nonchalantly) Easy. Ifling is the name of that river.
GIANT: (in shock) What? You possess great knowledge for a mortal. Very well. I underestimated you. My next question will be more difficult. What are the names of the horses that are harnessed to the chariots of the sun and moon?
ODIN: Well, that is simple. Skinfaxe and Hrimfaxe.
NARRATOR: The giant growled.
GIANT: (angrily) What? No mortal could know that! Fine. I will ask you a question about the future. What is the name of the plain on which the final battle between the giants and the gods will be fought?
NARRATOR: Odin thought back to what he had seen reflected in the eyes of the Norns.
ODIN: The plain of Vigard.
GIANT: (angrily) What? I paid dearly for that knowledge! The Norns have given you a bit of their wisdom, I see! It is your turn to ask, but I am not afraid. I know everything!
ODIN: (coyly) Then answer my question, wisest of giants. What are the last words that Odin will speak into the ears of his dying son, Balder?
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NARRATOR: The giant’s eyes grew wide, and he jumped up.
GIANT: (growling) Only Odin would know the answer to that question! You are not a mortal at all! You are Odin! Argh.
NARRATOR: The giant roared with anger and ripped the tree up by the roots. Odin remained calmly seated.
ODIN: Please. Calm yourself. Can you answer the question or not?
GIANT: (angrily) Argh! I can’t! You have won!
NARRATOR: The giant dropped the tree and re‐seated himself, with tears welling up in his eyes.
GIANT: (crying) Now, you can cut off my brilliant head.
ODIN: (calmly) I do not want your ugly head. I merely want to pass in peace.
GIANT: What? What business does Odin have in the land of the giants?
ODIN: I must drink from Mimir’s Well.
GIANT: Mimir’s well! How we giants hate it! You gods were the ones who put Mimir there to guard over it—to keep us from drinking from it!
ODIN: Any creature can drink from it, if they pay Mimir’s price. Even I must pay a price to drink. But until now, I had not been willing to make such a sacrifice.
GIANT: Many giants have gone to Mimir’s Well, but he has always asked more than
we are willing to sacrifice. Wisdom is not more important than our own selfishness.
ODIN: A good observation. You are the wisest of a foolish race.
GIANT: Thank you. (realizing) Wait a minute! Grrrr. Well, you may have beaten me in a battle of wits, but I see that you are truly the greater fool. Even Mimir’s wisdom will do you no good! Our day will come! (laughter)
NARRATOR: The giant climbed onto his stag and rode away. Odin stood, stretched, and continued his journey. He mused as he walked.
ODIN: (to himself) What if Mimir asks for something that I cannot give? There is no shame in turning back. I can easily return to Asgard, and no one will think the lesser of me.
NARRATOR: Then he thought of the Day of Doom and the death and destruction he had seen there.
ODIN: If I do not succeed, no one will.
NARRATOR: Soon his plodding feet brought him to the second massive root of the World Tree. Beneath it flowed the Well of Wisdom. Odin raised his arms and called out in a loud voice.
ODIN: I summon you, Mimir, guardian of the Waters of Wisdom!
NARRATOR: The waters began to churn, and up from them floated an aged head—its long beard dangling below it.
MIMIR: Hail, Odin! Or should I say Vegtam the Wanderer? Many years ago, I
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seemed that things could become no more bitter, Odin tasted a sudden sweetness. He saw through the sorrows. He saw why they must be borne and how through them, great good would be accomplished. He saw that while everything would one day be destroyed, from those ashes would spring a new tree, a new world, ruled by new gods. And as the last drop touched his godly tongue, peace that he had never before felt came into his heart.
MIMIR: You have drunk well, Eldest of the Gods.
NARRATOR: Odin lowered the drinking‐ horn into the pool. Then reaching his hand to his face, he calmly plucked out his eye. He made no sound as he did so. He held it out to the head of Mimir, which bowed before him.
MIMIR: (grandly) Even I, the wisest who ever lived, have learned something from you this day. Place this eye within the pool. It will lie there until the end of time, so that all might see the price that Odin, Lord of Asgard, paid for wisdom.
ODIN: Farewell.
NARRATOR: Without another word Odin turned and disappeared into the gathering gloom.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What sets the Norse gods apart from deities from other mythologies is their knowledge of their own doom. The Norse gods know that they will not live forever, and for this reason, they are often gloomier than the carefree gods of other cultures. Does this make them
more or less likeable? Does this make them more human? Explain. Is wisdom important? Explain. Should the leader of a group always be its wisest member? Explain. What’s the difference between being “wise” and being “smart”? Why do you think Odin sacrifices an eye in this myth—instead of something else? What makes the eye so important? Can wisdom bring both joy and sorrow? Explain. The Norse believed in persevering even in the face of inevitable defeat. How is that attitude reflected in this myth?
