1/6/20 Daniel Knutsen Period 8

1/6/20

Daniel Knutsen, Pd 8

Modern Mythology

Blogger #10

(I presented the project today, the lesson plan is as follows)

Aim: How did the Norse view the significance of trickery? (Skill Focus: 11-12SL1- Comprehension and Collaboration)

D.N.: Group Kahoot 

https://create.kahoot.it/share/loki/4ae38951-ec9d-46f5-a7ce-92055494f50a 

Background

(Class reads outloud)

Loki is often referred to as the trickster god but he is not actually a god. He is a Jotun, which is a giant. He is the son of the giants Farbauti and Laufey. The reason Loki lives in Asgard is because of the blood pact he made with Odin making Odin and Loki “blood-brothers”.

(We read)

• Loki is both an outsider and an insider. He is not technically a god but he dwells in Asgard like a god. 
• As we know, Loki tends to play tricks and start trouble. 

(Ask the class)

Do you think it is because it is in Loki’s nature to be mischievous or because of his situation? (Independent Brainstorming)

• Answer: Both nature and nurture can be argued. Loki may like to play tricks because it is in his personality. But he may also cause trouble because he feels out of place and wants attention. He can be compared to a child who purposely starts trouble to get attention. He may feel the need to create problems so he has a purpose. As seen in the reading, Loki had to find a way to get Sif’s hair back. He had to utilize his skills in trickery to get the dwarfs to forge Sif’s hair in addition to the treasures. So unlike gods like Thor who is needed to defend Asgard and Midgard, or Odin who acts as a leader, Loki cannot use his strengths unless he himself creates trouble. 

Role of the Trickster

(We read slide)

A rough translation of Loki is “knot” or “tangled”.

By definition, a trickster is someone who cheats or deceives people. All cultures have stories of a trickster.  

(Ask)

What are some examples of tricksters in other cultures? What might be the function of a trickster?

Answer: Examples of Tricksters

• Lucifer/Satan
• Hermes: god of thieves and inventor of lying 
• Prometheus tricked Zeus and stole fire
• Seth in egytian myth

A trickster can be used to explain the creation of something. But often, they are reflections of humans acting out their urges and desires. There is usually always a price to be paid for trickery. In Loki’s case, the dwarf asked for his head because he knew Loki was tricking them. Stories where the trickster has to fix his mistake may have been used to teach a moral lesson about the consequences of bad behavior. 

Satan is known as the adversary in the Old Testament. As we learned, he represents humans. In the Old Testament he is not yet known as the “devil”. Like Loki, he is not necessarily evil but an opposer. 

Loki shows us how people use other ways to get what they want. Being tricky is a type of intelligence and a way of survival. Norse are not all about brawn. Even Odin is cunning. In the story of Loki’s three children, they trick Fenrir into the chains to prolong Ragnarok. Think about battles. In war, there are strategies to winning. To survive, you have to be smart and quick-witted too. 

(... leads into next slide- does that mean the end justifies the means)

Deception/Enemy

Quote: “You resented him even when you were at your most grateful, and you were grateful to him even when you hated him the most.”

Questions (NOT pair/share): Is deception justified if it is means to an end

Is a threat (common enemy) necessary for growth?

Answer: 

• Ex. Mukden incident/ U.S.S. Maine
• If everyone was courageous then everyone is perfect and there won't be anyone to fight against
• It depends on the situation
• Trickery is necessary BALANCE
• It is a form of survival

• Loki is very important in norse myth (why would they associate him with trickery)
• Norse existence is based on battle

• Perhaps, In their minds, a common enemy is necessary because that’s how they live

Norse Times: Put Yourself Into Their Shoes 

Tribes warring with each other in a frigid cold environment. A constant battle against certain death. Famine, disease, and raids were commonplace and could occur at any time, and 30-40% of children barely made it to adulthood. So hard work and unity were necessary for survival. There was no place for trickery in the common day since everyone had to try their absolute hardest, whether it be plowing the fields, or taking care of the children, in order to just barely survive. This is why bravery and determination were traits for an ideal person. Now it isn’t so hard to understand why gods like Thor and Odin were looked up to while Loki, the trickster, was looked down upon. 

Connection to the Real World

In the real world, things aren’t straight black and white. Many times there are grey areas. Trickery is a “bad” thing but that depends on who is the one doing the tricking and who is the one being tricked. In the two stories, Loki tricks others to do work for him and get him out of trouble. While what he did was “wrong” he still ended up benefitting the Aesir at the cost of those he tricked. There’s a saying about how history is decided by the victor and in most cases, victory is won through trickery and deceitful means. 

Reflection:

This project was a fun and challenging approach to learning about and utilizing our knowledge of Norse mythology. Putting together a full lesson plan, with quizzes and a powerpoint, that needed to span the full period AND keep the class interested was a challenge. Surprisingly, teaching the lesson proved to not be as daunting as it seemed. By following our plan and following how Mrs. Fusaro would typically teach a lesson, it was not as tricky as we may have thought. Overall it was a good experience, not only for the course material but for expanding social skills and our ability to talk in front of our peers.