1/6/20 Wayne Koh PD1

1/6/2020
Modern Mythology 2020
Wayne Koh
PD 1
Aim: How does Norse mythology demonstrate lessons of promises and consequence through
Loki’s character?
Group 1: Zuting Chen, Junhong Li, Serena Low, Belinda Zhang, Benjamin Zhu, Andrew Ou
We began the lesson by starting off with a pair-and-share, which asked:
1) What is the role of the antagonist in a story? Why are they important?
 Most of the class answered that the antagonist acts almost like a plot device and progressed the
story further. In the case of myths, the antagonist/villain shapes the story and teaches the
protagonist a lesson.
2) To you, what excuses deception?
Our group believed that deception can be excused if it was well-intended. For example, a
surprise party requires deception of some sort in order for it to be a surprise. In this case, the
intention can be excused, as it has good intentions.
The discussion transitioned onto the topic of Loki, which asked us:
1) What do you know about Loki? Why is he a “foreigner,” in a way, among the gods?
Loki is the most conspicuous out of all the Norse gods. He is a child of giants and was supposed
to be a frost giant, but was too weak to become one. As a result, his father left him and Odin felt
pity for him and took him in, despite being a child of giants. However, Loki does not cooperate
well with the other gods, often playing pranks on them. Although being very mischevious, Loki
is also known for being clever and wise, where even the gods would ask him for advice.
Labeling Loki as a “foreigner” is appropriate for his problematic and beneficial demeanor.
Following this discussion, we were presented with a slide of facts about Loki.
● Germanic root for his name “luk” - “one who causes knots”
● Related by blood oath to all-father Odin
● Prophesied to side with giants during the war (Ragnorok)
The Treasures of the Gods is a Norse myth that explained the origins of the many tools the gods
used. The myth goes as follows:
● Thor woke up to find Sif, his wife, with her hair missing. Knowing it was Loki, he
confronts him about it. Loki tells Thor that the dwarves would be able to make golden
hair for Sif.
● Loki convinces two families of dwarves (Brokk and Eltri, 3 Sons of Ivaldi) to take on
each other in a test of skill to make three treasures for the gods.
○ Brokk demanded Loki’s head if he won, to which he reluctantly agrees.
● During the process of forging, Loki tries his best to distract Brokk and Eltri by
transforming into a fly and sabotaging them.
○ Brokk is able to resist until he flinches for a split second; the hammer that he
makes is then too short from this mishap.
● Gifts of Brook and Eltri
○ Draupnir
■ Gold ring capable of multiplying itself
○ Gullinbursti
■ Huge boar with bristles of gold, capable of racing over the sky and sea
○ Mjollnir
■ Lighting maker, will always be undamaged, will always return to the
thrower, can change in size
■ Defect: the handle is too short
● Gifts from 3 Sons of Ivaldi
○ Gugnir
■ Spear capable of penetrating anything, always hits target
○ Golden Hair
■ Made of real gold, intended for Sif
○ Skíðblaðnir
■ Silk scarf that unfolded into a full-sized ship, will always have fair wind
● Gods decide that the gift of Brokk and Eltri are superior and as Brokk attempts to collect
his prize, Loki points out that Brokk has only won his head, but not his neck, saving
himself through clever loopholes.
The second myth that was discussed in class was The Master Builder. A video was shown
explaining the myth.
Summary:
Thor left Asgard and left it unprotected. Somone mysterious offers to build a wall for
them in about a year in exchange for the hand of the god Freyja. This offer is then brought up to
the gods. Originally, they decline, but Loki convinces them otherwise, saying they could make
the deed impossible by shortening the time limit and to finish building the wall that the
mysterious man started. The new time frame was now one season and the builder agrees. As he
works, the time deadline approaches, but so was the completion of the wall. In an attempt tosabotage the master builder, Loki transforms into a beautiful mare and lures the builder’s stallion
away, causing the builder to miss the deadline.
The lessons that were explained to us for each myth was:
● Do not make promises you can’t keep
○ Loki being unable to deliver his head to Brokk
○ Loki promising to the other gods that the builder would not be able to finish
● Thing are not always what they seem
○ Dwarves determined to work through Loki’s attempts of sabotage
○ Builder was revealed to be a giant
● Treat all with respect
○ Asgardians think of giants and other beings to be inferior. In their attempt to find
protection, they invited a giant (the builder) onto their land.