1/8/20 Gabriella Krichevsky Period 8

Gabriella Krichevsky 8th period 1/8/20 Blog

Modern Mythology 2020 #12

Aim: How does “The Mead of Poets” explain the origins of poetry and the importance of mead in norse mythology?

Do now: 1. (“quiz” on google classroom)

  2. In this alternate universe you are secretly odin and you’ve just gained the power to write beautiful poetry after drinking the mead yesterday. Perhaps you would like to boast about how you gained this gift with your cleverness. Perhaps you would like to complain about Loki and his children. Or perhaps want to get off your chest, you can speak of it with your new power, so you set off to craft a masterpiece of a poem.

^NOTE TO THE REAL YOU:

Alternate-odin-you, although devastated, will be understanding if you’ve made it clear that you have unfortunately drank the bad mead.

-Students then shared out poems they wrote.

Havamal

*link to the havamal on classroom

Take a moment to read “Odin’s quest after the Song Mead” from the Havamal.

Pair-Share- What similarities can you find between “The Mead of Poets” & “Odin’s Quest after the song Mead”?

• Describes the mead of poetry, but a shorter version.
• They mention where mead was hidden, in mountain
• Odin had his disguise
• Had additions of Poetic Edda, so it was easier to see the full picture.

Poetic Edda

The Poetic Edda consists of mostly poetry from the Codex Regius, an ancient manuscript that’s the main source of all modern knowledge of Norse Mythology. One Section of the Poetic Edda is the Havamal.

Havamal

The Havamal, a collection of poems ascribed to and presented as being words of wisdom by Odin, was originally orally passed from poet to poet for centuries before being written. The surviving Mead of Poetry story in the Havamal is incomplete. It is only in Snorri Sturlusson’s Prose Edda that we’re given a detailed version of the story. Without Snorri’s version, the Havamal wouldn’t make sense.

Poetry in Norse Culture

• Like many cultures, the Norse had a professional class of Poets and Storytellers
• Poets were both feared and honored: they were teachers, historians, advisors…
• To them, poetry was their history, literature, and mythology
• During the Viking Age, none of the stories were written down until they transitioned to Christian, and that writings became common.

...

• Odrerir- Old Norse “stirrer of inspiration”
• Kvasir
• Wisest of all men, born from the saliva of gods from Vanir and Aesir
• The Dwarfs: Fjalar “deceiver” and Galar “screamer”
• Odin turns into Bolverk - “Worker of Misfortune”
• The Giants: Suttung “Heavy with Drink” & Baugi
• Gunnlod “Invitation to Battle”

Discuss: How did the norse view poetry and wisdom? What does this reveal about Odin?

...

DISCUSS: Is Odin wrong to use trickery to gain the mead of poetry? Or were his actions justified?

Responses:

• Trickery was justified because it was his creation. He was the closest thing to owning kvesir. Trickery was better option than taking by force.
• Trickery was not good (ex: Ragnarok) but action was justified because it was selfless.
• Justified because you have to sacrifice a lot for knowledge.

Mead

• Important alcoholic drink in Norse Culture
• Initially made and served by women in the home
• Considered the drink of the gods, as well as a gift from the gods shared with humans
• It was a necessary aspect of formalizing treaties, land deals, marriages, and finalizing the will of the deceased at funerals
• A Mead Hall was a symbol of prestige and power
• In the story, drinking the mead would turn whoever into a skald or scholar

“12. Less good than they say for the sons of men is the drinking oft of ale: for the more they drink, the less can they think and keep a watch o’er their wits.” - Havamal

Parts 11-14 in the Havamal discuss the norse views towards Mead and drinking alcohol. How did the Norse feel about drinking?

• Basically saying drink in moderation
• Same idea of drinking in moderation goes through many cultures, a little goes to ego, a lot goes too far.

ANSWERS TO QUIZ (bolded)

What was Kvasir made from? *

Spit

Blood

Tears

Sweat

Who was Kvasir last seen with? *

Gilling

Fjalar and Galar

Son and Bodn

Odrerir

Why did Suttung tie the dwarfs up? *

They wanted him to tie them up.

They bragged about killing his daughter.

They had the mead of poetry.

How did the giant slaves Odin encountered die? *

Odin killed them with the whetstone.

Odin killed them with a scythe.

They didn't die.

They killed each other.

Who was set by Suttung to guard the mead of poetry? *

Gunnlod

Gilling

Galar

Bolverkr

What did Odin transform into right after Baugi finished drilling a hole into the mountain? *

Snake

Eagle

Ant

Worm

How did Odin throw Suttung off his trail when he flying back to Asgard? *

He flew high through the clouds.

He burped in his face.

Odin didn't throw Suttung off his trail.

He farted in his face.

REFLECTION:

What did I learn?

Today in class we attempted to figure out how “The Mead of Poets” explains the origins of poetry and how the mead is relevant in norse mythology. Poetry was seen as a gift to the people from the gods, and it was extremely important to them. Mead was a beverage that whenever people drank it, it would turn them into scholars able to recite anything. Poets were the scholars and were considered extremely educated people.

Why did I learn it?

The lesson today taught us about the origins of poetry in Norse mythology. This is relevant because to the Norse, poetry was their history, literature, and mythology, so almost all of Norse culture stems from poetry. This is why it is so important to learn about poetry, the mead of poets, etc., because it teaches us all about the Norse culture.

How will I use what I learned?

The lesson will help me understand more in depth of the culture of the Norse, and the Poetry we talk about ultimately will help me understand our unit of norse mythology better as well as help put it into perspective.