Courses - Tests

Lesson 11 - Answers Tests and Reading

Comprehension Test

1. In Kenneth Meadows alternative rune arrangement which is the first rune?
   Uruz (Ur)

2. What were Guido Von List's runes called?
   Armanen runes

3. Give one example of a NAZI use of the runes?
   The Sowelu (Sigil) rune as the badge of the SS which was used on uniforms, knives etc, or the Tiwaz (Tir) rune for the Hitler Youth.

4. Which rune is still a favorite with right wing extremists?
   Othila (Ethel)

5. Name a reputable organisation connected with the runes?
   Some you could have chosen include the Odin Rite and the Ring of Troth

6. Who invented the Witches Runes?
   Susan Sheppard

7. Who is probably the most controversial modern author on the runes?
   Ralph Blum

8. What is it about his style which has attracted so many readers?
   He has a clear simple style which is easily understood but verges on the poetic

9. What else did he do that increased the general acceptability of his book?
   Made the runes acceptable to Christians

10. Name a rune for which his interpretation varies considerably from the standard?
    Just about any, but Thurisaz (Thorn) as a gateway is one of the most extreme

Reading

Nothing extra to add

Further Exercises

1. Hopefully this one didn't cause you too many problems. If you found anything interesting that we might not have heard of, let us know.

2. "This is a time of major growth and rectification, and, as a rule, rectification must come before progress. The field is tilled before the seed is planted, the garden is weeded before the flower blooms, and the seed must know stillness before it can discover its true song."

   The above is taken from Blum's New Book of Runes

   • Which rune do you think this refers to?
     Both this and the other passage refer to the rune Mannaz (Man). Don't feel bad if you didn't get this though, we didn't either. We actually thought this was about Jera (Ger). In fact in our view the only way you are likely to have got this right is if you are Ralph Blum!

   • What aspects of his writing style do you think help to make this passage powerful?

     We do consider this to be a powerful piece of writing. Other than the word "rectification", the vocabulary is fairly simple which makes it quite accessible. The imagery is being strong and being natural it is something which anyone can understand and relate to. Its power comes from the use of repetition, particular the X happens before Y formula. All of these are devices used by speech writers to give a speech more impact and Blum's style is deceptively like something that is spoken aloud rather than read.

   This passage comes from Freya Aswynn's Principles of Runes, as used on this course

   "Like Wunjo this rune refers to people as a collective, be it a family, a village or a magical fraternity ... the rune of the perfected intellect, melding reason and intuition, with reason being the senior partner .. may suggest legal affairs and matters of mutual co-operation, especially when it occurs in conjunction with Ehwaz"

• Compare the style to the one above. Which is the more interesting to read?
  The vocabulary of the second passage is more complex and intellectual. There are no examples or imagery used which makes it less accessible. There are more comparisons made with other runes in the second passage though.

  Which is the more interesting is very much a personal decision. We found Aswynn more challenging which made it more interesting for us but there is nothing wrong with saying Blum

• Which is the easier to read?

  Again who you are will effect how you answer. With a college education or a good vocabulary you will probably find both passages easy to read, but most people would agree that Blum is by far the easier to read for the average person though.

• Which do you find the more informative?

  There can be little doubt here that Aswynn is by far and away the more informative. Blum manages to make effectively only one point in the whole of the passage whereas Aswynn offers considerably more information including cross-references to other runes. One of the problems with Blum is that however beautiful his writing is, he gives little or no attention to how context changes meaning, and hence his meanings are difficult to apply in readings

• Which of the two do you prefer?

  Since this course teaches respect for the heritage of the runes, we hope you prefer Aswynn. Responding emotionally to the passages as pieces of writing, we much prefer Blum, but his views on the runes are highly individualistic and quite unlike anything you are likely to find in either the Rune Poems or indeed any well-respected author. Regrettably you just cannot use his books for serious study.

• Why do you think someone might prefer the other?

  Obviously it depends which passage you chose. This though is about learning to listen to other people's views. So many people are keen to dismiss Blum out of hand without ever accepting there is a reason for his popularity, that they end up alienating people who might have stayed to listen to a different approach.

• How would you seek to change their mind

  Obviously by highlighting some of the flaws in the other work. However a question you may not have addressed is do you have a right to do this? We each have to find our own path and if someone is happy with the book they are using, just because you, or indeed the staff of the Rune School, may disagree with that as a source, does that give someone the right to interfere?

You have completed this exercise. If you got any of the comprehension answers wrong go back and look at the lesson again to work out why this happened before moving on and do not take more than one Lesson a week.

If you have any questions, comments or difficulties with the exercises and you have formally registered with the Rune School please email coursehelp@werewood.com