Lessons - Tests

Answers Lesson 5 - Tests and Reading

Comprehension Test

1. By what name is Rig better known?
   As the god Heimdall

2. How does Thor trick the dwarf Alvis?
   He keeps him talking asking him questions and giving him an opportunity to display his wisdom and hence he doesn't notice the sun rise and turns to stone

3. What two characteristics of the god Odin are witnessed in Vathrudnismal?
   His wisdom and love of disguise

4. How does Skirnir finally persuade Gerd to accept Frey?
   By scoring troll runes

5. In what two ways are runes invoked magically?
   by scoring on wood/stone or by being chanted aloud

6. Disguised as whom does Thor visit the giant Thrym?
   As the goddess Freya

7. Who tricks Odin into killing Geirrod?
   His wife Frigga

8. From whose blood did the oceans come?
   From Ymir's

9. What were the names of the first man and woman?
   Ash and Elm

10. Why do Thor and Tyr go to visit the giant Hymir?
    In order to bring back his magic ale cauldron

Further Exercises

1. Which one you prefer is very much a matter of taste. The Hollander translation uses more poetic and archaic diction such as "gan bucklers". It preserves some of the heightened feel of poetry but at the cost of clarity. In addition it gives the poem an antique feel which may reflect how it is viewed now but would not have been the case when it was originally written.

   Observe how word order is not preserved between the two translations. Without being able to read the original it is difficult to be certain which is truer to the manuscript word order. The odd phrasing of some parts of the Hollander translation mean it is the more likely candidate though.

   The way in which Larrington starts the second verse is quite mundane, having the woods part first as in Hollander adds to the air of mystery and expectation. Woods in ancient literature being places where anything might happen. Again though this is a personal view and you may have discerned a different effect, which is fine.

Reading

Nothing further to add to our previous comments

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.

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