Lessons - Tests

Lesson 7 - Tests and Reading

Comprehension Test

How does the (Elder) Futhark get its name?
What are the three standard divisions of the runes known as?
Which modern letters does the Elder Futhark lack?
Name two deities who are normally associated with the middle eight runes?
Who governs the section of the runes associated with forces beyond human influence and understanding?
Which two runes do some authors feel should have their positions transposed?
Name two runes suggesting affliction and suffering which are found side by side
Which rune governs the Christmas/Yule half month period?
With which season is the Berkana (Beorc) rune associated?
What may the glyph of the Isa rune represent?

Reading

In Bernard King's Way of the Runes read Chapter 1, "The Origin of the Runes" from page 4, "The Runic Alphabet" to page 12 down to "..and frequently did"

You will notice a difference in King's assignment of the Aettir. The first Aett he gives to Freya, rather than Frey, and the second to Hagal. A number of authors, including Pennick in his early books, refer to a deity Hagal, but no such god is known and none of the authors produce any evidence to support his existence. Because the other two Aettir are named after deities, it seems logical to assume that Hagal is also a god but there is nothing to directly support this hypothesis. With respect to the assignment of the first Aett to Freya, it is generally agreed that as well as being brother and sister, Frey and Freya are practically interchangeable and some writers go so far as to see them as a dual-deity.

The second Aett though remains the most controversial in its presiding gods and debate continues about who it should be assigned to. This was reflected in a discussion on the runes-divination mailing list called And the Other One which you can and should read at the group archives.

Further to King's last point about the role of women, it is interesting to note that the only description we have of a practitioner of rune magic is of a woman.

In Chapter 6 of Ruarik Grimnisson's Rune Rede, read from page 68 the paragraph beginning "Thus we can" until the end of page 71.

In Lessons 4 and 6 you met the Norns who, we said at the time, represented past, present and future. This is a rather simplistic translation of their names. An alternative, used by Grimnisson is:

That which has become

That which is becoming

That which is obliged to come

You can thus see that Grimnisson also has an alternative assignment of the three aetts, linking them with the three Norns. It is a little early for you to be drawing conclusions on this, but as you read more and get better acquainted with the runes, keep these different theories in mind and see how you feel about them, and which appeals more.

In Freya Aswynn's Principles of Runes, read from the start of Chapter 1 down to page 4 ending ".. albeit it in different languages." (this extract is available for registered students only at the Student Site).

Aswynn speaks of the "unseen web of synchronicities" that is Wyrd but does not going into much detail about it. For further clarification see the Rune School topic: What is Wyrd?

Once again you will notice that Aswynn writes with considerable passion and even ferocity when it comes to modern rune developments. You have to decide though if you agree with her.

Further Exercises

Using the list of runes given in this lesson start to seriously try to learn and memorize the rune names and their glyphs. One thing that may assist you is printing out the glyphs on this page, gluing them onto card and then writing their names on the back. You can then cut up the cards and use them to test yourself, pulling out runes at random and trying to name them from their glyph or vice versa. This is the only exercise this lesson because it is so important. You should not proceed with this course until you can recognize and name runes successfully the majority of the time.

You have completed the exercises. Select the following link for the answers
Lesson 7 - Test Answers

Please ensure you mark these exercises before moving on to the next lesson 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@runeschool.org quoting your student ID number.