Myths of the Norsemen by Roger Lancelyn Green

(New York: Puffin, 1962), 257

Plot

Yggdrasill the World Tree: The creation of the world from the void of Ginnungagap, where fire and ice meet to form the frost giant Ymir and the cow Audumla. The Æsir gods—Odin, Vili, and Vé—slay Ymir and fashion the world from his body. The great ash tree Yggdrasill stands at the center of the nine worlds, with the Norns tending its roots.
Odin in Search of Wisdom: Odin sacrifices his eye at Mimir's Well in exchange for wisdom, and hangs nine days on Yggdrasill to win the secret of the runes. He wanders the worlds in disguise seeking knowledge, and learns from the Norns the doom that awaits the gods at Ragnarök.
The Apples of Iduna: The giant Thiassi captures Iduna and her golden apples of immortality, causing the gods to age and wither. Loki, who helped Thiassi in the first place, is forced to rescue her by borrowing Freya's falcon cloak and flying her back to Asgard in the form of a nut.
Loki and the Giants: Loki cuts off Sif's golden hair and must go to the dwarfs to have new hair made of real gold. He wagers his head with the dwarfs Brokk and Sindri, who forge Thor's hammer Mjolnir, Odin's ring Draupnir, and Frey's golden boar. Loki loses the bet but saves his head on a technicality.
Loki Makes Mischief: Loki's tricks grow more dangerous. He engineers the building of Asgard's walls by a giant mason and his stallion Svadilfari, then shape-shifts into a mare to prevent the giant from finishing on time, later giving birth to Sleipnir, Odin's eight-legged horse.
Freya the Bride: The giant Thrym steals Thor's hammer and demands Freya as his bride in ransom. Thor disguises himself as Freya in a bridal veil, travels to Jotunheim with Loki, and reclaims Mjolnir at the wedding feast by shattering the giants.
Thor's Visit to Utgard: Thor, Loki, and Thialfi journey to Utgard-Loki's hall where they face seemingly impossible contests: an eating match, a foot race, drinking from a horn, lifting a cat, and wrestling an old woman. All are revealed as illusions—the horn was connected to the sea, the cat was the Midgard Serpent, and the old woman was Old Age herself.
Odin Goes Wandering: Odin travels among mortals in disguise, testing their hospitality and wisdom. He visits the wise giant Vafthrudnir for a riddle contest, wagering their heads, and wins by asking what Odin whispered in Baldur's ear on the funeral pyre—a question only Odin can answer.
Geirrodur the Troll King: Thor journeys without his hammer to the hall of the giant Geirrodur, aided by the friendly giantess Grid who lends him her belt of strength, iron gloves, and staff. Thor survives deadly traps and slays Geirrodur by hurling a molten iron bolt back at him.
The Curse of Andvari's Ring: The origin of the Doomed Treasure—Odin, Loki, and Hönir kill an otter who is actually Otter, son of Hreidmar. To pay the blood-price, Loki captures the dwarf Andvari's gold, including a cursed ring. The curse passes through Sigurd, Fafnir, Regin, Brynhild, and the Nibelungs, destroying all who possess it.
Ægir's Brewing Kettle: Thor and Tyr journey to the giant Hymir to borrow his enormous brewing kettle for Ægir's feast. During the visit Thor goes fishing using an ox-head as bait and hooks the Midgard Serpent Jormungand, nearly hauling it from the deep before Hymir cuts the line in terror.
The Death of Baldur: Baldur dreams of his own death. Frigga extracts oaths from all things not to harm him, but overlooks the mistletoe. Loki discovers this and fashions a dart of mistletoe, guiding blind Hodur's hand to throw it. Baldur dies and descends to Hel. Hermodur rides to Hel to plead for his return, but the giantess Thokk (Loki in disguise) refuses to weep, and Baldur must remain among the dead.
Vali the Avenger: Odin's son Vali, born for the purpose of vengeance, grows to full strength in a single day and slays Hodur to avenge Baldur's death.
The Punishment of Loki: The gods hunt Loki down after unmasking his guilt. He is bound beneath the earth with the entrails of his own son, and a serpent drips venom onto his face. His faithful wife Sigyn holds a bowl to catch the poison, but when she turns to empty it, Loki writhes in agony, causing earthquakes.
Ragnarök: The twilight of the gods arrives. Loki breaks free, the Midgard Serpent rises from the sea, the wolf Fenris swallows the sun, and the fire giant Surt leads his armies across Bifrost. The gods fight their final battle: Odin falls to Fenris, Thor slays the Serpent but dies from its venom, Heimdall and Loki kill each other. The world burns and sinks beneath the waves—but rises again, green and renewed, with Baldur returned and a new age begun.

Characters

Odin (Allfather): King of the Æsir, god of wisdom, war, and death. Sacrificed an eye for wisdom and hangs on Yggdrasill for the runes. Wanders the world in disguise as an old man.
Frigga: Odin's wife, queen of the Æsir, goddess of marriage. Extracts oaths from all things to protect Baldur, but fatally overlooks the mistletoe.
Thor: God of thunder, Odin's son, wielder of the hammer Mjolnir. The strongest of the gods, protector of Asgard and Midgard against the giants.
Loki: Trickster god, blood-brother of Odin, son of the giant Farbauti and Laufey. Grows from mischievous to malicious, ultimately causing Baldur's death and fighting against the gods at Ragnarök.
Baldur: Son of Odin and Frigga, the most beautiful and beloved of the gods. His death is the turning point that sets Ragnarök in motion.
Tyr: God of war and justice, who sacrificed his hand in the binding of the wolf Fenris.
Heimdall: Watchman of the gods, guardian of Bifrost. Possesses the Gjallarhorn which he will blow at Ragnarök.
Freya: Goddess of love and beauty, twin sister of Frey. Owns a falcon cloak and the necklace Brisingamen.
Frey: God of fertility and harvest, twin brother of Freya. Wields a magic sword and rides the golden boar Gullinbursti. Wins the giantess Gerda as his bride.
Bragi: God of poetry, husband of Iduna.
Iduna: Keeper of the golden apples of immortality that preserve the gods' youth.
Hel: Loki's daughter, ruler of the dead in the underworld realm also called Hel.
Fenris Wolf: Loki's monstrous son, bound by the gods with the magical chain Gleipnir. Breaks free at Ragnarök and swallows Odin.
Jormungand (Midgard Serpent): Loki's son, cast into the ocean where it grows to encircle the world. Thor's mortal enemy.
Sigyn: Loki's faithful wife who holds the bowl to catch the serpent's venom during his punishment.
Hodur: Blind god, unwitting instrument of Baldur's death when Loki guides his hand.
Hermodur: Son of Odin who rides Sleipnir to Hel to plead for Baldur's return.
Vali: Son of Odin, born to avenge Baldur by slaying Hodur.
Vidar: Silent son of Odin who avenges his father at Ragnarök by slaying Fenris.
Sif: Thor's wife, whose golden hair Loki cuts off, leading to the forging of the gods' greatest treasures.
Njord: Father of Frey and Freya, god of the sea and winds. Marries the giantess Skadi.
Skadi: Giantess and wife of Njord, who chose him by his feet mistaking him for Baldur.
Thiassi: Giant who kidnaps Iduna and her apples, slain by the gods when Loki rescues her.
Thrym: Giant who steals Thor's hammer and demands Freya as a bride.
Utgard-Loki: King of the giants who deceives Thor with illusions and impossible contests.
Andvari: Dwarf whose cursed ring and gold bring doom to all who possess them.
Sigurd: Greatest of mortal heroes, slayer of the dragon Fafnir, bearer of Andvari's cursed ring.
Surt: Fire giant who leads the forces of Muspelheim at Ragnarök and sets the world ablaze.
Ymir: The primordial frost giant from whose body the world was made.
Audumla: The primordial cow who nourished Ymir and licked Buri free from the ice.
Mimir: Wise guardian of the well beneath Yggdrasill where Odin sacrificed his eye.
Norns (Urd, Verdandi, Skuld): Three beings who tend Yggdrasill and weave the fates of gods and men.

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The Æsir and the Giants: family tree from Ginnungagap

Places

Asgard: Home of the Æsir gods, a mighty fortress atop the world connected to Midgard by Bifrost. Contains Valhalla and the halls of the gods.
Midgard: The world of men, fashioned from Ymir's body, encircled by the ocean where the Midgard Serpent lies.
Jotunheim: Land of the frost giants, a vast and perilous realm beyond the borders of Midgard.
Niflheim: The world of ice and mist in the north, one of the two primordial realms whose meeting with Muspelheim created life.
Muspelheim: The world of fire in the south, ruled by the fire giant Surt who guards it with a flaming sword.
Hel (Niflhel): The underworld realm of the dead, ruled by Loki's daughter Hela, where those who die of sickness or old age are received.
Valhalla: Odin's great hall in Asgard where the Einherjar—warriors slain in battle—feast and fight in preparation for Ragnarök.
Bifrost Bridge: The rainbow bridge connecting Asgard to Midgard, guarded by Heimdall. It shatters under the weight of Surt's armies at Ragnarök.
Yggdrasill: The great ash tree at the center of the nine worlds, tended by the Norns. Its roots reach to the wells of wisdom, fate, and the underworld.
Mimir's Well: The well of wisdom beneath Yggdrasill where Odin sacrificed his eye for a drink of its waters.
Utgard: The stronghold of the giant Utgard-Loki in Jotunheim, where Thor is deceived by illusions.
Ginnungagap: The yawning void that existed before creation, between Niflheim and Muspelheim, where ice and fire met to create Ymir.
Alfheim: Home of the light elves, given to Frey as a tooth-gift.
Svartalfheim: Underground realm of the dwarfs, master smiths who forge the gods' greatest treasures.

Topic: Mythology, Kid's Books

Source

Becca kid's Christmas 2025

Created: 2026-01-01-Thu
Updated: 2026-06-01-Mon