A close study of Valhalla, myths and legends : VIKINGS (Learning Resources)

Delete - Last Modified By: JCA at 17/11/2014 7:10:46 PM

Vikings and their beliefs - from gods and pagans to Christianity.

During much of their history, Vikings were pagans who believed in a many gods, including Odin, his hammer-wielding son Thor, and the fertility goddess Freya.

ASGARD or VALHALLA

The gods lived in Asgard, an alternate world connected to Earth by a rainbowlike bridge called the bifrost.

Norse prophecy foretold that an epic end-times battle called Ragnarök would wipe out the Gods and unleash a cataclysmic (catastrophic) flood that would destroy the Earth.

ACTIVITY 1

Read Viking Beliefs and Mythology p76-7 Oxford Big Ideas History text

Discussion

1. What did the vikings believe in?

2. Does this help us understand their world view?

3. Why was Valhalla important to Viking warriors?

4. Does this help us understand their world view?

ACTIVITY 4

Research the following :

Odin

Thor

Freya

Ragnarok

Asgard

Bifrost

Valhalla

ACTIVITY 5

CREATE A POSTER - from your research on the Viking gods, select one or more and create a dynamic poster, power point OR magazine article.

Edit

Delete - Last Modified By: JCA at 17/11/2014 7:09:03 PM

CREATE A POSTER TITLED - VIKING GODS

VIKING MYTHOLOGY

Based on your understanding and interest in Viking mythology, create a poster or power point on the gods. You may choose any. Use illustrations of your own or select some from your internet research.

Edit

Delete - Last Modified By: JCA at 17/11/2014 7:10:24 PM

Vikings and their beliefs - from gods and pagans to Christianity.

During much of their history, Vikings were pagans who believed in a pantheon of Gods, including Odin, his hammer-wielding son Thor, and fertility goddess Freya.

The gods lived in Asgard, an alternate world connected to Earth by a rainbowlike bridge called the bifrost.

Norse prophecy foretold that an epic end-times battle called Ragnarök would wipe out the Gods and unleash a cataclysmic flood that destroys the Earth.

ACTIVITY 1

Discussion

What did the vikings believe in?

Does this help us understand their world view?

ACTIVITY 2

View extract from SBS series The Vikings and the History Channel DVD.

1. What important details have you discovered from these DVDs?

2. Has your view altered regarding the vikings?

Vikings and their beliefs - from gods and pagans to Christianity.

ACTIVITY 3

Discussion

1. What did the vikings believe in?

2. Why was Valhalla important to Viking warriors?

Does this help us understand their world view?

ACTIVITY 4

Research the following :

Odin

Thor

Freya

Ragnarok

Asgard

Bifrost

Valhalla

ACTIVITY 5

CREATE A POSTER - from your research on the Viking gods, select one or more and create a dynamic poster, power point OR magazine article for a viking audience.