Thor Flashcards
What is Mjöllnir used for?
It was used for multiple purposes, including peaceful ones such as reassembling dead goats and consecrating a wedding. However, it was never used to summon lighting or thunder.
Why does Thor fight giants? (3 reasons)
- Thor is responsible for policing and keeping order in a world that is not perfect to begin with.
- Fighting frost giants keeps the cold at bay (Thor here is closer to a fertility god than a god of war).
- His reputation depends on the size and strength of his enemies.
The ability to inflict violence is a prized possession, but the ability not to inflict violence even though you are very good at I, is no less of a prized possession. How does Thor utilise this notion?
Thor can resist the temptation the temptation to fight giants, even though be can. Giants are creatures that allow for the clear exposition of that problem.
What is the Lokasenna (“The Flyting of Loki”) and why was it popular?
It is a story where Loki and the other gods exchange insults at a banquet. Loki calls the goddesses at the banquet promiscuous, which carries the implication that their husbands cannot keep their wives under control nor can they satisfy them in bed. It became very popular in post-pagan times because it makes all the gods look really bad → good fodder for those who want to denigrate the old religion
Why did Thor’s popularity increase over time?
Prior to 800AD and after 800AD?
Prior to 800 AD, Thor was a relatively unpopular god as few places or people were named after him. 800 AD is the beginning of the Viking age, so Thor may have become popular the more they went to war.
Why did Thor’s popularity increase over time?
Naming?
- Naming your son after Thor in a time where he’ll likely go to war gives him extra protection and may allow him to take on attributes of Thor when he goes out pillaging.
Why did Thor’s popularity increase over time?
Denmark?
- Denmark (where Tyr is popular and Thor is not) is the centre of Germanic tribes → as the Norse people expanded and spread out (likely pillaging as they went), Thor became more popular (he ascends like Odin).
Why is Thor the god of thunder when there is no textual evidence to support this?
Thor likely began as a thunder god, but his function changed overtime and as he got popular. Additionally, his hammer, Mjǫllnir, is related to the Russian and Welsh word for lightning.
Why is Thor the god of thunder when there is no textual evidence to support this?
Ethology
Thor is derived from Proto-Germanic *Þun(a)raz (thunder), which goes back to *perk(w)unos → the PIE Thunder god (not Sky Daddy).
*per: PIE for strike
*per-kwo: PIE for “to be struck”
Looking at all PIE descendent religions, in almost all of them there is a god named in a similar way and is associated with bad weather, rain, or thunder. Because of the etymology, there is an idea that the god’s name goes back to the idea of him producing lightning and striking lightning.
What is the relationship between Thor and Loki?
Thor and Loki are opposites. Where Thor is masculinity personified, Loki is sexually transgressive. Where Thor is predictable with clarity of purpose, Loki is inscrutable and unpredictable.
- Predictability is important in a world where the relationship to gods is very transactional. (You know what and why he’ll do things).
Thor is very “straight” in all sense of the word, where Loki isn’t. To a certain extent, Loki’s function is to give Thor a very clear identity.
