There are many recurring themes in Norse mythology. Some of these themes include: bravery and heroism, death and the afterlife, honor, magic, trickery, adventure, the enchanted world, the quest for knowledge, dreams, and inspiration. In this activity, students will identify themes from Norse myths, and support their choices with details from the text. They should choose 2-4 themes and find two myths in which they appear. Teachers may choose myths and themes, or let the students decide.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard that identifies recurring themes in Norse mythology. Illustrate instances of each theme and write a short description below each cell.
Student Instructions:
Foster participation by assigning small groups to discuss different Norse myth themes. Collaboration helps students connect ideas, build confidence, and deepen understanding together.
Give each group a specific myth and a theme (like bravery or trickery). Focused analysis ensures students dive deep into one aspect without feeling overwhelmed.
Encourage students to find at least two moments in the story that highlight their assigned theme. Concrete examples help students support their ideas with textual evidence.
Ask students to illustrate key scenes and write brief descriptions explaining how each scene connects to the theme. Visuals engage learners and reinforce understanding.
Invite each group to present their storyboard and explain their reasoning. Peer teaching builds communication skills and exposes everyone to multiple interpretations of Norse mythology.
Norse mythology features themes like bravery and heroism, death and the afterlife, honor, magic, trickery, adventure, the quest for knowledge, dreams, and inspiration. These themes appear throughout the myths and help students connect stories to larger ideas.
To teach recurring themes, have students identify 2-4 themes from Norse myths and find supporting examples. Use activities like storyboarding to illustrate and describe how these themes appear in different stories.
Try a storyboard assignment where students select themes, match them to myths, illustrate key scenes, and write brief descriptions. This visual and written approach helps deepen understanding of key motifs in Norse stories.
Identifying themes helps students analyze stories on a deeper level, recognize universal ideas, and connect ancient myths to modern values and experiences.
Stories like Thor’s battle with the giants and Siegfried’s dragon slaying are classic examples showing bravery and heroism in Norse mythology. Students can compare these to identify how different characters embody this theme.