| Other Characters Dugbog
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 127
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SeerCassandraTrelawney  Cassandra raised her hand, "Well, runes are inextricably bound to Norse mythology. One who aspires to be a user of runes needs a working knowledge of the mythology and writings of the runic era. In the beginning was Muspell, the realm of fire. Then came Midgard was surrounded by an enormous ocean. Next they built Åsgard, the home of the Gods. Yggdrasil, the World-Tree, the tree of fate, arises in the center of the Midgard. Its branches reach up over Asgard and finally the Gods built a rainbow bridge called Bifröst from Asgard (heaven) to Midgard (earth). The Norse deities are divided into two major groups, the Aesir and the Vanir. The Vanir are the 'Earth Gods' and are the Aesir, the 'Sky Gods.'
"The Havamāl is part of the Elder or "Poetic" Edda, which is one of the primary written sources for Norse mythology. It is where Odin tells of how he obtained the runes and runic power." Wounded I hung on a wind-swept gallows
For nine long nights,
Pierced by a spear, pledged to Odin,
Offered, myself to myself
The wisest know not from whence spring
The roots of that ancient rood.
They gave me no bread,
They gave me no mead,
I looked down;
With a loud cry
I took up runes;
From that tree I fell.
Nine lays of power
I learned from the famous Bolthor, Bestla' s father:
He poured me a draught of precious mead,
Mixed with magic Odrerir.
Waxed and throve well;
Word from word gave words to me,
Deed from deed gave deeds to me.
Runes you will find, and readable staves,
Very strong staves,
Very stout staves,
Staves that Bolthor stained,
Made by mighty powers,
Graven by the prophetic God.
For the Gods by Odin, for the Elves by Dain,
By Dvalin, too, for the Dwarves,
By Asvid for the hateful Giants,
And some I carved myself:
Thund, before man was made, scratched them,
Who rose first, fell thereafter.
Know how to cut them,
know how to read them,
Know how to stain them,
know how to prove them,
Know how to evoke them,
know how to score them,
Know how to send them,
know how to send them.
Better not to ask than to over-pledge
As a gift that demands a gift.
Better not to send
Than to slay too many.
Excerpt from the W. H. Auden and P. B. Taylor translation of the Havamāl "Best answer by far. Five points," Shaw answered trying her best to not sneeze again. She took a deep breath and let it pass this time.
"Okay class. For homework you will have five questions, each will be four points a piece. Turn them in to me as soon as you finish them so I can grade them properly." She hoped that giving simple instructions would allow the girls to follow them easily, but she wasn't sure about all of them. "Here are you questions and class is dismissed." Quote:
1. How many runes are contained in the Old Germanic Runic alphabet?
2. Are the path of rune readings set in stone? Explain your answer besides a simple 'yes' or 'no'.
3. What is the meaning of the word 'rune'? (hint: it was stated in class)
4. What were the countries that used runes from 100 B.C.E. to 1600 C.E.? (hint: again we discussed this in class)
5. Go through the runes and pick out two that best describe your feelings at the moment. Give a description of why you have chosen those two as your answer.
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