Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Who are the “Norse”? When and where did they live? What do you know about their culture?

Teaching Suggestion: Depending on their prior studies, students may be aware that the Norse are associated with Scandinavia but may still be unclear about their time period and how, exactly, they are related to “Vikings.” Some students will have watched movies and television shows about Vikings and know quite a lot about some aspects of Norse culture—but these students may also have a biased understanding because of the focus of most popular media on just a part of Norse culture. After giving students time to explore what they already know, you might offer them one or both of the resources linked below to extend their understanding and ensure that they have accurate information.

• This article from Scandinavia Facts clarifies the relationship between the terms “Norse” and “Viking.”
• This article from World History Encyclopedia offers an overview of Vikings and Norse culture.

2. What do people mean when they call a story a “myth”? What are some of the functions of myth within a culture?