Summary of a Norse Myth

Creating a plot diagram not only helps students learn the parts of the plot, but it reinforces major events and helps students develop a greater understanding of literary structures. Students will create a storyboard capturing the narrative arc of a selected myth. In this activity, students will choose, or teachers will assign, a Norse myth to create a plot diagram for. Students should identify major turning points in the myth such as the Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.

Norse Myth Plot Diagram Example

Exposition: Odin and Frigg had twin sons, Balder and Hod. Balder, who was the god of summer, sunlight, and forgiveness, was popular and well loved. Hod, on the other hand, had a much darker presence. Blind and the god of winter and warriors, he was quiet and not well known.

Conflict: Loki, the god of trickery, deceit, and shape-shifting, was envious of the attention that Balder received; he wanted him dead. Meanwhile, Balder was having dark and scary dreams about his pending death.

Rising Action: To protect her son, Frigg sent her servants to roam the earth, asking all things, both living and not living, to promise not to harm Balder. The mistletoe, which was too far out of reach, was the only thing they did not promise. Frigg told an old woman, who was really Loki in disguise, of her plan to keep her son safe.

Climax: At a party of the gods, the young gods took turns throwing things at Balder, and nothing ever touched him. When it was Hod's turn, the arrow that he threw, which was really the mistletoe that Loki had disguised, hit Balder in the heart and killed him.

Falling Action: When they tried to push Balder's funeral ship out to sea, it was too heavy. They also tried to beg the underworld for his release, but he was denied when one stubborn giant named Pokk would not agree to weep for him.

Resolution: While trying once again to push the boat, a giantess watching from the hill rode down on a wolf and helped push Balder's boat out to sea.