⭐ King Odin’s Wisdom – Summary & Exercise Solutions | Class 12 Major English (NEB)
Norse Mythology | Odin’s Sacrifice for Wisdom
📘 SHORT SUMMARY
King Odin’s Wisdom – Short Summary
“King Odin’s Wisdom” is a mythological story about Odin’s deep desire to gain wisdom to protect Asgard and Midgard from the giants. During his journey, he meets the giant Vafthrudner, who challenges him with three difficult riddles. Odin answers them all correctly and proves his intelligence.
Later, seeking even greater knowledge, Odin reaches Mimir’s Well, where wisdom is hidden in its water. To drink from the well, he must sacrifice his right eye. Odin accepts the painful price, drinks the water, and gains the ability to see both the present and the future. The story highlights the values of sacrifice, courage, responsibility, and the pursuit of wisdom.
📚 LONG SUMMARY
King Odin’s Wisdom – Long Summary
King Odin, the oldest and wisest of the Norse gods, is known for his sacrifices for both the world of gods and the world of humans. Worried about the growing threat of the giants, he realizes that he needs even greater wisdom to protect Asgard and Midgard. His two messengers—a raven and a wolf—inform him about Mimir’s Well, a magical source of knowledge. Determined to drink from it, Odin disguises himself as a wanderer and begins his journey.
On the way, he encounters the giant Vafthrudner, who is famous for testing visitors with riddles. Anyone who fails loses their head. Odin accepts the challenge. Vafthrudner asks three riddles, and Odin answers each one correctly, surprising the giant. When Odin begins asking his own questions, Vafthrudner realizes that only Odin—the Allfather—could know such secret answers.
After defeating the giant in wisdom, Odin reaches Mimir’s Well. Mimir tells him that the price of drinking the sacred water is his right eye. Odin willingly sacrifices his eye, endures the pain without showing weakness, and drinks the water from a horn. Mimir throws Odin’s eye into the well, where it remains as a symbol of his sacrifice.
The water grants Odin the power to see events of the past, present, and future. With this newfound wisdom, he becomes capable of protecting the realms from danger. The story teaches that true wisdom requires sacrifice, bravery, and commitment to one’s duty.
📝 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
1. What did the Giant do to those who went to him and why did they fail to answer his riddles?
Answer:
The giant asked very difficult riddles to anyone who came to him. If they failed to answer, he would cut off their heads. Most people failed because his riddles were extremely challenging and only the wisest gods or giants knew the answers.
2. What condition did Vafthrudner set for Odin if either of them failed to answer?
Answer:
Vafthrudner declared that if Odin failed to answer his riddles, Odin would lose his head. Likewise, if Vafthrudner failed to answer Odin’s questions, he too would lose his head.
3. What were the three questions asked by the Giant Vafthrudner? What were Odin’s replies?
Answer:
The giant Vafthrudner asked Odin the following three questions:
a. What is the name of the river between Asgard and Jotunheim?
➡️ Odin’s answer: The river’s name is Ifling.
b. What are the names of the horses that carry day and night across the sky?
➡️ Odin’s answer: The horses are Skinfaxe (Day) and Hrimfaxe (Night).
c. What is the name of the plain where the final battle will take place?
➡️ Odin’s answer: The plain is called Vigard.