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Odin Facts & Worksheets

Odin was one of the Aesir gods. He was the father of all of the other Norse gods and the first god to exist.

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Odin was one of the Aesir gods. He was the father of all of the other Norse gods and the first god to exist. He was considered the father of all the gods and was primarily associated with magic, wisdom, war, poetry, and the runic alphabet.

See the fact file below for more information on the Odin or alternatively, you can download our 21-page Odin worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

THE ORIGINS

  • Odin’s name is translated as “Master of Ecstasy.” His Old Norse name, Óðinn from óðr, “ecstasy, fury, inspiration,” and the suffix -inn, means “the master of” or “an example of.”
  • Before the world existed, he and his two younger brothers, Vili and Ve, killed the primal frost giant Ymir.
  • They used Ymir’s bones, blood, and flesh to form the universe.
  • Odin arranged the heavens for the gods, the middle world for humans and dwarfs, and the underworld for the dead.
  • He then created the first man and woman from an ash tree and an elm tree.

THE SUPREME GOD OF NORSE

  • Odin had the power to change his appearance, and this shape-shifting played a part in the myth that explains Odin’s connection with poetry.
  • The wisest being who ever lived was Kvasir (pronounced VAHS-eer), whom the gods had formed from their own saliva.
  • Odin is depicted as a long-bearded, one-eyed man wearing a broad hat and a cloak.
  • He often holds his spear, called Gungnir, which he acquired from the trickster god Loki after he stole it from the dwarves who made it.
  • Odin was credited with great wisdom, including knowledge of magic and divination, in exchange of one of his eyes.
  • He impaled himself with his spear on Yggdrasil, the tree of life, for nine days to learn the secrets of writing (runes).
  • He won the mead of poetry from the giants at Jötenheim, and occasionally shares it with men of Miðgarð.
  • He is a god of subtlety and deception. This stems from his nature as the god of all verbal skills, including runic writing and poetry.
  • In his hall, Valhöll, he entertains the special chosen of the slain warriors who are to battle at his side at Ragnarök.
  • Odin often visited the other worlds in search of wisdom. He travelled in disguise – usually wearing a blue cloak and wide-brimmed hat.

ODIN’S FAITHFULS

  • The ravens Hugin (thought) and Munin (memory) were Odin’s companions. They travelled across the Nine Worlds and returned to their master’s shoulder with tales of what they saw.
  • Odin is also attended by two wolves, Geri and Freki (both names meaning “greedy”).
  • They are creatures that haunt battlefields and feast upon the slain. They may also be symbolic of a wolf-cult of Odin.
  • The most famous Norse steed was Odin’s eight-legged horse Sleipnir, who was unmatched in strength and speed.
  • Sleipnir was a son of Loki, the trickster giant that lived among the Asgardian gods.

ODIN’S FAMILY

  • Odin married Frigg, who is the mother of his sons Baldur, Hod, and Hermod.
  • With Jord, the earth goddess, he fathered Thor. He is believed to have had more sons by other wives, including Vidar from the giantess Grid.
  • With Rans, he had 9 daughters, the waves of the ocean: Heimdall. Heimdall can see to the end of the world and hear an ant move. He is the guardian of the gods.
  • With the Jotun woman Grid: Vidar. Vidar is crippled and helps those who are crippled too. He has the power to kill the giant wolf, Fenrir.
  • With the human princess Rind: Vale was born to avenge Baldur.
  • Some suggest that Tyr is also a son of Odin. But it is not clear.
  • Some manuscripts of the Skáldskaparmál provides a list of Odin’s other sons:
    • Baldr and Meili
    • Víðarr and Nepr
    • Váli, Áli
    • Thor and Hildólfr
    • Hermóðr, Sigi
    • Skjöldr, Yngvi-Freyr, and Ítreksjóð
    • Heimdallr, Sæmingr
    • Höðr and Bragi

Odin Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Odin across 21 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Odin worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Odin who was one of the Aesir gods. He was the father of all of the other Norse gods and the first god to exist. He was considered the father of all the gods and was primarily associated with magic, wisdom, war, poetry, and the runic alphabet.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • The Believers
  • Many Names
  • Odin’s Time
  • Leaders Like Odin
  • Supreme Lord
  • Modern Odin
  • Odin’s Elite
  • Odin’s Runes
  • Odin’s Fate
  • A Good Leader

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Link will appear as Odin Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, September 18, 2019

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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