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Thor and the Stolen Hammer: a book club kit
Where it comes from. This comes from the Poetic Edda, old Norse poems written down in Iceland about 750 years ago, and told by Vikings long before that.
In short (for the leader; it gives the ending away). Thor, the god of thunder, wakes to find his hammer Mjolnir stolen. Loki borrows Freya's falcon cloak and learns that Thrym, king of the frost giants, has hidden it and wants Freya as his bride. The gods dress Thor as the bride, and Loki goes along as bridesmaid. When Thrym brings out the hammer at the wedding, Thor grabs it and wins it back.
Reading plan, by the story's parts. Meeting 1: Part One, “The Empty Bed” and Part Two, “Loki Flies North”, pages 1–6 (about 4 minutes aloud); Meeting 2: Part Three, “The Bride” and Part Four, “The Wedding Feast” and Part Five, “Thunder in the Hall”, pages 7–16 (about 7 minutes aloud). Each stop's own questions, which never give away what comes next: Thor and the Stolen Hammer by chapter.
Questions to talk about
- What is Thor's hammer called?
The story's answer: Mjolnir. It is the mightiest weapon in the world of the Norse gods, and it always returns to Thor's hand. - Why does Thor dress up as a bride?
The story's answer: The giant king Thrym stole Thor's hammer and would return it only for Freya as his bride. The gods dress Thor in her place to get the hammer back. - Who is Loki?
The story's answer: Loki is a trickster in the Norse stories. He borrows a falcon cloak to find the hammer and goes along to the wedding dressed as a bridesmaid. - Where does the story of Thor and the stolen hammer come from?
The story's answer: It comes from the Poetic Edda, a collection of old Norse poems written down in Iceland about 750 years ago. - What does this myth explain, or try to explain?
Listen for: Many myths explain how something came to be: a season, an animal, a name. - Was the main character right or wrong? Was the ending fair?
Listen for: Myths are often hard on people; let the group disagree.
Did you know?
- It comes from the Poetic Edda, old Norse poems written down in Iceland about 750 years ago, and told by Vikings long before that.
- Thor's hammer is called Mjolnir.
- Thor rides across the sky in a chariot pulled by two goats.
Activity: Make a new myth
Each reader explains something they see every day (why cats purr, why puddles dry up) with a short made-up myth of their own, told round the circle in three sentences.
More to talk about
More facts for the leader
- Loki is a trickster among the gods. He helps Thor get the hammer back.
Words to teach before you start
- veil: face cloth
- disguise: hiding costume
- mischief: trouble-making
- feast: huge meal
- furious: very angry
Questions leaders ask
How long does a Thor and the Stolen Hammer book club meeting take?
Reading it aloud takes about 12 minutes in all, so plan 2 meetings of about 30 to 45 minutes each, with time left for the questions. The reading plan on the sheet says where to stop.
What age is Thor and the Stolen Hammer for?
It is written at Peabody level 11, a grade 6 reading level, so most children at that level can read it alone. Younger children can listen to it read aloud.
Do the children need to read it before the meeting?
No. Each child can read it free on Peabody, before the meeting or together at it, and the questions work either way. The sheet's short version gives the ending away, so keep it for the leader.
How do I use the questions?
Start with the story's own questions, which have answers in the leader's notes, then move to the open ones and listen for reasons. There is no wrong answer to an open question. Stop when the group runs out of things to say.
Club kits for stories like this
- Arachne the Weaver (level 11)
- Persephone and the Seasons (level 11)
- The Twelve Labors of Hercules (level 11)
- Atalanta and the Golden Apples (level 10)
- Baucis and Philemon (level 10)
- How Thor Got His Hammer (level 10)
How this kit is made
The short version, the facts and the first questions with their answers are the story's own, written for its page in Peabody's library and checked against the sources named there. The open questions, the activity and the plan are Peabody's, written for this kind of story. No part of it is written by a computer model.
Running the meeting: the meeting plans (30, 45 and 60 minutes) and the sign-up sheet.