Reading Passage: Norse Mythology, Hel with Readers Theater

In Norse mythology, Hel is the goddess of the underworld, a place where the souls of the dead go after they pass away. Hel is the daughter of Loki, the trickster god, and the giantess Angrboda. She is depicted as a half-dead, half-alive goddess, with one side of her body being pale and beautiful, while the other is dark and decaying.

According to legend, Hel was banished to the underworld by the god Odin, who feared that she would bring destruction to the world of the living. In the underworld, Hel built a great hall named Eljudnir, which means "misery" in Old Norse. This hall was where the souls of the dead would go to be judged and sorted.

The story of how Hel came to rule the underworld is a fascinating one. According to Norse mythology, Hel was born into a family of giants, which made the gods uneasy. As a result, Odin, the chief god, decided to send her to the underworld to keep her away from the world of the living.

Once in the underworld, Hel built her great hall, Eljudnir, which was a vast and gloomy place where the souls of the dead would go to be judged and sorted. It was said that the walls of Eljudnir were made of serpent skin, the roof was made of shields, and the floor was made of swords.

When a soul arrived in the underworld, Hel would judge their actions during their life. Those who had lived good lives were sent to the halls of the goddesses, where they would be rewarded with eternal life and happiness. However, those who had lived evil lives were sent to the realm of the frost giants, where they would suffer for all eternity.

Hel was not a cruel or unjust ruler, however. In fact, she was often called upon by the living to help them communicate with their loved ones who had passed away. In some stories, she is even portrayed as a kind and compassionate goddess who sympathized with the struggles of those who lived in the world of the living.

Despite her association with death and decay, Hel was an important figure in Norse mythology. She served as a reminder of the impermanence of life and the inevitability of death. Her story also served as a cautionary tale, reminding people that the choices they made in life would ultimately determine their fate in the afterlife.
When a person died, their soul would travel to the underworld to be judged by Hel. Those who had lived good lives were sent to the halls of the goddesses, while those who had lived evil lives were sent to the realm of the frost giants, where they would suffer for all eternity.

Despite her association with death and decay, Hel was not an evil goddess. She was seen as a just and fair judge who was responsible for making sure that the dead were treated fairly. In fact, she was often called upon by the living to help them communicate with their loved ones who had passed away.

Today, Hel remains a popular figure in Norse mythology and continues to be featured in modern art and literature. Her story serves as a reminder that even in the darkest of places, there can be hope and light.

"Hel, the Just and Fair Goddess of the Norse Underworld"

Once upon a time, there was a Norse goddess named Hel. She was in charge of the underworld, a place where people went after they died. But Hel wasn't a scary goddess like you might think. She was actually quite kind, and she always made sure that everyone who came to her underworld was taken care of.

Hel had a very special companion who was always by her side, a big, black wolf named Garm. Garm was a very loyal wolf and he protected Hel and all the souls who were in the underworld.

One day, a great warrior named Balder died and went to the underworld. Balder's mother, the goddess Frigg, was very sad about her son's death and she begged Hel to let him come back to the land of the living.

Hel thought about it for a while, and she finally agreed to let Balder come back to life. But there was a catch. Balder could only come back if everyone in the world, both living and dead, agreed to weep for him.

Balder's family and friends went out into the world and begged everyone to weep for Balder. And everyone did, except for one giantess named Thokk. Thokk refused to weep for Balder, and so he could not return to the land of the living.

And so, Hel remained in charge of the underworld, but she always remembered the kindness and love that Balder's family had shown her.

From that day on, Hel continued to be a fair and just goddess who made sure that all the souls who came to her underworld were taken care of. And Garm, her loyal wolf companion, was always by her side, watching over her and protecting her.

Title: Hel, the Just and Fair Goddess of the Norse Underworld

Characters:

1. Narrator
2. Odin
3. Hel
4. Soul 1
5. Soul 2

Narrator: In Norse mythology, Hel is the goddess of the underworld. She was banished there by Odin, the chief god, who feared that she would bring destruction to the world of the living. In the underworld, Hel built a great hall named Eljudnir, where the souls of the dead would go to be judged and sorted.

Odin: Hel, daughter of Loki and Angrboda, I banish you to the underworld. You shall rule there as queen, but you must never leave.

Hel: As you command, father. I shall rule the underworld justly and fairly.

Narrator: And so, Hel went to the underworld and built her great hall, Eljudnir. There, she would judge the actions of the souls who came before her.

Soul 1: (enters) Oh, great Hel, I have come before you. Please judge me fairly.

Hel: (looks at the soul) I shall judge you according to your actions in life. (pauses) You have led a good life, and so I shall send you to the halls of the goddesses, where you shall find eternal life and happiness.

Soul 1: (bows) Thank you, great Hel.

Narrator: Hel was known for being a just and fair judge. She would send those who had lived good lives to the halls of the goddesses, where they would be rewarded with eternal life and happiness. But those who had lived evil lives were sent to the realm of the frost giants, where they would suffer for all eternity.

Soul 2: (enters) Oh, great Hel, I have come before you. Please judge me fairly.

Hel: (looks at the soul) I shall judge you according to your actions in life. (pauses) You have lived an evil life, and so I shall send you to the realm of the frost giants, where you shall suffer for all eternity.

Soul 2: (pleads) But, great Hel, is there no hope for me?

Hel: (pauses) There is always hope, but you must pay for your actions. (looks at the soul) However, I shall allow you to speak with your loved ones who have passed on. They shall guide you in the realm of the frost giants.

Narrator: Hel was not a cruel or unjust ruler. She was often called upon by the living to help them communicate with their loved ones who had passed away. Her story served as a reminder that even in the darkest of places, there can be hope and light.