Fourth graders are passing through the midst of the nine-year-
old change. They still wish to revere, but their reverence must
be justified. They become more self-confident as their
perception of the world sharpens, but at the same time their
experience of separation from their surroundings can be quite
painful. The children begin to form their own personality in
response to their experience of the world, consciously choosing
those qualities that will go into their characters. It is this
faculty of conscious choice that the Norse myths strongly echo
for the children. The gods of Asgard are portrayed as
individuals with distinct personalities; the children learn from
Loki the consequences of amoral cleverness and receive a
contrasting image from the story of Siguna’s compassion and
faithfulness. The Norse tales convey to the children the twin
values of courage and sacrifice. Thor faces seemingly
insurmountable odds, yet through perseverance is at last
triumphant; Odin, ruler of the gods, gives his eye to drink