2-28“The Language of Poetry” Chapter 24–25

Thor and Hrungnir

Who helped Thor when he lay trapped?

Chasing Odin on horseback, Hrungnir finds himself in Asgard. After drinking in the gods' hall, he begins threatening to kill the gods. Thor is summoned, but Hrungnir tells him there is no honor in killing an unarmed opponent. He challenges Thor to a duel.

To prepare for the duel, the giants make a clay giant called Mokkurkalfi. When the day comes, Thor throws his hammer. Hrungnir throws a whetstone back at him. They collide in midair, and the whetstone breaks. A fragment lodges in Thor's head. Thor falls to the ground.

The hammer smashes Hrungnir's head. The giant falls on top of Thor, with one leg pinning Thor's neck. Thor's companion defeats the clay giant, but cannot move Hrungnir's leg. The gods come hurrying to help, but they cannot move it either.

Then Thor's son Magni arrives. He is only 3 nights old, yet he throws the giant's leg aside. Thor gets up and greets his son with joy. He gives Magni the horse that belonged to Hrungnir.

Illustration of Thor and Hrungnir