# How Thor Paid the Mountain Giant His Wages explained — Bulfinch’s Mythology

> Chapter companion for Bulfinch’s Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch.

## What happens

The gods agree to let a giant builder fortify their home in exchange for Freya, the sun, and the moon, but only if he finishes by summer. With Loki's advice, the giant uses his horse Svadilfari, which does most of the work. As the deadline nears, the gods threaten Loki to prevent completion. Loki transforms into a mare to lure the horse away, causing the giant to fail. The giant reveals his true form, and Thor kills him with his hammer.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hospitality and Its Violation

The gods violate the sacred bond of their oath by reneging on the promised reward and ultimately killing the giant.

### Hubris and Divine Retribution

The giant's hubris in demanding the sun, moon, and Freya leads to his downfall and punishment by Thor.

## Character check-ins

### Thor

Thor is absent during most of the building but returns to slay the giant with his mallet, paying the wages with death.

### Loki

Loki advises the gods to allow the giant's horse, then later transforms into a mare to sabotage the work and save the gods from their bargain.

### Odin

Odin is implied among the gods who sit in judgment and consult on how to avoid giving Freya and the sun and moon to the giant.

## Key lines

> He demanded for his reward the goddess Freya, together with the sun and moon.

The giant asked for Freya, the sun, and the moon as payment for building the fortress.

_Shows the excessive demand that triggers the conflict._

> Lifting up his mallet, paid the workman his wages, not with the sun and moon, and not even by sending him back to Jotunheim, for with the first blow he shattered the giant’s skull to pieces and hurled him headlong into Niffleheim.

Thor killed the giant with his hammer instead of giving him the promised rewards, sending him to the underworld.

_Climactic moment where Thor fulfills the title's ironic 'payment'._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/how-thor-paid-the-mountain-giant-his-wages
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters