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Bulfinch’s Mythology · Chapter

The Recovery of the Hammer explained

Thor's hammer is stolen by the giant Thrym, who demands Freya as his bride for its return.

What happens

Thor's hammer is stolen by the giant Thrym, who demands Freya as his bride for its return. Loki persuades Thor to disguise himself as Freya, and they travel to Jotunheim. Thrym is deceived by Loki's excuses for Thor's unladylike behavior, and when the hammer is placed in Thor's lap, he throws off his disguise, kills Thrym and his followers. The chapter also recounts how Frey lost his sword by giving it to Skirnir as a reward for winning the giantess Gerda as his bride.

Themes in this chapter

  • Love and Transformation

    Frey's love for Gerda leads him to sacrifice his sword, while Thor's transformation into Freya's guise enables the recovery of his hammer.

  • Hubris and Divine Retribution

    Thrym's arrogance in demanding Freya and hiding Thor's hammer results in his violent death at Thor's hands.

Characters to notice

  • Thor

    Thor loses his hammer to the giant Thrym, then disguises himself as Freya to retrieve it, ultimately slaying Thrym and his followers.

  • Odin

    Frey once mounted Odin's throne to see across the universe, leading to his love for Gerda.

Key passages

  • “Long is one night, Long are two nights, But how shall I hold out three? Shorter hath seemed A month to me oft Than of this longing time the half.”

    Frey laments the unbearable wait for Gerda, saying that a single night feels longer than a month used to.

    This poetic lament captures Frey's intense longing for his bride.

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