The theme of the story is that applying intelligence and knowledge is essential in order to keep one's culture alive. A good proof of this is the lack of knowledge of Ahmad Ibn Fadlan, the narrator of the story. He is an Arab who "knows nothing of the ways of the world" (p. 77) because he has never truly experienced the world before that day, since he does not care for adventure. Having no experience with the world and having no knowledge, Ibn Fadlan slowly learns the Northmen's way of life. In the end, felt he "had been born a Northman"

Symbolism is used to show how intelligence and knowledge are essential to succeed in life. A good example of this is that King Rothgar, who symbolizes vanity, and it is this same vanity that causes the attacks of the wendol. He is called Rothgar the Vain "because of the way he has placed his settlement. He dares the gods to strike him down, and he pretends he is more than a man" (p. 76-77) and the attacks of the wendol are how the gods punish him. His vanity causes him to forget defenses, which one should never be without, and this allows the wendol to move freely over the land. His lack of intelligence causes his settlement to encounter the terror of the wendol. A better example of this is the angel of death in each settlement, who symbolizes knowledge. Everything the angel of death says is thought to be real and is trusted since she is able to see into the future. The Northmen depend on the angel of death for answers to their problems, which she answers using "bones she cast upon the ground" (p. 48) and look into the future. Every time a problem occurs or a question is asked, the angel of death is summoned for a solution. It is her knowledge that helps the Northmen by telling them what is to come and when it will occur. Her knowledge helps the Northmen be prepared for battle with the wendol by looking into the future and report all findings. The best example is wisdom, symbolized by the dwarves in the caves of Venden. The dwarves are "thought especially intelligent and trustworthy," (p. 145) and do not attempt to get into trouble with others, which is the reason why they do not challenge others into a battle. With their intelligence and magic powers, they are able to defeat anyone; therefore, they trust everyone without worry of an attack on them. The oldest dwarf, called "tengol," meaning a judge of good and evil, tells the Northmen they "must strike at the head and the heart" (p. 149) in order to overcome the wendol's mother, and end the existence of the wendol. Taking the wisdom and the weapons from the tengol, the Northmen begin their quest to the cave of thunder, where the mother of the wendol lives. Each character displays, and symbolizes, the level of intelligence they have and this is reflected in the decisions they make, affecting their future.

(p. 152), having spent much time in their company and is no longer the coward he was when he started the trip. His lack of knowledge causes him to be a coward in battle, since he will be battling frightening, mysterious creatures. A better proof of this is that the wendol acts as if they are animals, which are unintelligent. The wendol makes "a low grunting s

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1774
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)