In Norse mythology’s Ragnarok, what does Thor do immediately after killing Jörmungandr?
Answer
He takes nine steps and dies
In Norse mythology’s Ragnarok, Thor takes nine steps and dies immediately after killing Jörmungandr.
Thor and Jörmungandr are destined enemies. The Midgard Serpent rises from the sea during Ragnarok, and Thor strikes it with Mjölnir. The blow kills the serpent, but its venom fatally poisons Thor.
The surviving accounts describe Thor staggering nine steps after the serpent’s death before collapsing. This detail gives the encounter a tragic balance: Thor wins the duel, yet cannot survive the venom released by his enemy. The number nine also has recurring importance in Norse myth, although the source does not explain the number as a separate ritual rule.
This episode is distinct from Thor’s earlier encounter with the serpent during Útgarða-Loki’s challenges, where the serpent is disguised and Thor fails to lift it. At Ragnarok, Thor faces the creature openly and kills it, but the victory costs him his life.