Editing Jötunn (section)

===Position as the "Other"===
[[Image:Odin, Suttungr and Gunnlöd.jpg|thumb|right|[[Stora Hammars stones|Stora Hammars III]], an [[image stone]] from [[Gotland]] thought to show [[Odin]] as a bearded eagle, [[Gunnlöð]] holding the mead of poetry, and [[Suttungr]]]]
Most stories in [[Norse mythology|Old Norse mythology]] show a clear division between "This World", pertaining to that of gods and men, and "The Other", which is inhabited by {{lang|non|jötnar}} and beings associated with them.{{sfn|McKinnell|2005|loc=Chapter 1|pp=1–10}}{{sfn|Lummer|2021|pp=57–85}}

A common motif is the journeying to obtain secret knowledge from the {{lang|non|jötnar}}. In the [[Eddic poem]] [[Hyndluljóð]], [[Freyja]] travels to the {{lang|non|gýgr}} {{lang|non|Hyndla}} to obtain understanding of the lineage of [[Óttar (mythology)|Ottar]], and the "ale of remembrance" ({{langx|non|minnisǫl}}) so that he does not forget it.{{sfn|Simek|2008|pp=169–170}} In the Eddic poem [[Vafþrúðnismál]], [[Óðinn]] travels to the {{lang|non|jötunn}} [[Vafþrúðnir]] whereupon they engage in a wisdom contest.{{sfn|Simek|2008|pp=344–345}} He also travels to the {{lang|non|jötnar}} to obtain from [[Suttungr]] the [[Mead of poetry]], which imparts skill in poetry to any who drink it.{{sfn|Simek|2008|pp=208–210}} The [[völva]] who tells the [[Völuspá]] prophecy to Óðinn, while not explicitly described as a {{lang|non|jötunn}} but was raised by them.{{sfn|Orchard tr.|2011|pp=5–14|loc=Völuspá: The prophecy of the seeress}}

Cosmology in Germanic mythology, as with other oral cultures, has many apparent contradictions when viewed from a naturalistic standpoint.{{sfn|Brink|2004}} Despite this, a system of motifs repeat when travelling to the {{lang|non|jötnar}}. 
In the [[Prose Edda]] that the {{lang|non|jötnar}} dwell in [[Jötunheimr]] which is at points located in the North or East and in {{lang|non|Þrymskviða}} can only be reached by air, however {{lang|non|jötnar}} are also found South and [[Wetlands and islands in Germanic paganism|across water]].{{sfn|Jakobsson|2006}}{{sfn|Heide|2014}} {{lang|non|Jötnar}} such as [[Suttungr]] and [[Skaði]] live in mountains, which is further reflected in the terms {{langx|non|bergrisar}} (mountain risar) and {{langx|non|bergbúi}} (mountain dweller), a kenning for {{lang|non|jötunn}}. Their lands of inhabitation are not restricted to this, also including forests, underground, and the shore.{{sfn|Jakobsson|2006}}{{sfn|Heide|2014}} Sometimes they are referred to as living in specific geographical locations such as [[Ægir]] on [[Læsø]].{{sfn|Heide|2014}} These motifs are also seen in the section of [[Beowulf]] concerning the fight with [[Grendel's mother|mother]] of the {{lang|ang|eoten}} [[Grendel]] which has been noted by scholars to closely resemble the fight between a {{lang|non|trollkona}} and Grettir in his [[Grettir's saga|eponymous saga]], wherein the female beings may only be reached by crossing through water.{{sfn|McKinnell|2005|loc=Chapter 8|pp=109–110}}{{sfn|Fox|2020|p=30}} The seemingly ununified location of the {{lang|non|jötnar}} has been suggested to be an outcome of their intrinsically chaotic nature.{{sfn|Jakobsson|2006}} Even within the same story, what seem like contradictions have been noted by scholars, prompting the proposal of a model that the otherworld where the {{lang|non|jötnar}} dwell can be reached from a number of passages or boundaries that cannot be traversed under normal conditions, such as the mountains, darkness and "flickering flame" crossed by [[Skírnir]] in [[Skírnismál]].{{sfn|Heide|2014}}

In Eddic sources, {{lang|non|jötnar}} present a constant threat to gods and humans, often leading them to confrontation with [[Thor]]. [[Hárbarðsljóð]] and [[Þrymskviða]] tell that if it was not for [[Thor]] and [[Mjöllnir]], {{lang|non|jötnar}} would soon overrun [[Midgard]] and [[Asgard]] respectively.{{sfn|McKinnell|2005|loc=Chapter 8|pp=109–125}} Nonetheless, Thor also has a positive relationship with some {{lang|non|gýgjar}}, such as Gríðr and the unnamed wife of [[Hymir]], who provide magical items and council that enable him to overcome other {{lang|non|jötnar}}.{{sfn|McKinnell|2005|loc=Chapter 11|pp=172–180}}