People from the north who attacked, traded, and travelled very far — much further than you might think.
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Before we read, let's learn the important words. Match each word (1–8) to its meaning (A–H). Say your answers out loud — "I think 1 is D" — then check.
1 = C (a raid) · 2 = A (a longship) · 3 = E (to plunder) · 4 = G (a sailor)
5 = F (to settle) · 6 = B (a voyage) · 7 = H (a god) · 8 = D (a myth)
Read each part. Then try the questions from memory, and talk about the last one.
The Vikings came from the north of Europe — from the lands we now call Norway, Sweden and Denmark. They were very good sailors.
In the year 793, Viking ships arrived at a small island in England called Lindisfarne. There was a quiet monastery there — a place where religious men called monks lived and prayed. The Vikings attacked it. They took the gold, hurt the monks, and then sailed away fast. This raid shocked everyone. Many people say this was the start of the "Viking Age".
The Vikings could attack like this because of their special boats, called longships. These ships were long, fast, and light. They could cross the open sea, but they could also go up small rivers. The Vikings did not have maps. Instead, they used the sun, the stars, and the wind to find their way.
1. What did the Vikings do at Lindisfarne in 793?
2. Why were the longships so good?
1. They attacked the monastery, took the gold, hurt the monks, and sailed away. Many people say this was the start of the Viking Age.
2. They were long, fast and light. They could cross the open sea but also go up small rivers.
But the Vikings were not only fighters. The same people also traded, travelled, and made new homes in faraway places.
They sold furs and other things in markets very far away. They built towns — for example, Dublin in Ireland started as a Viking town. Many Viking families did not want to fight. They wanted to settle: to make farms and live in a new country. They settled in parts of Britain and Ireland, and also on the islands of Iceland and Greenland.
And they travelled even further. Around the year 1000, a Viking called Leif Erikson sailed west across the sea. He reached North America! This was about 500 years before Columbus. For a long time, people thought this was only a story. But later, people found a real Viking camp in Canada — so we know it is true.
1. What other things did the Vikings do, apart from fighting?
2. Who was Leif Erikson, and what did he do?
1. They traded (sold things in faraway markets), built towns like Dublin, and settled (made farms and homes) in Britain, Ireland, Iceland and Greenland.
2. He was a Viking who sailed to North America around the year 1000 — about 500 years before Columbus. People later found a real Viking camp in Canada.
The Vikings had their own gods. The most famous are Odin and Thor, the god of thunder with his big hammer. We know about their gods because of their stories, called sagas. People told these stories for many years, and later wrote them down.
Here is one surprising thing. Many people think Vikings wore helmets with horns. This is not true! It is a myth. Real Vikings did not wear horns in battle. This idea came much later, from old paintings and a famous opera. It is a good example of a story that is not true, but that everybody believes.
The Viking Age ended in the year 1066. A Viking king from Norway attacked England, but he lost a big battle and died. After this, the big Viking attacks stopped. But the Vikings did not really disappear. They had already settled and married in many countries. They simply became part of the people of Europe.
1. How do we know about the Viking gods? And what is the truth about horned helmets?
2. When did the Viking Age end? What happened to the Vikings?
1. We know from their stories, called sagas. Horned helmets are a myth — real Vikings did not wear them; the idea came later from paintings and an opera.
2. It ended in 1066, when a Viking king lost a battle in England and died. The Vikings did not disappear — they had already settled and become part of Europe.
The small word before a noun tells the listener which thing you mean. Is it new, or one of many? Is it a special one we both know? Or are you talking about a thing in general?
Write a, an, the, or — (no article) in each gap.
1. ___ longship was long, fast and light. (one of many) →
2. ___ Vikings came from the north of Europe. (this special group) →
3. Norse settlers reached ___ Greenland. (a place name) →
4. They had ___ god of thunder called Thor. (first time, one of many) →
1. A (one longship, one of many)
2. The (this special group — the Vikings)
3. — (no article: Greenland is a place name)
4. a (first time, one of many gods)
Use a / an the first time, and the when we already know which one. Then read each sentence out loud.
1. The Vikings attacked ___ monastery. ___ monastery was on a small island. → /
2. Leif Erikson made ___ long voyage. ___ voyage took him to America. → /
1. a / The ("a monastery" = first time; "The monastery" = now we know which one)
2. a / The ("a long voyage" = first time; "The voyage" = the one we just named)
For plural things in general, use no article (—). Use the only for a special group we know.
1. ___ longships were faster than other boats. (boats in general) →
2. ___ Vikings who attacked Lindisfarne came from Norway. (one special group) →
3. Norse people loved ___ stories about gods and heroes. (stories in general) →
1. — (no article: "Longships were…" = this kind of boat in general)
2. The ("The Vikings who…" = one special group we know)
3. — (no article: stories in general)
There is a real podcast about the Vikings. It is for native speakers, so it is fast and quite difficult — that is normal! You do not need to understand every word.
From the Noiser podcast. About 50 minutes. Listen to a few minutes now, or all of it for homework.
Listen on Spotify →Do all three tasks out loud. Use the timer to keep talking.
Tell the story of the Vikings in your own words. Use these steps to help you: people from the north → the attack on Lindisfarne in 793 → the fast longships → not only fighters: traders and settlers → Leif Erikson sails to America → gods and sagas → the end in 1066.
Watch your articles as you speak — the Vikings (this group), a longship (one of many), and no article for place names (Greenland, Iceland). Try to use some of the key words (raid, longship, plunder, settle, voyage, myth).
We remember the Vikings as fighters, but they were also travellers and farmers. And the horned helmet is not even real! Why do you think we remember some things and forget others? Do people in your country have any false ideas about the past?
Think of a famous group, country, or person that people think they "know". What is the simple idea people have? Is the real story bigger or different? Tell me about it. Watch your articles: the for the special group or place you mean, a / an for one of many, and no article when you talk in general ("Pirates were…", not "The pirates were…").
Not sure what to talk about? Choose one: