Thor's fishing expedition for the Midgard Serpent

The story begins when the sea giant Aegir agrees to feast the gods only if they find a cauldron large enough to brew for them all. Tyr leads Thor to his stepfather Hymir, whose household combines dangerous hospitality with comic family negotiation. A fishing contest then becomes the central episode: Hymir catches whales, while Thor uses an ox head to hook Jormungandr, the Midgard Serpent. Thor nearly brings his enemy within hammer range before the terrified Hymir cuts the line. The return to Hymir's hall turns the cauldron into another test of strength, with the giant's supposedly unbreakable cup as the obstacle. The reading captures the myth's mixture of cosmic danger, competitive boasting, and domestic comedy.