Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussions of disability and depictions of ableism and sizeism. In addition, the source text uses offensive ableist and sizeist slurs, which are only replicated in quotes in this guide.

While animals—specifically the animal forms of Thor, Odin, and Loki—serve as primary characters in the work, they also function as a motif supporting the theme of Learning and Adaptability as Sources of Strength. Each god becomes an animal that represents a key aspect of himself. Thor becomes a bear because he is typified by his strength; Odin becomes an eagle because he is typified as wise; Loki becomes a fox because he is typified as a trickster. All the gods are more archetypes than they are humans, and their transformations into animals—and ease in acting like those animals—demonstrate this. While Odd is capable of growth and change and able to adapt to new situations, the gods, like the animals, cannot change. They simply act on godly instinct according to their natures. While the gods and the animals are powerful, powerful enough to harm humans, they rely on humanity’s help and worship to survive.