u/ethanbear360

In Norse mythology it is said that Mjölnir "would never miss its mark, nor could it ever be thrown so far that it would not find its way back home to his hand" (according to the Jesse L. Byock translation of the Prose Edda). Most adaptations of Norse myth interpret this as Þórr being able to summon Mjölnir to his hand at will, but I believe that is wrong.

It seems very much that it's supposed to boomerang, and only return to his hand if he throws it, but cannot summon it back otherwise. In Þrymskviða when Þrymr stole Mjölnir, Þórr presumably wasn't able to summon it back, or that isn't how it works, because then there would be no point in stuffing him in a wedding dress if he could just call it back to his hand.

If this interpretation is wrong and the common understanding is correct, I'd love to learn! What do you think?