American Gods
by Neil Gaiman
Zorya Polunochnaya, or the Midnight Star (as her name means in Russian), is the Slavic goddess with control over the night and an affinity for the moon. Zorya Polunochnaya sleeps all day, then guards the sky all night so that the monsters of the constellation cannot escape and eat the world. Zorya Polunochnaya extends these protective powers by giving Shadow the silver Liberty coin that keeps him safe from the New Gods and lights his way in the Underworld.

Zorya Polunochnaya Quotes in American Gods

The American Gods quotes below are all either spoken by Zorya Polunochnaya or refer to Zorya Polunochnaya. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Mythology, Belief, and Community Theme Icon
).

Chapter 4 Quotes

"You were given protection once, but you lost it already. You gave it away. You had the sun in your hand. And that is life itself. All I can give you is much weaker protection. The daughter, not the father. But all helps. Yes?" Her white hair blew about her face in the chilly wind, and Shadow knew that it was time to go back inside.
"Do I have to fight you? Or play checkers?" he asked.
"You do not even have to kiss me," she told him. “Just take the moon."

Related Characters: Shadow Moon (Baldur) (speaker), Zorya Polunochnaya
Related Symbols: Shadow’s Coins
Page Number and Citation: 83
Explanation and Analysis:
In Chicago, Shadow meets Zorya Polunochnaya, a Russian goddess of the night and the moon. Zorya Polunochnaya gives Shadow a silver Liberty dollar coin, likening this coin to the “moon” and “the daughter.” In Slavic mythology, the sun was ruled by a King who had three daughters, the Zorya sisters. Zorya Polunochnaya, as the midnight sister, has dominion over the night. She chooses to give the protection of the moon to Shadow, as symbolized by the silver Liberty coin. She references the protection that Shadow already had in the coin he stole from the hoard of the sun, but Shadow Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Mo
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Zorya Polunochnaya Character Timeline in American Gods

The timeline below shows where the character Zorya Polunochnaya appears in American Gods. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 4
Change and Growth Theme Icon
Life, Death, Desire, and Sacrifice Theme Icon
...tough stuffed cabbage rolls. Shadow inquires after the third sister, but Zorya Verchernyaya says that Zorya Polunochnaya is still asleep. As they eat, Czernobog tells his sisters that Shadow’s checkers victory means... (full context)
Mythology, Belief, and Community Theme Icon
Change and Growth Theme Icon
Life, Death, Desire, and Sacrifice Theme Icon
...the window in the sitting room, and Shadow realizes that this is the third sister, Zorya Polunochnaya . Zorya Polunochnaya looks younger than her sisters, with an unlined face and waist-long white... (full context)
Mythology, Belief, and Community Theme Icon
Deception Theme Icon
Zorya Polunochnaya climbs out the window onto the fire escape. Shadow reluctantly follows her into the freezing... (full context)
Mythology, Belief, and Community Theme Icon
Life, Death, Desire, and Sacrifice Theme Icon
Shadow decides that he is dreaming, and decides to tell Zorya Polunochnaya about his dead wife’s visit last night. Zorya Polunochnaya counsels Shadow to ask what his... (full context)
Chapter 6
Mythology, Belief, and Community Theme Icon
Life, Death, Desire, and Sacrifice Theme Icon
Deception Theme Icon
...coin is still in his hand and still cold. The coin makes Shadow think of Zorya Polunochnaya , and he is able to fall back to sleep soundly. (full context)
Change and Growth Theme Icon
Life, Death, Desire, and Sacrifice Theme Icon
Deception Theme Icon
The Sacredness of American Land Theme Icon
...and Laura says that Shadow is a beacon in the darkness for her. Shadow remembers Zorya Polunochnaya ’s advice, and asks Laura what she wants. Laura says that she wants to be... (full context)
Chapter 16
Mythology, Belief, and Community Theme Icon
Change and Growth Theme Icon
Life, Death, Desire, and Sacrifice Theme Icon
Deception Theme Icon
The Sacredness of American Land Theme Icon
...notices that he is wearing the same jeans and white t-shirt that he wore when Zorya Polunochnaya gave him the Liberty coin. As Shadow walks down rock steps, he sees Zorya Polunochnaya... (full context)
Mythology, Belief, and Community Theme Icon
Change and Growth Theme Icon
Life, Death, Desire, and Sacrifice Theme Icon
Deception Theme Icon
...and he knows he must choose which way to go. Before deciding, he turns to Zorya Polunochnaya and gives her back the Liberty coin. Zorya Polunochnaya closes her hand on the coin... (full context)