Troll (mythical creature)

A troll is a mythical creature from Scandinavian folklore. The first recorded stories of trolls can be found in Old Norse manuscripts from the thirteenth century, but the creatures undoubtedly existed in the oral tradition of Scandinavia long before that. Two distinct types of trolls exist in Scandinavian folklore. One, the forest or mountain troll, is a large, oafish, often dim-witted creature that resembles a giant human. The other is a cave troll, a short, grotesque, round-bellied creature that lives underground. Neither version of the troll is considered friendly, with the larger variety said to be quick to make a meal of unwary humans. While the traditional troll is a brutish, carnivorous beast, modern interpretations of the creature have softened its unsavory reputation. In Iceland, trolls bring children Christmas gifts, while in movies and TV, some trolls have been portrayed as cheerful, helpful creatures.

Overview

The oldest-known mention of trolls comes from the Prose Edda, a thirteenth-century collection of poems, tales, and Norse mythology written by Icelandic poet Snorri Sturluson. Trolls appear in the work several times, including one instance where a troll woman confronts a traveler, referring to herself as the “gnawer of the moon” and “night-roaming hag.” In 1276, Norway’s King Magnus Haakonsson rewrote the nation’s code of law, making it illegal to disturb the sleep of trolls he referred to as “mound dwellers.”

The exact origin of the world troll is unknown and the subject of much debate. Some experts believe it originated from the early Germanic word truzlan, which means “creature that walks clumsily,” while others believe it came from the Old Norse trolldomr, a generic term for “witchcraft.” In some sources, troll is also interchangeably with the jötunn, legendary giants of Norse mythology, or the þurs, mythological fiends or demons.

In ancient Norse tales, trolls were portrayed as outsiders, living in the wild spaces away from civilization. They were almost always seen as evil beings looking to feed on the unsuspecting or steal away children and replace them with changeling troll babies. In many stories, trolls despised the smell of Christian blood and could be driven off by the sound of church bells. Some also have an aversion to sunlight and will turn to stone if caught outside during the day.

Scandinavian mythology typically divides trolls into two basic types. Forest or mountain trolls live in the wilderness among the trees, hills, and mountains. These trolls are large, hulking creatures that resemble giant ugly humans with huge noses and sharp fangs. They can uproot trees and use them as clubs or hurl boulders like missiles. While these trolls are known for their brute power and evil intentions, they are not terribly intelligent. They can often be outsmarted and tricked into defeating themselves.

Examples of forest and mountain trolls can be found in many Scandinavian fairy tales, perhaps the most well-known being “Three Billy Goats Gruff,” which originated in Norway. In the story, three goats must cross a bridge to reach their feeding grounds. However, a hungry troll lives under the bridge and confronts each goat as they cross. The smaller goats trick the troll into waiting for the largest goat, telling him that goat will provide a better meal. When the largest goat arrives, he uses his powerful horns to kill the troll, allowing all three goats to eat in peace. Forest and mountain trolls have also been used as the template for trolls found in modern fantasy works, such as The Lord of the Rings book-and-film trilogy and the Harry Potter series.

Cave trolls dwell underground and are much smaller than their above-ground cousins. These trolls are about half the size of humans, have round bellies and stubby arms and legs, and are often pictured as grotesquely ugly. Despite their small size, cave trolls are also antagonistic to humans, kidnapping children or playing mischievous and sometimes harmful tricks on those they encounter. While the larger trolls are said to be solitary creatures, the cave trolls often band together in communities. An example of these trolls can be found in the 2013 animated film Frozen as the adoptive family of the character as Kristoff. However, as befitting a Disney film, they were portrayed as cute, helpful creatures and not the malicious beings of folklore.

Topic Today

Some modern experts theorize that the concept of trolls grew from ancient human encounters with Neanderthals thousands of years earlier. According to the theory, these large, odd-looking people who seemed to lack intelligence may have become part of the human collective memory. Over time, these memories turned into folktales and the idea of the troll was born.

Despite their origins as brutish evil forces of nature, trolls have been embraced and celebrated by modern residents of their Scandinavian homelands. In Lillehammer, Norway, a folklore-themed amusement park features numerous attractions that feature trolls. The most famous is the forty-six-foot (fourteen-meter) Hunderfossen troll, which has become the park’s main attraction. Several Norwegian place names and locations have been named after trolls, including the Trollstigen mountain pass, the Trold-Tindterne (Troll’s Peaks), and the Trolltunga (Troll’s Tongue) rock formation. In Iceland, a coastal rock formation called Reynisdrangar is said to be the remains of three trolls who were caught by the sun and turned to stone.

Iceland is also home to a troll-inspired folklore that evolved from a terrifying Christmas story to the Icelandic version of Santa Claus. According to legend, a cruel troll woman named Grýla lived high in the mountains and would come into town to kidnap children and eat them. Grýla had thirteen children called the Yule Lads. Each Christmas for thirteen days, the thirteen trolls—who have names like Sausage Swiper, Door Slammer, and Pot Licker—would also come into town to cause mischief. However, during the twentieth century, the Yule Lads lost their cruel reputations and became known as gift-givers. In modern Iceland, the Yule Lads visit homes for thirteen days leaving small gifts for good children, and rotten potatoes for the naughty ones.

Bibliography

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“Instead of a Friendly Santa Iceland Has 13 Mischievous Yule Lads and an Evil Christmas Cat.” Iceland Magazine, 13 Dec. 2018, icelandmag.is/article/instead-a-friendly-santa-iceland-has-13-mischievous-yule-lads-and-evil-christmas-cat. Accessed 12 Oct. 2021.

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