Facts and Fiction
Here are the habits and behaviours of Scandinavian trolls (jötnar) and Norwegian trolls (huldrefolk).
Different Species of Troll
Giants Called Jötnar
The jötnar (singular: jötunn) in Scandinavian myths are usually ugly, often with tusks or cyclopic eyes. They are much bigger and stronger than humans and are very dangerous and evil by disposition. The word “jötunn” is derived from the Scandinavian word for giant. A female jötunn is called gygjar.
Jötnar turn to stone when exposed to sunlight, so they typically live in caves in mountains, which they only leave after sunset. They hunt humans because trolls generally are very fond of human flesh. When they aren’t hungry, they throw stones at people and destroy human villages located in the mountains.There are also some subtypes of Jötnar who live in the sea or forests.
Human-Like Huldrefolk troll
This type of troll is much smaller then jötunn troll. Huldrefolk are usually handsome and blond, but are set apart from humans by their long tails. They often go
about naked, in which case the tails are easily seen. However, sometimes they hide their tails under clothing.
Females of this species, called huldras, ensnare human males through their lovely singing and beautiful appearance. Huldras then use the entranced men to do their bidding or simply keep them as mates or pets. These poor males can be held under a spell for many, many years. Upon release or escape, these males cannot remember what has happened and do not realize that time has passed.
If you are adventurous and want to hear the huldra’s song, then travel to place called Myrdal, located nearby Voss in western Norway and take the Flamsbana railway. Fasten yourself by a rope to the train carriage, and somewhere on your travel down to the emerald waters of Sognefjord, you will hear the song (and maybe even see a glimpse of the huldra) calling you to come away.
Here you can (safely) hear to the original song of Huldra, recorded during an expedition of brave men traveling to the Kjosfossen waterfall. Not all of them managed to return—the song of the huldra is hard to resist.
Click below for youtube video of Performance at Kjosfossen waterfall.
Trolls in Literature
Trolls and troll-like figures are present in many fantasy and fairy tales books.
“Peer Gynt” by Henrik Ibsen
Peer Gynt is a play by Henrik Ibsen based on Norwegian legend.
Peer is the son of a prodigal farmer who frittered his fortune away. Peer had the chance to be married to Ingrid, the daughter of the richest farmer of the land, but he wastes that opportunity as well. At Ingrid’s wedding, Peer kidnaps the young bride for the night, and becomes an outlaw. He flees to the mountains, where (after a night of heavy drinking) he meets a huldra, daughter of the Mountain King. He considers turning into a troll himself to marry the Mountain King’s daughter, but refuses to take an irrevocable step.
Peer remains human and builds a life for himself as a settler, when a young girl named Solveig comes to the mountains to stay with him. Peer is now so happy and confident in the future that he barely leaves the house he shares with Solveig. But while he is out to cut timber for the new house he is planning, he is overtaken by the past. The green-clad huldra comes with a young troll, whom she claims is Peer’s son. Instead of facing the possibility, Peer flees.
He then has life full of adventure, fortune, and loss. He ends up being crowned emperor of the world in an institution for the insane in Cairo.
Finally, as an old man, Peer sets out to return to Norway by ship. However, on the Norwegian coast his ship sinks in a storm. At the end, Peer fights a battle for his own soul and his growing self-awareness. Finally Peer is saved through Solveig’s faithful love.
Tales of Askeladden
Askeladden (which translates to “ash lad”) is a central character in many Norwegian fairytales. Here is the story of Askeladden and the eating match:
A farmer with three sons planned to cut wood in a forest he owned in order to pay off his debts.
The oldest son went into the forest and encountered a troll. Frightened, the oldest son ran home.
The second son went into the forest and was chased off but the troll as well.
However, before the youngest son went into the forest, he asked his father for food. The father gave him a bit of cheese in a knapsack. When the youngest son went into the forest to cut the wood, the troll appeared just as it had for the previous brothers. When the troll threatened him, the boy pulled out the cheese. “Do you see this stone?” he asked the troll, and squeezed it until whey came out. When he threatened to deal with the troll as he had with the “stone,” the troll offered to help him with the wood-cutting.
The troll suggested that the boy come home with him for a tasty meal. Then he went to build up the fire and sent the boy for water, pointing to two buckets larger than the boy. The boy realized he could not carry the huge buckets. “These buckets are too small,” said the boy. “I can fetch the spring instead.”
The troll, not wanted an entire spring, which would put out the fire, decided to exchange chores. “Why don’t you tend the fire, while I fetch the water?” said the troll.
The troll brought the water, and proceeded to make porridge. When the porridge was finished, the boy suggested an eating match. The troll and the boy ate as much as they could. However, the boy had put his knapsack underneath his shirt, and was pouring more porridge into the bag than into his mouth. When the bag was full, he cut a hole in it and continued to eat.
The troll finally said he could eat no more. The boy, who was still going, suggested that the troll cut a hole in his stomach. He explained, “Then you can eat as much as you like. It doesn’t hurt much.”
The troll did so and died, and the boy took his gold and silver and paid off the family debt.
Famous Troll Names from Norse and Scandinavian Literature and Folktales
Some legends say that a fearsome troll can be killed if a Christian says his name aloud. This is why trolls generally keep their names in secret. However, we have learned the names of some famous trolls, such as:
Grendel—Troll made famous by Beowulf.
Dunker—Troll depicted in a folktale from Fosen.
Ymer—The oldest creature in the Norse universe.
Dovregubben—The troll king in Peer Gynt.
Hrungnir—The stongest giant in Norse mythology.
Trym—The king of giants in Jotunheimen region.
Geirröd—A jötunn and father of giantesses Gjalp and Greip.
Trolls in Geography
Jotunheimen (‘Home of the Giants’) The name Jotunheimen comes from Jötunheimr, which is one of the Nine Worlds and the world (home) of the giants in Norse Mythology. From there, the giants menace the humans in Midgard and the gods in Asgard, from whom they are separated by the river Ifing.
Trollstigen (‘The Troll Ladder’) is a mountain road in the
heart of Romsdal and one of the most visited attractions in Norway. The
mountains that encircle the Trollstigen road are enormous. Names like Kongen
(‘The King’), Dronningen (‘The Queen’) and Bispen (‘The Bishop’) echo the
majesty of these giant land formations.
