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Trolls in Nordic Folktales - Coggle Diagram
Trolls in Nordic Folktales
Trolls contain lots of symbolism, detailing how Norwegians in the 1850s may have interacted and understood their situation.
Symbolism
Sometimes, trolls depict those from other nations or ethnicities. Trolls are often not offered the chance to explain themsevles or introduce themselves, but are rather assumed to have evil qualities and intentions. This displays a fear of "others" who may not fit into the homogoenous Norwegian society. This likely describes how Norwegians may have viewed other cultures: as an evil. This would also lend to a rationalization of Norwegian raiding habits, something they were notorious for.
Fear of the Other
The trolls in this tale are described with grotesque and are distinctly not Norwegian. Some of the antagonists are from other countries such as Arabia.
Trolls can sometimes depict the unstoppable and indomintable forces of nature. This is often reinforced by their appearances in the wilderness and frontier. This may give an indication to how Norwegians may have perceived the wilderness -- a dangerous and powerful area that can cause any powerful hero harm.
Forces of Nature
The trolls only exist on borders between the wilderness and civilization, displaying the strong forces of the environment in these places. The trolls in these areas are sometimes described to be gargantuan in size, depicting the immense power their wield and thus the immense power of nature
The trolls live and only exist in the woods. They only attack the protagonists once they enter the woods, indicating that there is some force or power associated with the woods.
Trolls are a very devisive type of character than fit into many different types of tales.
Types of Tales
In some tales, it depicts the protagonist as a hero who fends of evil, which is often in the shape of a troll. These stories are often a "good verus bad" story that is black and white in regards to the characterization of both the heros and villians.
Hero vs Evil
Peter Gynt spends the entire tale fighting and killing trolls. He is characterized as a hero for his actions and the trolls are characterized as evil beings throughout the story, such as when some trolls sexually assaulted two women.
Peter Gynt
Oftentimes, the protagonist is very poor and must use his wits to find success against staggaring odds. It shows how cleverness is often more important to one's success than brute strength, which are the exact opposite qualities of trolls -- impossibly strong but very stupid.
Clever Peasant Tales
The protagonists, a pair of very poor brothers, outsmart the trolls by exploiting their one-eye weakness. They then further capitalize on their profits with further cunning tricks to defeat more trolls.
The first two goats, due to their inferior strength, must use their wits to outsmart the troll and reach the grassy field.
Three Goats Gruff
The protagonist must use his wits when he loses his blue ribbon to maintain his status. His ability to be clever after losing his powers allows him to preserve everything that he gained when he had his powers.
The Blue Ribbon
Trolls have a diverse range of roles in stories that allow them to progress the protagonist's plot.
Narritive Roles
Trolls can sometimes be seen to hoard egrigious amounts of wealth in both gold and other forms of wealth such as livestock or land. Their defeat can often lead to windfall for the protagonists, raising their social status drammatically.
Medium of Social Mobility
The trolls, who attempt to eat the protagonists are capable of procuring obsene amounts of gold and other forms of wealth such as livestock. This wealth is transfered to the impoverished protagonists.
The Trolls in Hedale Wood
Every single instance where the protagonist defeats a troll, he recieves wealth and power, transforming him from a beggar to a nobleman ruling over a castle.
Trolls are often characterized as villians and pure evil who serve as stepping stones or hurdles for the protagonist as the protagonist adventures.
Obstacles/Villians
The troll is the obstacle under the bridge that prevents the goats from crossing into grassy fields. The troll is the hurdle that each of the goats must pass to find their luxury.