How to Defeat a Troll
Trolls have just a few weaknesses that can be of aid to
humans when they are trying to defeat them. Basically, there are three
ways to defeat a troll. It can be outwitted, brought into the sunshine,
which will cause it to turn to stone, or the hero can use crosses or
sacred property to ward it off. Not all trolls will perish if they enter
a church. Some just suffer great discomfort allowing time for the hero
to accomplish his goal.
Because trolls do not posses a great deal of intelligence, humans are
able to outwit them. Even young children can do this if they are a bit
clever themselves. Throughout the troll folktales one can find examples
of the hero or heroine’s own cleverness when they come upon the
troll. The plan is usually one that is developed over a period of time
as Trolls do have some intelligence and cannot be outwitted quickly.
The hero generally develops relationships with animals and nature and
is able to use them to carry out his plan. A good example of this is
the story “The Boy Who Became a Lion, a Falcon and an Ant by Lise
Lunge-Larson.(Lunge-Larsen 1999) Along the hero’s path, he encounters
the animals in the title. Each is desperate for food and asks for the
hero's help. The hero must make hard decisions and trust these characters
to be successful in his quest. As a result, when the hero reaches the
troll and needs some assistance these animals come to his aid and give
him the powers that he needs to complete his mission. This is a common
theme and happens in many of the tales.
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A troll does not go knowingly into the sun. Often he has to be outwitted
by the hero to bring him to the location desired. The hero frequently
spends much time talking with the troll and then tricks the troll into
turning toward the sunrise. The troll then turns to stone.
In Per Dala and the Horse by Rebecca Hickok(Hickox 1995) sacred grounds
are employed and crosses dug across a large field to slow down and eventually
stop the onslaught of many trolls once the hero has stolen a golden
chalice to return to the church. The three brothers in this story all
use sacred grounds and crosses for aids but only the youngest and cleverest
is able to succeed. In "Sailors and the Troll"(Lunge-Larson
1999) a young maiden avoids an amorous troll by sitting in a church
each time he comes to court her. Other tales have reference to the church
and crosses that give the hero some advantage over the troll.
Bibliography
Hickox, R. (1995). Per and the Dala Horse. New York, New York, Bantam
Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc.
Lunge-Larsen, L. (1999). The Troll with No Heart in His Body and Other
Tales of Trolls from Norway. Boston, MA, Houghton Mifflin Company.
