Trolls

If you read stories with roots in Nordic folklore and folktales, you'll be sure to come across a troll or two. Trolls in Norwegian folk tales are often depicted as being unhelpful or unfriendly and come in all shapes and sizes, though often they are old, ugly and not very clever.

In the myths, trolls are usually found living in secluded places like forests, mountains, caves, or around lakes. In some stories the larger trolls are said to have grown into the forest with old age, becoming a part of nature. Who knows, If you venture out into the forests around Oslo, maybe you'll spot traces of trolls hiding nearby?

According to myth, trolls cannot not survive in direct sunlight and only come out at night. The ones who are not able to hide from the sun in time are said to turn into stone.

Trolls often appear in the most well-know Norwegian folktales, and many can be found in the fairy tales collected by Asbjørnsen and Moe, such as:

  • "The boy who had an eating match with a troll"
  • "Three billy goats gruff"
  • "Soria Moria castle"

Some movies about Norwegian trolls: