The troll is a fairy of Norwegian origin. Also known as trolls in Japan, they are one of the main monsters in games and fiction.
In this article, I would like to introduce the troll, a character known worldwide, especially in Scandinavian Norway.
Norwegian Fairy Trolls
Many people are familiar with the Troll, a character that has appeared in numerous fantasy films, novels, and even video games.
Trolls originated in Norway in Scandinavia and are fairies in old folklore.
The myth and folklore of trolls are widely known to both children and adults in Norway, and they are one of the most familiar characters to the Norwegian public.
For example, in Norwegian families, when they lose something in the house, they say, “A troll has played a trick on me!”, when they lose something in the house.
There is also another world-famous tourist attraction in Norway called “Troll’s Tongue,” where rocks stick out like tongues on a precipitous cliff.
Please refer to this article for more information on the Troll’s Tongue.
Key Features of Trolls
When we imagine “trolls,” we probably have a public image of them as monsters with big ears and noses, ugly appearances, and rough personalities that misbehave with people.
Even in Norway, the home of trolls, there are various types of trolls depending on the medium in which they appear.
However, the general appearance of trolls in Norway is designed to be quite realistic compared to Japan, with a long red nose, tattered clothes, and a hairy, ugly appearance.
Norwegian trolls, also known as ogres, are man-eating giants that destroy crops in the fields and misbehave with people.
On the other hand, they also seem to have a positive side, giving away their possessions to people they like.
Different settings in different Nordic countries and regions
In Norse folklore, trolls vary in appearance, personality, and anecdotal location.
There are many types of trolls, ranging from ugly, hairy designs true to old folklore to cute, deformed versions for children, such as those in Disney movies like “Frozen.”
Originating in Norwegian folklore, the troll spread throughout the Scandinavian peninsula over time.
As trolls spread to different countries and regions, they branched out into other forms, like dialects, regarding appearance and personality.
Now an integral part of the fantasy world
Trolls originated from Norwegian fairies, but today they are mainly known as monsters that appear in fantasy stories.
They are well known not only in the Scandinavian countries but also in Japan, Asia, and Europe.
Trolls have become indispensable and well-known characters in Japanese fantasy works.
Trolls have also appeared in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling and the Dragon Quest series as giant monsters equipped with a piece of cloth and a club.
Thus, trolls are depicted as enemy characters in movies, novels, and games.
It is also well known that “Totoro” in the Japanese Ghibli film “My Neighbor Totoro” is based on a Norwegian troll.
Furthermore, in Finnish author Tove Jansson’s “Moomin,” the main character Moomin’s official name is Moomintroll.
The “Moomin” is also based on trolls, although their design differs from those commonly associated with Norway.
Conclusion
The trolls of Scandinavian Norway may not be the most adorable-looking creatures, more akin to monsters than fairies.
However, they are so beloved in Norway that they are sold as mugs, T-shirts, and souvenir figurines in many stores.
