By Trollgur Drek, Special Contributor – Princess
Once again, the trolls of Norwegian folklore find themselves cast in a role that hardly seems fair. In the tale of “The Princess and the Troll,” a beautiful princess is captured by a fearsome troll and held captive in his mountain lair. As the story unfolds, the princess is rescued by a brave prince who defeats the troll in a great battle, saving her from a life of captivity. The troll is portrayed as a ruthless and ugly creature, whose only desire is to hold the princess in his dark, dank cave forever. But is this truly the whole story?
The tale seems to frame the troll as an evil kidnapper, and yet, as in many fairy tales, we see nothing from the troll’s perspective. What if the troll had no ill intent at all? What if, instead of capturing the princess for malicious reasons, he simply sought companionship in his lonely mountain home? What if the princess, too, was an unwitting victim of circumstances—cast into the mountains by forces beyond her control, only to find herself at the mercy of a creature who, for all we know, simply needed a friend?
The idea that trolls are inherently monstrous may have been a convenient narrative for early storytellers, who were attempting to explain the unknown. But in modern times, when we dare to look at these stories through a different lens, we begin to wonder: Why is it always the troll who is the villain? Why not see the troll as a tragic figure, caught between his own desire for connection and the harsh judgment of the outside world?
Many fairy tales, especially those from ancient times, were filled with moral lessons, but they also often reflected societal biases and fears. In the case of “The Princess and the Troll,” one could argue that the story serves as a metaphor for the dangers of isolation and the fear of the unknown. The troll, shut off from human society, becomes a symbol of the “other” — something that must be feared and overcome in order for the hero (the prince) to prevail. But what if the story were flipped? What if the princess, instead of being the helpless damsel, became a kindred spirit to the troll, helping him overcome his loneliness and fear of rejection?
Could it be that trolls are not so different from us after all?
Perhaps it’s time we reexamine our view of trolls. Maybe the next time a troll captures a princess, we should ask, “What is it that he really wants?”
The Princess and the Troll (Short Version):
Once upon a time, a beautiful princess was kidnapped by a fearsome troll and taken to his mountain cave. The troll, though large and frightening, was lonely and wished only for companionship. The princess, terrified at first, soon learned that the troll meant her no harm. Despite his appearance, the troll was kind and gentle, longing for a friend to share his life in the mountains.
However, a prince, hearing of the princess’s plight, set off to rescue her. After a fierce battle, the troll was defeated, and the princess was returned to her kingdom. While the prince and the kingdom rejoiced, the troll was left alone once again, misunderstood and rejected.
Perhaps if the princess had shown him kindness, things might have ended differently. But in the end, the troll remained a prisoner of his own isolation, while the princess returned to her world—never knowing the true heart of the creature she had once feared.
End of Tale
Troll comments:
“A troll misunderstood? Preposterous! We’re just doing what trolls do best: minding our own business, and maybe stealing a princess or two. It’s called hospitality, people!”
“Perhaps the princess was just too stubborn to accept an invitation for tea. I’m sure the troll had a nice kettle ready.”
“It’s not kidnapping; it’s inviting someone to stay with a very personal touch. Trolls are just misunderstood hosts.”
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“Honestly, I would’ve kept the princess. Who wants to be surrounded by annoying humans when you could have a fine dinner and a cozy cave?”
“A prince rescuing a princess? How cliché. It’s the trolls who need rescuing from boring fairy tales!”
“Trolls are the real misunderstood romantics. We’d never kidnap anyone if they just asked for a nice chat and some berries!”
“They make it sound like the troll was a monster, but who wouldn’t want to live in a dark cave with a beautiful princess? Seems like a win-win to me.”
“Have you ever tried to find good company up in a mountain cave? The princess was lucky to be invited.”
“I’d say the real tragedy is the troll being forced to abandon his guest because of a shiny-armored human who can’t mind his own business.”
“The prince was probably just jealous of the troll’s taste in interior decor. The troll had a cave, a beautiful princess, and peace—something the prince will never have.”
“Maybe the troll was just trying to keep the princess away from all those silly humans. Who can blame him?”
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“This just shows how twisted fairy tales can be. The princess wasn’t trapped—she was just in a place where people didn’t judge her for her beauty.”
“Sure, the troll could have been gentler with his ‘kidnapping,’ but I bet he never expected that rescue mission. That prince has no manners.”
“Why doesn’t anyone ask how the princess felt about the prince barging in? Maybe she liked the troll’s hospitality better!”
“Look at this—trolls are always painted as the bad guys. But when humans do it, it’s called ‘adventure!’ A tad biased, don’t you think?”
“I guess the trolls’ only crime was being different. Too bad they can’t be judged for their character, not their looks.”
“Maybe the real villain is the tired old prince. Trolls have patience; he was just in a hurry to steal the spotlight.”
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“I know trolls. We’re not kidnappers—we just love good conversation. The princess was lucky to have someone listen to her.”
“A prince fighting for a princess… because who wouldn’t want to be the hero of a fairy tale instead of a troll with a better life?”
“Tell me, when was the last time a human prince invited a troll to dinner? Oh right, they never do!”
“It’s a classic case of the misunderstood introvert. Trolls don’t bother people—humans just barge in, uninvited.”
“Poor troll. He didn’t need a battle, he needed a hug. Someone should have given him a chance to explain himself.”
“The troll was clearly an eco-friendly type—why travel around when you’ve got a cave and a princess to entertain?!”
“Honestly, why is it always a prince coming to rescue? Why can’t a princess have a chance to save the troll for once?”
“I’d say the troll was the victim in this case. Capturing a princess doesn’t seem so bad when you’re stuck in the mountains for centuries.”
“Humans don’t understand the mountain life! It’s not about kidnapping; it’s about inviting someone to stay in a cozy cave.”
“When will humans learn that trolls can’t help but be awkward around strangers? We’re just shy, alright?”
“Maybe the troll was testing the princess’s resourcefulness by making her earn her escape. That’s what real character-building is all about.”
“Trolls don’t kidnap—they take care of their guests. The princess probably got a nice warm blanket and some snacks.”
“The real issue here is that the prince never asked the troll what he really wanted. I bet the troll had a great recipe for dinner.”
“Let’s face it—the troll’s only crime was living in the mountains and being different. Time to rethink the narrative, folks.”
“I bet the troll is still out there, lonely in his cave, just trying to find a good friend—but nope, here we are, telling fairy tales about him being the villain again!”
Speaking of misunderstood creatures from folklore, you might be interested in exploring the fascinating tales of trolls found in Scandinavian Folklore. If tales involving daring rescues and royalty intrigue you, consider reading more about classic fairy tale themes in Princess and Dragon Stories. Curious about famous caves and mountain dwellings? Take a look at the impressive history of the Dovrefjell Mountains, a breathtaking region often associated with trolls and fairy tale myths in Norwegian culture.
