The Genre of Trolls - Doria

The cat does not have the physical strength of a bull or a lion, and must
trust in its own ingenuity in disposing of its enemy; the cat furnishes the
intention, while the sun actualizes it. Nevertheless, it is doubtful whether a
true separation is achieved, as the cat and its owner take up residence in the
otherworld; yet it is possible that the former troll castle is incorporated into
the human domain. Virginie Amilien has spoken of the rehabilitated wonderland
flourishing under human rule (Amilien 1996: 106), and perhaps this
is an instance of such a revival.
In the texts assembled under the present heading, the human party is
usually the traverser of boundaries, and the encounter is unintentional. In
one case, though, the trolls encroach on human territory (Nyland 1887, 77),
and in another, a cat is the prime, highly conscious agent of association.
3.4.5 Protective and Apotropaic Measures
Protective and apotropaic measures are instrumental in ending and wholly
avoiding a supernatural encounter. Some of them have already been mentioned
in the course of this chapter, but I will rehearse and complement
them here. Several are associated with the Christian faith, such as the recitation
of the Lord’s Prayer, the benediction and the invocation of the
name of Jesus. Usually they are applied when the damage is done, rather
than functioning as pre-emptive actions. The Lord’s Prayer or a call for
God’s assistance can break an enchantment, as may the benediction of the
priest, which protects stolen goods from their rightful, supranormal owners
as well (Hembygden 1916: 62–63; SLS 28, 3; SLS 213, 184; SLS 280: 635–636;
SLS 338: 21–22; Nyland 1887, 271).
The church bells may stir an abducted person from the enchantment,
partially or completely (SLS 28, 3; R I 86: 2; Hembygden 1910: 145); in the
former case, the ringing of the bells can be supplemented with the parson’s
benediction and the laying on of hands (SLS 28, 3). The minister’s coat is
similarly charged with power (cf. Klintberg 2002: 40): the abducted man
stealing under the parson’s coat regained his visibility to human eyes and
escaped the influence of the troll (SLS 280: 136). Another enchantment was
broken by making the sign of the cross on the breast of the enthralled
princess (R II 305), although this simple act had to be preceded by thrice
guessing the thoughts of the princess. The sacred word and the divinely
sanctioned authority of the priest are also efficacious in retrieving abducted
Breaking the Contact 129