Trolls And Dragons
written by Katali Sorcer Gobblefirn
Book 1 of myth series
Last Updated
05/31/21
Chapters
12
Reads
438
Alternative interpretations
Chapter 6
There have been other visual interpretations of trolls. The Swedish name for Finnish author Tove Jansson’s Moomins is ‘Mumintroll’, because those popular, white hippopotamus-like creatures also have roots in the old fairytales – although the peaceful Moomins are nothing like the destructive creatures of the wizarding world.
And, in 1959, a Danish woodcutter called Thomas Dam created a plastic doll with a wrinkled face and upcombed hair. His creations became known as Troll dolls, and the 2016 animated film Trolls brought them back to popular attention.
Like Moomins, Dam’s trolls aren’t scary or particularly stupid, which just goes to show that even folklore’s most monstrously magical creatures can, with a bit of help, change their reputation.
There are no such reputational makeovers for the trolls of the wizarding world. The best we can say for the two that Harry, Ron and Hermione encounter in Philosopher’s Stone is that at least they caused no harm, thanks to Ron’s wand and Quirrell’s special affinity with their kind.
It’s not exactly high praise. Best stick to Newt’s definition in Fantastic Beasts.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, every Friday Pottermore will explore themes, moments, characters and much more from the very first Harry Potter story. Come back next week when we look at the magical spells we first learned in Philosopher’s Stone.
And, in 1959, a Danish woodcutter called Thomas Dam created a plastic doll with a wrinkled face and upcombed hair. His creations became known as Troll dolls, and the 2016 animated film Trolls brought them back to popular attention.
Like Moomins, Dam’s trolls aren’t scary or particularly stupid, which just goes to show that even folklore’s most monstrously magical creatures can, with a bit of help, change their reputation.
There are no such reputational makeovers for the trolls of the wizarding world. The best we can say for the two that Harry, Ron and Hermione encounter in Philosopher’s Stone is that at least they caused no harm, thanks to Ron’s wand and Quirrell’s special affinity with their kind.
It’s not exactly high praise. Best stick to Newt’s definition in Fantastic Beasts.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, every Friday Pottermore will explore themes, moments, characters and much more from the very first Harry Potter story. Come back next week when we look at the magical spells we first learned in Philosopher’s Stone.
