The Coal Burner and the Troll
by Herman Hofberg · from Swedish fairy tales
Adapted Version
Nils worked hard in the forest. He made coal. But Nils was not very lucky. He felt sad sometimes.
Nils worked in the forest. He made black coal. He worked very hard always. But he had bad luck. He was often sad.
One day, a lady came. She was a Tricky Lady. "I can help you," she said. Nils needed much help. He said, "Yes, please help."
The Tricky Lady worked very fast. She was very strong. Nils made much coal. It was good, black coal. Nils was happy then.
The lady stayed with Nils. Three long years passed by. They had three children. Nils made much coal. He did very well.
After three years, she spoke. "Take me home, Nils." "Marry me," she said. Nils did not like this plan. He felt uneasy.
Nils went to church. He thought about the lady. Was she a Tricky Lady? Was she a forest creature? He felt very worried.
Nils forgot an old rule. He did not hit the pine tree. He saw the lady. He saw the children. They had bushy tails. They put out the fire. They were tricky forms.
Nils went back quietly. He hit the pine tree. He went to the fire. The lady looked quite normal. The children looked normal.
The lady said, "Marry me now." Nils said, "Yes, I will." But Nils did not mean it. He needed good help. He went away.
Nils found an Old Man. The Old Man was wise. "Harness your horse," he said. "No loops on the harness." "Go to the fire. Take them on the cart. Drive fast on the ice."
Nils did what he heard. He harnessed his horse. No loops were on it. He went to the fire. The Tricky Lady got in. The children got in. Nils drove fast onto the ice.
The Tricky Lady called out. "Come back, Nils!" she cried. But Nils did not stop. His special harness kept him safe. It had no loops. He rode away very fast.
Nils was safe now. He sold his forest home. He lived in a new, quiet home. He worked on his farm. He lived a quiet life. He was happy.
Nils learned a lesson. Be careful with new friends. Easy help can bring problems. Nils was happy now.
Original Story
The Coal Burner and the Troll.
On a point which shoots out into the northwest corner of Lake Råsvalen, in the region of Linde, lived, in days past, a coal burner named Nils. His little garden patch was left to a servant boy to care for, while he dwelt always in the forest, chopping coal-wood during the summer and burning it in the winter. However he toiled, nothing but bad luck was returned to him, and, leading all other subjects, poor Nils was the talk of the village where his home was.
One day when he was constructing a stack of wood for burning, on the other side of the lake near the dark Harg Mountain, a strange woman came to him and asked him if he needed help in his work.
“Yes, indeed; it would be good to have some assistance,” answered Nils, whereupon the woman began to carry logs and wood much faster than Nils could draw with his horse, so that by noon the material was on the ground for a new stack. When evening came she asked Nils what he thought of her day’s work, and if she might come again next day.
The coal burner could not well say no, so she returned the following day, and daily thereafter. When the stack was burned she assisted him with the drawing, and never before had Nils had so much nor so good coal as that time.
Thus the woman remained with him in the forest three years, during which time she became the mother of three children, but this did not bother the coal burner, for she took care of them so that he had no trouble from them.
When the fourth year had been entered upon she began to be more presuming, and demanded that he take her home with him and make her his wife. This Nils did not like, but, as she was very useful to him in the coal forest, he was careful not to betray his thoughts, and said he would think over the matter.
One day he went to church, where he had not been for many years, and what he heard there set him to thinking as he had not thought since he was an innocent child. He began to reflect whether he had not made a misstep, and if it might not be a Troll woman who had so willingly lent him her company and help.
Involved in these and similar thoughts, returning to his forest home, he forgot that he had made an agreement with the strange woman when she first entered his service, that always upon his arrival, and before approaching the stack, he would strike three times with an ax against an old pine tree standing a little way from the coal kiln. On he went, when suddenly there burst upon his sight a scene that nearly took his wits from him. As he neared the stack he discovered it in bright flames, and around it stood the mother and her three children drawing the coal. They drew and slacked so that fire, smoke and sparks filled the air high toward the heavens, but instead of pine branches, ordinarily used for slacking, they had bushy tails, with which, after dipping them in the snow, they beat the fire.
When Nils had contemplated this awhile, he crept stealthily back to the pine whose trunk he made echo by three blows from his ax, so that it was heard far away at Harg Mountain. Thereupon he went forward to the stack as if he had seen nothing, and now every thing was as he was accustomed to see it. The stack burned steadily and well, and the woman went about her duties as usual.
When the woman saw Nils again, she renewed her appeals to be allowed to go to his home with him and become his wife.
“Yes, the matter shall be settled now,” said Nils, consolingly, and departed for home, ostensibly to fetch his horse, but he went instead to Kallernäs, on the east shores of the lake, where lived a wise old man, whom he asked what course to pursue to free himself from the dilemma. The old man advised him to go home and hitch his horse to the coal cart, but so harness that no loops should be found in the reins or harness. Then he should ride over the ice on the back of the horse; turn at the coal-kiln without pausing; shout to the Troll woman and children to get into the cart; and drive briskly to the ice again.
The coal burner, following the instructions, harnessed his horse and saw to it carefully that there was no loop upon the reins or harness, rode over the ice, up into the woods to the kiln and called to the woman and her children to jump in, at the same time heading for the ice and putting his horse to the best possible speed. When he reached the middle of the lake, he saw, running toward him from the wilderness, a large pack of wolves, whereupon he let slip the harness from the shafts, so that the cart and its contents were left standing on the slippery ice, and rode as fast as the horse could carry him straight to the other shore. When the Troll saw the wolves she began to call and beg. “Come back! come back!” she shrieked. “If you will not do it for my sake, do it for your youngest daughter, Vipa!” But Nils continued his way toward the shore. Then he heard the Trolls calling one to the other, “Brother in Harsberg, sister in Stripa, and cousin in Ringshällen, catch hold of the loops and pull!” “He has no loop,” came a reply from the depths of Harsberg.
“Catch him at Härkällarn, then.”
“He does not ride in that direction,” came from Ringshällen, and Nils did not go that way, but over fields, stones and roads straight to his home, where he had only arrived when the horse fell dead, and a Troll shot came and tore away the corner of the stable.
Nils, himself, fell ill shortly after, and was confined to his bed many weeks. When he recovered his health he sold his cabin in the forest, and cultivated the few acres around his cottage until the end of his days. Thus the Trolls were once caught napping.
Story DNA
Moral
Be wary of accepting help from unknown sources, as supernatural aid often comes with a hidden cost and dangerous obligations.
Plot Summary
Nils, a struggling coal burner, accepts help from a mysterious woman who proves incredibly efficient, bringing him prosperity. After three years and three children, the woman, revealed to be a Troll, demands marriage. Nils, realizing his peril, seeks advice from a wise man. Following the wise man's instructions, Nils tricks the Troll family into his cart, abandons them on the ice amidst a wolf attack, and narrowly escapes their magical pursuit. Though he suffers illness and loss, Nils ultimately frees himself from the Trolls and lives a safer life.
Themes
Emotional Arc
struggle to relief
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story reflects common Scandinavian folklore themes of humans interacting with nature spirits/Trolls, often with dangerous consequences, and the belief that Christian faith could protect against such beings.
Plot Beats (15)
- Nils, a perpetually unlucky coal burner, works in the forest near Lake Råsvalen.
- A strange woman approaches Nils and offers to help him with his work, which he accepts.
- The woman proves incredibly efficient, helping Nils produce more and better coal than ever before.
- She stays with Nils for three years, during which they have three children, and Nils continues to prosper.
- In the fourth year, the woman demands that Nils take her home and marry her, making him uneasy.
- Nils goes to church for the first time in years and begins to suspect the woman is a Troll.
- He accidentally forgets to strike a pine tree (part of an old pact) before approaching the kiln and witnesses the woman and children in their true Troll forms, using their bushy tails to slacken the fire.
- Nils stealthily retreats, strikes the pine tree, and returns as if nothing happened, finding them in human form again.
- The woman renews her demand for marriage, and Nils pretends to agree, leaving to seek advice.
- Nils consults a wise old man who gives him specific instructions for escape: harness his horse without loops, drive to the kiln, pick up the Trolls, and then race across the ice.
- Nils follows the instructions, driving the Trolls onto the middle of the frozen lake.
- A pack of wolves appears, and Nils unhitches the cart, leaving the Trolls to the wolves while he escapes.
- The Troll woman screams for him to return, even for their youngest daughter, and other Trolls try to use their magic to stop him, but fail because of the loop-free harness.
- Nils reaches shore just as his horse collapses dead, and a Troll shot narrowly misses his stable.
- Nils falls ill but recovers, sells his forest property, and lives out his days safely as a farmer.
Characters
Nils ★ protagonist
A man of average height and build, weathered by years of outdoor labor in the forest. His skin is likely tanned and rough from sun and wind exposure. He carries the subtle signs of a life of toil, perhaps a slight stoop from chopping wood.
Attire: Practical, sturdy peasant clothing suitable for manual labor in a Swedish forest. Likely thick wool trousers, a simple linen or coarse wool tunic, and a leather or canvas apron. His boots would be heavy and well-worn, possibly wooden clogs or leather boots.
Wants: To improve his lot in life and overcome his persistent bad luck. He wants to produce good coal and escape poverty.
Flaw: Naivety and a tendency to prioritize convenience over caution, especially regarding the Troll woman. His fear also makes him avoid confrontation until pushed.
Transforms from a naive, unlucky, and isolated man into one who recognizes supernatural danger and takes decisive action to protect himself, ultimately choosing a safer, less ambitious life.
Hardworking, initially naive, somewhat isolated, pragmatic, fearful, and ultimately decisive. He is driven by a desire for a better life but is slow to recognize danger.
Image Prompt & Upload
A middle-aged Swedish peasant man, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a tanned, weathered face with a short, dark, unkempt beard and tired blue eyes. His dark brown hair is practical and slightly messy. He wears a thick, dark grey wool tunic, sturdy brown linen trousers, and heavy, mud-stained leather boots. A well-worn leather apron is tied over his tunic. He holds a heavy iron ax with a wooden handle in his right hand, resting it on the ground. His expression is weary but determined. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Troll Woman ⚔ antagonist
Initially appears as a strong, capable human woman of robust build, taller and more powerful than average. Her true form, revealed later, includes a bushy tail. Her movements are unnaturally swift and strong.
Attire: Initially, simple, practical peasant clothing, perhaps a dark, coarse linen dress or tunic, but of a quality that doesn't hinder her immense strength. When revealed, her clothing might appear more elemental or ragged, or she might be depicted in her true form without specific human attire.
Wants: To secure a human husband and a place in the human world, perhaps to gain power or simply to live among humans. She desires to make Nils her permanent partner.
Flaw: Bound by certain magical rules, such as the agreement with Nils and the vulnerability to Christian symbols (church) and specific magical countermeasures (loopless harness, ax blows). Her true nature is revealed by her tail and her children's tails.
Begins as a helpful, disguised figure, gradually reveals her true, demanding nature, and is ultimately thwarted and driven back to the wilderness, her plans for a human life ruined.
Deceptive, manipulative, incredibly strong, persistent, possessive, and ultimately vengeful. She is cunning and determined to integrate into the human world.
Image Prompt & Upload
A tall, powerfully built woman with strong, sharp features, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has long, wild, dark brown hair and piercing dark eyes. Her skin is a pale, earthy tone. She wears a dark, coarse, forest-green linen dress that appears somewhat elemental and ragged, revealing a long, bushy, dark brown animalistic tail that swishes slightly behind her. Her expression is intense and demanding. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Vipa ○ minor
A young child, appearing human but possessing a bushy tail like her mother. Her size would be appropriate for a child born within three years.
Attire: Simple, rough, perhaps homespun clothing suitable for a child living in the forest, likely in muted, earthy tones.
Wants: To assist her mother and family, and to remain with them.
Flaw: Her youth and dependence on her mother.
Remains a child throughout the story, her fate tied to her mother's.
Childlike, but also part of the Troll family's industrious and wild nature. Her primary role is to be a pawn in her mother's pleas.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young child, appearing to be around five years old, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has a round, innocent face with wide, curious eyes and short, messy brown hair. Her skin is fair. She wears a simple, rough-spun, muted green tunic and brown leggings. A small, bushy, dark brown animalistic tail extends from her lower back. Her expression is a mix of curiosity and slight apprehension. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Wise Old Man ◆ supporting
An elderly man, likely thin and stooped with age, but with an aura of wisdom and experience. His hands might be gnarled from a lifetime of work or study.
Attire: Simple, traditional Swedish peasant clothing, but perhaps of slightly finer quality or better kept than Nils's, reflecting his respected status. Likely a long, dark wool coat or tunic, sturdy trousers, and practical shoes.
Wants: To offer guidance and protection to those in need, using his accumulated knowledge.
Flaw: His age and physical limitations, though his mind remains sharp.
Serves as a static mentor figure, providing the crucial information Nils needs without undergoing personal change.
Wise, calm, knowledgeable, and helpful. He possesses ancient folk wisdom and understands the ways of magical creatures.
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly Swedish man, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a deeply wrinkled face with kind, intelligent blue eyes and a long, flowing white beard. His white hair is thin but well-kept. He wears a long, dark grey wool coat over a simple linen shirt, dark brown trousers, and sturdy leather boots. He leans gently on a gnarled wooden walking staff. His expression is calm and wise. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Coal Burner's Forest Dwelling
A secluded working area in a dense, dark forest near Harg Mountain, on the other side of Lake Råsvalen. It features stacks of wood for burning, a coal kiln, and an old, prominent pine tree standing a little way from the kiln.
Mood: Initially industrious and solitary, later becomes eerie and tense due to the troll's presence and the discovery of her true nature.
Nils works here with the troll woman; he discovers her true nature and her children's tails while they are slacking the coal with snow-dipped tails.
Image Prompt & Upload
A clearing in a dense, dark Scandinavian pine forest, where a smoldering coal kiln emits thin wisps of smoke. Piles of cut logs are stacked neatly nearby. To the left, a massive, ancient pine tree with rough, dark bark stands sentinel, its lower branches gnarled and thick. The forest floor is covered in a carpet of pine needles and patches of melting snow, reflecting the dim, overcast light filtering through the thick canopy. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Frozen Lake Råsvalen
A wide, expansive lake, completely frozen over, providing a slippery, open surface for travel. It connects the coal burner's forest dwelling to his home and other villages.
Mood: Desperate and perilous, a race for survival against the pursuing trolls and wolves.
Nils makes his escape with the troll woman and children in the cart across the ice, abandoning them to the wolves and the trolls' wrath.
Image Prompt & Upload
A vast, flat expanse of slick, dark ice covering a large Scandinavian lake, stretching towards distant, snow-dusted pine forests under a pale, winter sky. The ice surface is smooth but shows subtle cracks and reflections of the muted light. In the middle distance, a small, horse-drawn cart is stranded, with a pack of lean, grey wolves emerging from the tree line on the far shore, their breath visible in the cold air. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Nils's Cottage and Farmyard
Nils's humble home, a small cottage with a stable, surrounded by a few acres of cultivated land. It is located on a point shooting out into the northwest corner of Lake Råsvalen.
Mood: A place of refuge and eventual peace, though initially marked by the lingering danger from the trolls.
Nils returns here after escaping the trolls; his horse collapses, and a 'Troll shot' damages his stable, marking the end of the immediate threat.
Image Prompt & Upload
A small, weathered red-painted Falu-red cottage with white trim and a simple gabled roof, nestled on a gentle rise overlooking a partially frozen lake. A small, rustic stable with a splintered corner stands beside it. The surrounding few acres of land are fallow and covered in a thin layer of snow, with a few bare deciduous trees. The sky above is a soft, muted grey, suggesting late afternoon in winter. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
](/library-files/english/herman_hofberg/swedish_fairy_tales/b_lsbj_rn_1_xd32e2718/images/cover/cover_001.png?w=150)