High in the rugged mountains of Norway lies the wild and windswept region known as Dovrefjell. The land there is filled with rocky slopes, deep valleys, and endless stretches of forest that seem to whisper with ancient stories. For generations, people living in nearby villages believed that the mountains were home to creatures older than the land itself, trolls who lived hidden in caves and stone halls far from human eyes.
Among the many tales told around winter fires was the story of a band of trolls who once lived in a large cave on the slopes of Dovrefjell.
The cave was spacious and warm, sheltered by massive boulders and surrounded by tall pine trees. Inside, the trolls had gathered treasures over many years, pots and tools, bits of silver, strange objects they had found wandering through the mountains, and plenty of food gathered from the forests and streams nearby.
They lived comfortably, rarely disturbed by anyone.
Humans seldom ventured so far into the mountains, and the trolls preferred it that way. Though they were large and strong, they were not always as brave as they liked to appear.
One evening, as the trolls gathered around their fire inside the cave, one of them returned from wandering through the mountains.
He looked troubled.
“What has happened?” asked the oldest troll, who sat near the fire with a heavy cloak wrapped around his shoulders.
“I have heard something strange,” the troll replied nervously.
The others leaned forward with curiosity.
“While walking near the lower hills,” he continued, “I passed close to a human farm. I heard the farmers speaking about a creature they call ‘the cat.’”
The trolls exchanged puzzled glances.
“A cat?” one asked.
“Yes,” the traveler said, lowering his voice. “They spoke of it with great caution, as if it were something dangerous.”
The oldest troll frowned.
“What kind of creature is it?”
The traveler shook his head.
“I do not know. But the farmers sounded very careful when they mentioned it. They warned each other to watch for it.”
Now the trolls began murmuring among themselves.
“If humans are afraid of it,” said one troll thoughtfully, “then it must be powerful indeed.”
“That is true,” another agreed. “Humans rarely fear small things.”
The traveler continued, his voice growing more anxious as he spoke.
“I heard them say that the cat moves quietly and watches everything. They said it is clever and fast.”
The trolls grew uneasy.
A creature that moved quietly and watched everything did not sound friendly.
One of the younger trolls shivered.
“What if it lives somewhere nearby?”
The cave suddenly felt less comfortable than it had before.
The oldest troll tried to remain calm, but even he looked thoughtful.
“If this creature is as dangerous as the humans suggest,” he said slowly, “we must be careful.”
The trolls spent the rest of the evening discussing the mysterious cat.
Each troll imagined something different.
One thought it must be enormous, with glowing eyes and sharp claws that could tear through stone.
Another imagined a creature that crept silently through forests at night, waiting to attack anything in its path.
A third believed it might be a cunning beast capable of tricking even trolls.
The more they talked, the more frightening the creature became in their minds.
Soon none of them could stop thinking about it.
That night the trolls slept poorly. Every rustle of wind outside the cave made them nervous.
Days passed, and the rumors of the mysterious cat continued to trouble them.
One afternoon, while several trolls were standing near the entrance of their cave, something small and quiet moved across the rocky ground nearby.
It had soft fur, quick paws, and bright curious eyes.
The creature paused and looked toward the cave.
None of the trolls had ever seen such an animal before.
One of them gasped.
“Look!” he whispered.
“The cat!”
Panic spread instantly.
The trolls stared at the small animal in horror.
To them, it seemed far more terrifying than anything they had imagined. Its silent movements made it appear stealthy and dangerous. Its bright eyes seemed to watch them with cunning intelligence.
The creature stretched lazily and took a few slow steps toward the cave.
That was enough.
“The cat is coming!” shouted one of the trolls.
In an instant, chaos erupted inside the cave.
The trolls scrambled to gather their belongings. Pots clattered against stones. Cloaks were grabbed and treasures stuffed hurriedly into sacks.
“We must leave!” cried the youngest troll.
“If humans fear it, we cannot stay here!”
The cat, meanwhile, simply wandered closer out of curiosity.
To the trolls, however, it looked as if the creature were stalking them.
The oldest troll finally shouted the words that ended the matter.
“Run!”
And run they did.
Out of the cave and across the rocky slopes of Dovrefjell they fled, tumbling over stones and crashing through bushes in their desperate escape.
The cat stood quietly at the entrance of the cave, watching the strange giants disappear into the distance.
After a moment, it walked calmly inside.
The cave was warm and filled with interesting objects.
The cat explored for a while, sniffing at pots and curled-up blankets left behind by the terrified trolls.
Eventually it found a comfortable spot near the fire pit and curled up to rest.
Meanwhile, far away on the mountainside, the trolls continued running until they were certain they had escaped the terrible creature.
At last they stopped to catch their breath.
“Did you see how quietly it moved?” one troll said, still trembling.
“And those eyes!” said another.
“It nearly caught us,” added a third.
The oldest troll looked back toward the distant mountain.
“We were wise to leave,” he said solemnly.
None of them ever returned to the cave on Dovrefjell.
And so, it is said that the trolls lost their home simply because they feared a creature they did not understand.
As for the cat, it remained happily in the cave for quite some time, enjoying the warmth and quiet.
And whenever villagers later spoke about strange stories of trolls fleeing from a cat, they could not help but laugh at how imagination had turned a harmless animal into a terrifying monster.
Moral Lesson
This Norwegian folktale reminds us that fear often grows from misunderstanding. When people imagine dangers without knowing the truth, small and harmless things can seem far more frightening than they really are. The story teaches that curiosity and understanding are wiser than fear of the unknown.
Knowledge Check
1. What is the main story of “The Cat on the Dovrefjell”?
It tells how trolls flee their cave after mistakenly believing a harmless cat is a terrifying creature.
2. Why are the trolls afraid of the cat?
They hear humans speaking cautiously about cats and imagine the creature must be dangerous.
3. What theme does the story highlight?
The story emphasizes the fear of the unknown and how imagination can exaggerate danger.
4. Where does the folktale take place?
The story is set in the mountainous region of Dovrefjell in Norway.
5. What happens when the trolls finally see the cat?
They panic and run away from their cave, believing the small animal is a dangerous monster.
6. What lesson does the folktale teach?
It teaches that misunderstandings and fear can make harmless things seem frightening.
Source: Collected in Norske Folkeeventyr by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe, first published in 1841.
Cultural Origin: Norway.
