The Trolls by Jorge Luis Borges

Name: The Trolls
Author: Jorge Luis Borges

This work is a collection of short stories that explore the nature of reality and identity through the use of fantastical and often absurd narratives. The Trolls are mythical creatures that inhabit a world where they can change their shape at will, blurring the lines between reality and illusion. The stories in this collection often feature characters who are struggling to maintain their sense of self in a world that is constantly shifting and unreliable. Through these characters' experiences, Borges explores themes such as the fragility of identity, the power of language to shape our perceptions of reality, and the limits of human knowledge. One of the central concerns of this work is the relationship between the individual and the collective, with many of the stories featuring characters who are torn between their own desires and the expectations of society. This tension is often played out in a world that is both familiar and strange, where the boundaries between reality and fantasy are constantly being blurred. Throughout the collection, Borges employs a range of narrative techniques, including irony, paradox, and ambiguity, to create a sense of uncertainty and unease in the reader. This uncertainty reflects the instability of the characters' identities and the fragility of their perceptions of reality. Ultimately, this work is a meditation on the nature of reality and identity, and the ways in which our understanding of these concepts is shaped by language, culture, and personal experience.

By Jorge Luis Borges · First published 1929 · Genre: Fantasy, Mythology, Folklore · 219 words

First lines

In England, after the advent of Christianity, the Valkyries (or ‘Choosers of the Slain') were relegated to the villages and there degenerated into witches; in the Scandinavian countries the giants of heathen myth, who lived in Jotunnheim and battled against the god Thor, were reduced to rustic Trolls. In the cosmogony opening the Elder Edda, we read that in the Twilight of the Gods, the giants, allied with a wolf and a serpent, will scale the rainbow Bifrost, which will break under their weight, thereby destroying the world. The Trolls of popular superstition are stupid, evil elves who dwell in mountain crannies or in ramshackle huts. Trolls of distinction may bear two or three heads.

What this Textopian page supports

The Trolls is listed on Textopian as a short story by Jorge Luis Borges, dated 1929 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: Jorge Luis Borges
Date: 1929 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fantasy, Mythology, Folklore, Literary Criticism, Cultural Commentary
Length: 219 words
Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Discussion starters

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How does this short story by Jorge Luis Borges fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Similar titles

Genres

Fantasy — The narrative involves mythical creatures such as Valkyries, giants, and Trolls, which are central to the fantasy genre.
Mythology — The text references Norse mythology, including elements like the Elder Edda, Jotunnheim, and the Twilight of the Gods.
Folklore — The depiction of Trolls as creatures of popular superstition aligns with traditional folklore themes.
Literary Criticism — The text analyzes and references Henrik Ibsen's work, providing a critique of its portrayal of Trolls.