Troll Talk Bundle (Livestream)

Join us for an engaging three-part Troll Talk series with writer, educator, and resident troll expert Britte Rasmussen Marsh. Each talk will dive into a different dimension of troll lore, tracing their journey from ancient landscapes to contemporary culture:

Part I: Ancient Myths & Folklore: Explore how trolls shaped Nordic mythology and imagination, from medieval Scandinavia to folklore’s revival in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Step into the world of medieval Scandinavia, where trolls loomed large in the imagination. From shaping landscapes and terrifying villagers to their transformation during the rise of Christianity, trolls have long been a way to explain the mysteries of the natural world. This talk traces their journey through Nordic mythology and folklore, showing how trolls evolved from feared beings into symbols woven into storytelling and cultural tradition.

Part I Date: November 5th, 2025, 6:30-7:30 pm in-person and via livestream.

Part II: Trolls in Art, Literature & Conflict: Discover how artists and writers, including J.R.R. Tolkien, Tove Jansson, and postwar Nordic painters, used trolls to wrestle with war, displacement, and the search for hope in dark times.

From J.R.R. Tolkien’s wartime imagination to Tove Jansson’s beloved Moomin trolls, trolls have often been used to grapple with themes of war, exile, and recovery. This talk explores how artists and writers in the 20th century turned to troll imagery in response to conflict and change, finding ways to express resilience, alienation, and hope. Along the way, we’ll consider how trolls became unlikely companions in humanity’s darkest chapters.

Part II Date: November 11th, 2025, 6:30-7:30 pm in-person and via livestream.

Part III: Trolls in Modern Culture & Migration: in celebration of the 200th anniversary of Norwegian emigration to the United States follow trolls across the Atlantic, from Danish troll dolls of the 1950s to the “troll diaspora” in the American Midwest, where communities-built festivals, folk art, and even “troll towns” to preserve heritage and spark imagination.

How did trolls make their way from Scandinavian folklore to the shelves of American toy stores and the streets of Midwestern “troll towns”? This talk follows trolls across the Atlantic, exploring Danish troll dolls of the 1950s, Scandinavian immigration to the Midwest, and how communities have used trolls to celebrate heritage and attract visitors. From folk art to festivals, trolls remain powerful—and playful—symbols of cultural identity in today’s world.

Together, these talks reveal how trolls—once feared creatures of the wilderness—have become lasting symbols of identity, resilience, and creativity.

Part III Date: November 25th, 2025, 6:30-7:30 pm in-person and via livestream.

About the Lecturer

Britte Rasmussen Marsh is a writer, educator and community organizer based in Portland, Oregon. Her current work includes several troll-based initiatives, including Trolls: A Retrospective which chronicles the history of trolls from the Viking age to our contemporary era. Another work is WeTroll, a non-fiction book that explores the "troll diaspora" from Scandinavia to North America in order to ask "are trolls real, and have you encountered one?"

To stay tuned for further developments, you may contact her via wetrollinfo@gmail.com or check out www.skrifald.com/about/about-wetroll.