Uncle Thor's Magazine Online

Once on a time there were three Billy Goats, who were to go up to the hillside to make themselves fat, and the family name of the goats was "Gruff." On the way up was a bridge, over a river which they had to cross, and under the bridge lived a great ugly Troll with eyes as big as saucers, and a nose as long as a poker. First of all came the youngest Billy Goat Gruff to cross the bridge. "Trip, trap; trip, trap!" went the bridge. "_Who's that tripping over my bridge?_" roared the Troll. "Oh, it is only I, the tiniest Billy Goat Gruff, and I'm going up to the hillside to make myself fat," said the Billy Goat, with such a small voice. "Now, I'm coming to gobble you up," said the Troll. "Oh, no! pray do not take me, I'm too little, that I am," said the Billy Goat; "wait a bit till the second Billy Goat Gruff comes, he's much bigger." "Well! be off with you," said the Troll. A little while after came the second Billy Goat Gruff across the bridge. "Trip, trap! trip, trap! trip, trap!" went the bridge. "_Who is that tripping over my bridge_?" roared the Troll. "Oh, it's the second Billy Goat Gruff, and I'm going up to the hillside to make myself fat," said the Billy Goat. Nor had he such a small voice, either. "Now, I'm coming to gobble you up!" said the Troll. "Oh, no! don't take me, wait a little till the big Billy Goat comes, he's much bigger." "Very well! be off with you," said the Troll. But just then up came the big Billy Goat Gruff. "Trip, trap! trip, trap! trip, trap!" went the bridge, for the Billy Goat was so heavy that the bridge creaked and groaned under him. "_Who's that tramping on my bridge?_" roared the Troll. "It's I! the big Billy Goat Gruff," said the Billy Goat, and he had a big hoarse voice. "Now, I'm coming to gobble you up!" roared the troll. "_Well come! I have two spears so stout, With them I'll thrust your eyeballs out; I have besides two great big stones, With them I'll crush you body and bones!_" That was what the big Billy Goat said; so he flew at the Troll, and thrust him with his horns, and crushed him to bits, body and bones, and tossed him out into the river, and after that he went up to the hillside. There the Billy Goats got so fat that they were scarcely able to walk home again, and if they haven't grown thinner, why they're still fat; and so,--

"Snip, snap, stout. This tale's told out." (translated by GUDRUN THORNE-THOMSEN)

One of the most popular folktales is the Norwegian story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff. The tale involves three goats, a bridge and a troll. There is a bridge under which lives a dangerous troll. Some readers may remember the illustrations from old story books. There was the troll, usually pictured with a huge nose and smoking a pipe.

The first billy goat to cross the bridge was the smallest. The troll jumped out from under the bridge. He announced his desire to eat the goat. The small goat told him that a much larger one was coming, and that the troll should wait. The little goat was allowed to pass.

Next came the medium-sized goat. When challenged by the troll, he too begged to be spared, and that a larger goat was coming. The troll let him pass.

The third goat came. When the troll approached, the third goat struck back. He charged. His first attack poked out the trolls eyes. The next one crushed the troll, and the third knocked it into the water. Then the goat continued on his way.

Most people will remember these stories in detail, even if they have not read or heard them in many decades. Think of Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel and Cinderella. Such unique tales often contain a very subtle but powerful lesson. The Three Billy Goats Gruff is particularly Norse in its tone.

The first thing we need consider is the basic symbolism. There are three goats. Three is a complete process of Beginning, Middle and End or Past, Present and Future. Here we see a progression of smallest to largest. The first two goats postpone the goat’s attack until the third goat arrives.

The goats are going uphill. Allegorically, going to a higher place means attaining a higher state, spiritually or otherwise. Depending on the tale, it can mean an improvement in status, companionship, prosperity or spiritual insight. Climbing and going uphill have the same meaning.

The bridge is a connection between two things. It is also a symbol of safe passage. A bridge allows us to traverse obstacles. It is a safe passage through an obstacle.

Trolls symbolize trouble. They are lurking troubles that appear unexpectedly. A troll can turn otherwise safe circumstances into danger. Most trolls are brutal and stupid, like a blind force or random event. A troll portends unexpected trouble.

In the tale, we have three goats passing. The first is small. Rather than run or fight, it uses words. The goat uses a simple fact to halt the troll. It is the same with the second goat, who is larger. The troll himself is a hidden danger which suddenly erupts in a safe place.

The third goat is the largest. He does not negotiate with the troll. He attacks without hesitation. The progression of goats is symbolic. The first goat is unable to tackle the troll, so he passes it on. The second does the same. In effect, the goats are growing. They cannot handle the situation while small, so they stave it off with guile. The counterattack only comes when the goat is large enough to win. Its attack on the troll hits two targets. By blinding the goat, he removes its initiative. He makes it incapable of choosing a course of action,. The second strike crushes the troll, turning its bones to shards. This is complete destruction. It turns the troll to a pile of jelly. Can you image a better analogy for taking the fight out of a problem? Last, he knocks the dead troll into the stream. This is the same as removing it from the face of the earth. The problem is obliterated totally.

The moral is simple: when trouble comes, you may not have the means to tackle it right away. You have have to buy time while you marshal your forces, be they assets, allies, or skills. Once you are assured that you have enough to annihilate the problem ,you move. The game plan is simple: stop it, overwhelm it and obliterate it. The key element to this story is the advice to bide time while gathering strength. Second is the advice that when you do respond, you do so swiftly and completely.

How many times have we seen this in history? When the Japanese made a full assault at Nomonhan, the Russians held them at bay. While both sides skirmished, the Russians were building their forces. Tanks and men were sent over impossible distances to bolster Soviet forces. One the Russians were sure of having overwhelming force, they launched an all-out attack. The Japanese had 76% casualties. Of a division and a half that went into Nomonhan, only one quarter made it home. It was done by keeping the Japanese occupied to buy time for the build-up of men and troops. The Russians did not want to merely win. They wanted to overwhelmingly trounce the Japanese.

The same happened in 1940. There was a stalemate on the French border in 1940, with the Germans on one side and the French and British on the other. It was called the “Phony War” because there was not much fighting. The Germans were busy. While keeping the Allies at bay, the Germans were secretly building up their armored forces at the Ardennes Forest. Once overwhelming force was compiled, the Germans attacked. Once again, the goal was not a simple win after a long fight, but an overwhelming victory that thoroughly crushed the opposition.

This is the slow expansion of the Jer Rune instead of the immediate response of Raido. Patience and cunning are at the heart of the lesson.