Chapter 113: The Troll Revealed – Summary and Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Colin, Arthur, and their guide Stu Finger travel upstream and climb through a grove of ancient trees. In a hilltop clearing they find a granite stone carved with Ogham inscriptions. Finger instructs them to circle the stone three times. On the third circuit, a gate appears: an old wooden frame with a blue car door for a gate, set on a white stone lintel. Finger leads the way. Before following, Arthur gives Colin the Surrealist’s Glass. Looking through it, Colin sees the gate as a twelve-foot alabaster arch and Finger transformed into a seven-foot troll with tusks and purple-gray skin. Colin returns the glass and they enter a tunnel through briars. They emerge to flat ground with a boulder; Finger wiggles into a gap beneath it. Arthur and Colin follow, dropping into a cave. Finger attacks Colin from behind with a spiked club. Arthur shines a high‑intensity flashlight that mimics sunlight, which burns Finger’s skin. Colin sees Finger’s shadow is that of a troll and his face appears mask‑like. Arthur identifies Finger as Svangur the Sly and demands items from his hoard, specifically the Sword of Strange Hangings, saying he needs it to kill a dragon. Finger agrees to lead them deeper, but warns that the quest is hopeless.
Key Events
- Colin and Arthur circle the Ogham‑inscribed stone three times, causing a hidden gate to appear.
- Using the Surrealist’s Glass, Colin sees Finger’s true troll form and the gate’s true appearance.
- They crawl through a narrow gap under a boulder into a cave.
- Finger attacks Colin with a shillelagh, drawing blood.
- Arthur uses a special flashlight that emits sunlight, burning Finger and revealing his troll nature.
- Arthur calls Finger “Svangur the Sly” and exerts authority over him.
- Arthur demands the Sword of Strange Hangings, a blade capable of cutting through dragon hide.
- Finger warns that the sword will be useless against the dragon and tries to discourage Arthur.
Character Development
Colin
Colin’s curiosity and fear deepen. He is unsettled by what the Surrealist’s Glass reveals and feels vulnerable when attacked. His wonder at the fairy‑tale landscape competes with growing dread.
Arthur
Arthur sheds his earlier helplessness. He calmly commands Finger, revealing knowledge of the troll’s true name and weaknesses. His “talisman” is a practical item – a high‑intensity flashlight – showing he relies on cleverness rather than magical artifacts.
Stu Finger / Svangur the Sly
Finger is unmasked as a troll who has murdered children and stolen treasure. His whining and attempts to bargain reveal a cowardly, manipulative nature. He tries to play on Arthur’s fears about the dragon.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Illusion vs. Reality
The Surrealist’s Glass and Finger’s shifting appearance underscore how perception can deceive. What seems a dilapidated gate is truly an ancient arch; a scrawny guide is really a troll. The characters must learn to see past surfaces.
Light as Power
Arthur’s flashlight, which mimics sunlight, becomes a tool of domination. It directly harms Finger and forces him to comply. Light in this chapter represents knowledge and control over the dark, hidden world.
Fairy‑Tale Descent
The journey through the stone circle, the gate, and into the cave echoes classic fairy‑tale motifs. The characters are “deeper into the landscape of fairy tale,” where rules of logic bend and dangers are literal woodland creatures turned monstrous.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter marks a turning point in the quest. Arthur reveals his true resourcefulness and determination to obtain the Sword of Strange Hangings. The existence of a dragon is confirmed, raising the stakes. Simultaneously, the chapter deepens the novel’s mythic atmosphere by introducing a troll, a magical gate, and a hidden underground realm. The relationship between Colin and Arthur shifts: Colin sees Arthur’s competence, and Arthur assumes a leadership role.
Study Questions and Answers
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What does the Surrealist’s Glass reveal to Colin, and why is that information vital?
The glass shows the gate as a grand alabaster arch and Stu Finger as a seven‑foot troll with tusks and purple‑gray skin. This revelation confirms that Finger is not human and that the gateway is magical, warning Colin and Arthur that they are entering a dangerous, enchanted space. -
Arthur uses a special flashlight to control Finger. What is the flashlight’s power, and why does it work on the troll?
The flashlight is a Cree hi‑thrower high‑intensity discharge lamp that emits a beam closely mimicking sunlight. Trolls, like Finger, are harmed by direct sunlight because it turns their skin to stone. Arthur exploits this weakness to intimidate and command him. -
Why does Arthur demand the Sword of Strange Hangings, and what does this reveal about his mission?
Arthur claims he needs the sword to kill a dragon. This reveals that his quest is far more ambitious than simply surviving Jayne Nighswander’s trials; he is seeking a legendary weapon to defeat a great beast, potentially the cause of the kingdom’s sorrow.