The Black Death Was An Old Woman
Summary
The TaleTeller explores Norwegian folklore, beginning with the Huldra, a beautiful forest spirit who tests a charcoal burner’s decency by revealing her monstrous form. The episode then shifts to the Draugr, a headless drowned fisherman in a half-boat who haunts the sea, symbolizing the unburied grief of coastal communities. Finally, it examines the Plague Hag, a historical figure from the 1349 Black Death who carries a rake or broom to determine a valley’s fate. The narrative unites these tales through the theme of inevitable recognition, where seeing the truth too late offers no protection…
Topics discussed
Norway's geography and isolation
Introduction to the three Norwegian tales
The Holdra: The charcoal burner's test
The Holdra's nature and marriage
Norwegian fishing history and loss
The Draugr: Appearance and sound
The Draugr's meaning and a specific story
The Black Death in Norway
Pesthaugen: The rake and the broom
Why Pesthaugen is the ultimate horror
The theme of recognition and inevitability
Closing advice and preview of Sweden
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