Katla (dragon)

Lore & Background

Katla is a massive ancient monster residing in Nangijala, a fantastical land in the novel. She can spray flames from her mouth, and any victim who survives the flames becomes paralyzed. Her scales are so strong that no weapon can injure or scratch her. She is controlled only by a lur, a special instrument owned by the evil warlord Tengil, who uses her to terrorize the citizens of Cherry Valley. When the citizens rise up, Tengil deploys Katla, but the protagonist Jonathan Lionheart steals the lur and commands Katla to kill Tengil. However, Katla later burns Jonathan, wounding him. Before succumbing to paralysis, Jonathan jumps onto Katla's back and stabs her with a sword, causing her to fall into a river where she battles another great beast, Karm the lindworm, and both monsters kill each other.

Reader's Guide

Katla serves as a central antagonist in *The Brothers Lionheart*, embodying the destructive power wielded by the tyrant Tengil. Her invulnerability and fiery breath make her a nearly unstoppable force, and her control via the lur highlights themes of power and manipulation. The dragon's name, shared with an Icelandic volcano, reinforces her fiery nature. In the 1977 film adaptation, Katla was realized as a four-meter-tall, eight-meter-long model built by Pinewood Studios, costing 100,000 SEK. The model contained three people—one in each front leg and one at a control panel—and could blink, spit fire, and whip its tail. It has not been used since and is currently stored in Trollywood. Notably, the film alters Katla's fate: she drowns in a boiling pool of mud after being hit by the boulder, rather than being killed by Karm. Katla remains a memorable figure in Swedish children's literature and cinema, representing both terror and the eventual triumph of courage.

Did You Know?

• Katla's name is an old Norse female name meaning 'the kettle' or 'the boiler', and is also the name of a volcano in Iceland.
• In the novel, Katla is killed by Karm the lindworm after being pushed into a river; in the film, she drowns in a boiling pool of mud.
• The film model of Katla was four meters tall and eight meters long, built by a Swedish special effects company for 100,000 SEK.
• The model contained three people: one in each front leg and one at a small control panel.