# Ghost-Stories explained — The Story of Gösta Berling

> Chapter companion for The Story of Gösta Berling by Selma Lagerlöf.

## What happens

Anna Stjärnhök confronts Sintram in a tense exchange over Gösta Berling, using a cryptic warning about a figure in a rocking-chair to force him to leave. Later, at Berga, she faints upon finding Sintram and Gösta already there. The chapter recounts Sintram's diabolical reputation, his marriage to Ulrika Dillner, and her lonely, despairing polka-playing at Fors.

## Themes in this chapter

### Nature and the Supernatural

Sintram is associated with demonic omens: a black dog with fiery eyes, black bulls drawing his carriage, and ghostly heralds.

### Guilt and Remorse

Anna Stjärnhök feels bitter remorse after sacrificing her beloved; Ulrika Dillner is consumed by shame and regret for marrying Sintram.

### Community and Belonging

Ulrika Dillner's longing for her old life at Berga and her isolation at Fors highlight the pain of losing community.

## Character check-ins

### Anna Stjärnhök

Sacrifices her beloved to protect Gösta's soul, confronts Sintram, and later faints at Berga.

### Sintram

Revealed as a diabolical figure; marries Ulrika Dillner and is associated with supernatural omens.

### Gösta Berling

Passive in the confrontation; later found chatting calmly with Sintram at Berga.

### Ulrika Dillner

Marries Sintram, suffers homesickness and terror at Fors, and plays the polka to express her despair.

## Key lines

> Which of them will you let me keep?" Anna Stjärnhök laughed wildly. "Do you think that we can stand here and exchange souls as they exchange horses at the market at Broby?

Anna Stjärnhök laughs bitterly and asks if they can trade souls like horses at a market.

_Anna rejects Sintram's proposal to swap Gösta for another man._

> She would have liked to weep, to rave, to roll on the ground and strew snow and sand on her head. Before, she had known the sweetness of renunciation, now she knew its bitterness. What was it to sacrifice her love compared to sacrificing her beloved's soul?

Anna wanted to scream and throw herself on the ground; she had once found joy in giving up her love, but now she felt only the pain of having endangered Gösta's soul.

_Anna's anguish after Sintram's departure._

> She plays it whenever she has anything to confide to the old piano. She plays it both when she feels like weeping and like smiling.

Ulrika plays the same polka to express both joy and sorrow to her piano.

_Ulrika Dillner's only piano piece becomes her sole outlet for emotion._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters/part-i-xi-ghost-stories
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters