Elf 9896 226174748 2008-07-17T04:18:52Z 74.170.186.115 /* General */ ''This page is for the mythological creature. For the 2003 film see [[Elf (film)]].'' {{otheruses1|the small mythical creature}} {{Infobox Paranormalcreatures |Creature_Name = Elf |Image_Name = Small elf.JPG |Image_Caption = A small forest elf (''älva'') rescuing an egg <br>(from ''Solägget'', "The Sun Egg", by [[Elsa Beskow]] (1932)) |Grouping = [[Mythological creature]]<br>[[Fairy]] |Possibilities = [[Hominid]] |AKA = |Country = [[Northern Europe]] |Region = |Habitat = Woodland |First_Reported = In mythology |Last_Sighted = |Status = Unconfirmed }} An '''elf''' is a creature of [[Germanic mythology]]. The elves were originally imagined as a race of minor nature and fertility [[deity|gods]], who are often pictured as youthful-seeming men and women of great beauty living in [[forest]]s and underground places and [[caves]], or in wells and springs. They have been portrayed to be long-lived or [[immortality|immortal]] and as beings of [[magic (paranormal)|magical]] powers. Following [[J. R. R. Tolkien's]] influential ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', wherein a wise, immortal people named ''[[Elf (Middle-earth)|Elves]]'' have a significant role, elves became [[Stock character|staple characters]] of modern [[fantasy]] (see [[Elves in fantasy fiction and games]]). ==Etymology== The English word ''elf'' is from [[Old English]] ''ælf'' (also ''ylf''), from a [[Proto-Germanic]] ''*albo-z, *albi-z'', whence also [[Old Norse]] ''álfr'', [[Middle High German]] ''elbe''. In [[Middle English]], until the 14th century, ''elf'' was the [[grammatical gender|masculine]], while the corresponding feminine was ''elven'' (Old English ''ælfen'', from ''*albinnja''). The word's ultimate etymology may be the [[Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European]] root ''*albh-'' meaning "white", from which also stems the Latin ''albus'' "white".<ref>Hall, Alaric Timothy Peter. 2004. [http://69.72.226.186/~alaric/phd.htm The Meanings of ''Elf'' and Elves in Medieval England] (Ph.D. University of Glasgow). pp. 56-57.</ref><ref>IE root ''*albh-'', in American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language 2000. [http://www.bartleby.com/61/roots/IE13.html]</ref> Alternatively, a connection to the ''[[Rbhus]]'', semi-divine craftsmen in Indian mythology, has also been suggested ([[OED]]). In this case, a Latin etymological root cognate would be ''labor''. ''Elf'' can only be [[plural]]ised as ''elves''; ''elfs'' and ''elf's'' are not valid plurals although often found written as such. Something associated with elves or the qualities of elves is described by the [[adjective]]s ''elven'', ''elvish'', ''elfin'' or ''elfish''. According to a convention of modern [[fantasy]], the 'v' in ''elven'' or ''elvish'' refers to human-sized ''elves''{{Fact|date=June 2008}} (who correspond more closely to those of the old Germanic paganism){{Fact|date=June 2008}}, whereas the ''f'' in ''elfin'' or ''elfish'' refers to tiny-sized ''elfs''{{Fact|date=June 2008}} (who correspond more closely to the folklore of the Renaissance and Romantic Eras){{Fact|date=June 2008}}. The corresponding terms in [[Germanic languages]] other than English are: *North Germanic ** [[Elf#Elves in Norse mythology|Old Norse]]: ''álfr'', plural ''álfar''. ** [[Elf#Icelandic elves|Icelandic]]: ''álfar'', ''álfafólk'' and ''huldufólk'' (hidden people). ** [[Elf#Scandinavian elves|Danish]]: ''Elver'', ''elverfolk'' or ''alfer'' (note alfer today translates to fairies). . ** [[Elf#Scandinavian elves|Norwegian]]: ''alv'', ''alven'', ''alver'', ''alvene'' / ''alvefolket'' (note alvefolket today translates to ''elfpeople'') ** [[Elf#Scandinavian elves|Swedish]]: ''alfer'', ''alver'' or ''älvor'' (feminine form - today translated to [[fairies]]). *Continental [[West Germanic]] ** [[Elf#Dutch elves|Dutch]]: ''elf'', ''elfen'', ''elven'', ''alven'' ([[Middle Dutch]] ''alf'') ** [[Elf#German elves|German]]: from the English: ''Elf (m)'', ''Elfe (f)'', ''Elfen'' "[[fairies]]".<ref>Masculine ''Elb'' is reconstructed from the plural by [[Jacob Grimm]], ''[[Deutsches Wörterbuch]]'', who rejects ''Elfe'' as a (then, in the 1830s) recent anglicism.</ref> ''Elb'' (m, plural ''Elbe'' or ''Elben'') is a reconstructed term, while ''Elbe'' (f) is attested in [[Middle High German]]. ''Alb'' ''[[Alp (folklore)|Alp]]'' (m), plural ''Alpe'' has the meaning of "[[Incubus (demon)|incubus]]" ([[Old High German]] ''alp'', plural ''*alpî'' or ''*elpî''). *[[Gothic language|Gothic]] ''*albs'', plural ''*albeis'' ([[Procopius]] has the personal name ''Albila'') ==Elves in Norse mythology== [[Image:Freyr art.jpg|thumb|right|180px|The god [[Freyr|Frey]], the lord of the light-elves]] [[Image:Völund.jpg|thumb|180px|The hero [[Weyland|Völundr]] the 'ruler of the elves' (''vísi álfar''), sometimes thought to be [[Norse dwarves|dwarves]], nicknamed 'dark elves' (''dökkálfar'')]] The earliest preserved description of elves comes from [[Norse mythology]]. In [[Old Norse language|Old Norse]] they are called ''álfar'' ([[Grammatical number|singular]], [[nominative case]]: ''álfr''), and although no older or contemporary descriptions exist, the appearance of beings etymologically related to ''álfar'' in various later folklore strongly suggests that the belief in elves was common among all the [[Germanic tribes]], and not limited solely to the ancient [[Scandinavia]]ns. Although the concept itself is never clearly defined in the extant sources, the elves appear to have been conceived as powerful and beautiful human-sized beings. The myths about elves have never been recorded. Full-sized famous men could be elevated to the rank of elves after death, such as the petty king [[Olaf Geirstad-Elf]]. The smith hero [[Wayland Smith|Völundr]] is identified as 'Ruler of Elves' (''vísi álfa'') and 'One among the Elven Folk' (''álfa ljóði''), in the poem ''[[Völundarkviða]]'', whose later prose introduction also identifies him as the son of a king of 'Finnar', an Arctic people respected for their shamanic magic (most likely, the [[sami]]). In the ''[[Þiðrekssaga|Thidrek's Saga]]'' a human queen is surprised to learn that the lover who has made her pregnant is an elf and not a man. In ''[[the saga of Hrolf Kraki]]'' a king named [[Halga|Helgi]] rapes and impregnates an elf-woman clad in silk who is the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. Crossbreeding was consequently possible between elves and humans in the Old Norse belief. The human queen who had an elvish lover bore the hero [[Hagen (legend)|Högni]], and the elf-woman who was raped by Helgi bore [[Skuld (princess)|Skuld]], who married [[Heoroweard|Hjörvard]], [[Hrólfr Kraki]]'s killer. ''The saga of Hrolf Kraki'' adds that since Skuld was [[half-elf|half-elven]], she was very skilled in witchcraft ([[seiðr]]), and this to the point that she was almost invincible in battle. When her warriors fell, she made them rise again to continue fighting. The only way to defeat her was to capture her before she could summon her armies, which included elvish warriors.<ref>''Setr Skuld hér til inn mesta seið at vinna Hrólf konung, bróður sinn, svá at í fylgd er með henni álfar ok nornir ok annat ótöluligt illþýði, svá at mannlig náttúra má eigi slíkt standast.''[http://www.heimskringla.no/original/fornaldersagaene/hrolfsagakraka.php]</ref> There are also in the ''[[Heimskringla]]'' and in ''[[Þorsteins saga Víkingssonar|The Saga of Thorstein, Viking's Son]]'' accounts of a line of local kings who ruled over [[Álfheim]], corresponding to the modern Swedish province [[Bohuslän]] and Norwegian province [[Østfold]], and since they had elven blood they were said to be more beautiful than most men. :''The land governed by King Alf was called Alfheim, and all his offspring are related to the elves. They were fairer than any other people...''<ref>''[http://www.northvegr.org/lore/viking/001_02.php The Saga of Thorstein, Viking's Son]'' (Old Norse original: ''[http://www.snerpa.is/net/forn/thorstei.htm Þorsteins saga Víkingssonar]''). Chapter 1.</ref> The last king is named ''[[Gandalf (Norse mythology)|Gandalf]]''.<ref>''[[Harald Fairhair]]'s saga'' in ''[[Heimskringla]]''.</ref> In addition to these human aspects, they are commonly described as semi-divine beings associated with fertility and the cult of the ancestors and [[ancestor worship]]. The notion of elves thus appears similar to the [[Animism|animistic]] belief in [[Spiritual being|spirits]] of nature and of the deceased, common to nearly all human religions; this is also true for the Old Norse belief in ''[[dís]]ir'', ''[[fylgja|fylgjur]]'' and ''[[vörðr|vörðar]]'' ("follower" and "warden" spirits, respectively). Like spirits, the elves were not bound by physical limitations and could pass through walls and doors in the manner of ghosts, which happens in ''[[Norna-Gests þáttr]]''. It is said that ''elves'' are the Germanic equivalent to the [[nymph]]s of [[Greek mythology|Greek]] and [[Roman mythology]], and [[Slavic fairies#Vila.2C Wila.2C Veela.2C Wili|vili]] and [[Slavic fairies#Rusalka|rusalki]] of [[Slavic mythology]].{{Fact|date=May 2007}} The Icelandic mythographer and historian [[Snorri Sturluson]] referred to [[dwarves]] (''[[Norse dwarves|dvergar]]'') as "dark-elves" (''[[dökkálfar]]'') or "black-elves" (''[[svartálfar]]''); but whether this reflects wider medieval Scandinavian belief is uncertain.<ref>Hall 2004, pp. 31-35</ref> He referred to other elves as "light-elves" (''[[ljósálfar]]''), which has often been associated with elves' connection with [[Freyr]], the god of the sun (according to ''[[Grímnismál]]'', Poetic Edda). Snorri describes the elf differences as follows: :"There is one place there [in the sky] that is called the Elf Home (''Álfheimr''). People live there that are named the light elves (''Ljósálfar''). But the dark elves (''Dökkálfar'') live below in earth, and they are unlike them in appearance – and more unlike them in reality. The Light Elves are brighter than the sun in appearance, but the Dark Elves are blacker than pitch." (Snorri, ''[[Gylfaginning]]'' 17, Prose Edda) :''"Sá er einn staðr þar, er kallaðr er Álfheimr. Þar byggvir fólk þat, er Ljósálfar heita, en Dökkálfar búa niðri í jörðu, ok eru þeir ólíkir þeim sýnum ok miklu ólíkari reyndum. Ljósálfar eru fegri en sól sýnum, en Dökkálfar eru svartari en bik."''<ref>[[Snorri Sturluson|Sturluson, Snorri]]. ''The Younger (or Prose) Edda'', [http://www.northvegr.org/lore/prose2/index.php Rasmus B. Anderson translation (1897)]. Chapter 7.</ref> Further evidence for elves in Norse mythology comes from [[Skaldic poetry]], the ''[[Poetic Edda]]'' and [[legendary saga]]s. In these elves are linked to the [[Æsir]], particularly by the common phrase "Æsir and the elves", which presumably means "all the gods".<ref>Hall 2004, pp. 37-46</ref> Some scholars have compared elves to the [[Vanir]] (fertility gods).<ref>Hall 2004, pp. 43-46</ref> But in the ''[[Alvíssmál]]'' ("The Sayings of All-Wise"), elves are considered distinct from both the Vanir and the [[Æsir]], as revealed by a series of comparative names in which Æsir, Vanir, and elves are given their own versions for various words in a reflection of their individual racial preferences<!-- the last part of the sentence is tedious. Consider simplifying it. -->. It is possible that the words designate a difference in status between the major fertility gods (the Vanir) and the minor ones (the elves). ''[[Grímnismál]]'' relates that the Van [[Freyr|Frey]] was the lord of ''[[Álfheim]]r'' (meaning "elf-world"), the home of the light-elves. ''[[Lokasenna]]'' relates that a large group of Æsir and elves had assembled at [[Ægir]]'s court for a banquet. Several minor forces, the servants of gods, are presented such as [[Byggvir]] and [[Beyla]], who belonged to Freyr, the lord of the elves, and they were probably elves, since they were not counted among the gods. Two other mentioned servants were [[Fimafeng]] (who was murdered by [[Loki]]) and [[Eldir]]. Some speculate that Vanir and elves belong to an earlier [[Nordic Bronze Age]] religion of [[Scandinavia]], and were later replaced by the Æsir as main gods.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Others (most notably [[Georges Dumézil]]) argue that the Vanir were the gods of the common Norsemen, and the Æsir those of the priest and warrior castes (see also [[Nerthus]]).{{Fact|date=February 2007}} A poem from around 1020, the ''[[Austrfaravísur]]'' ('Eastern-journey verses') of [[Sigvatr Þorðarson|Sigvat Thordarson]], mentions that, as a Christian, he was refused board in a heathen household, in [[Sweden]], because an ''[[álfablót]]'' ("elves' sacrifice") was being conducted there. However, we have no further reliable information as to what an ''álfablót'' involved,<ref>Hall 2004, p. 40</ref> but like other [[blót]]s it probably included the offering of foods, and later [[Scandinavian folklore]] retained a tradition of sacrificing treats to the elves (see below). From the time of year (close to the [[autumnal equinox]]) and the elves' association with fertility and the ancestors, we might assume that it had to do with the ancestor cult and the life force of the family. In addition to this, ''[[Kormáks saga]]'' accounts for how a sacrifice to elves was apparently believed able to heal a severe battle wound: :''Þorvarð healed but slowly; and when he could get on his feet he went to see Þorðís, and asked her what was best to help his healing.'' :''"A hill there is," answered she, "not far away from here, where elves have their haunt. Now get you the bull that Kormák killed, and redden the outer side of the hill with its blood, and make a feast for the elves with its flesh. Then thou wilt be healed."''<ref>''[http://www.worldwideschool.org/library/books/lit/epics/LifeandDeathofCormactheSkald/Chap1.html The Life and Death of Cormac the Skald]'' (Old Norse original: ''[http://www.snerpa.is/net/isl/kormaks.htm Kormáks saga]''). Chapter 22.</ref> ==Scandinavian elves== [[Image:Tomtebobarnen.jpg|thumb|230px|left|Little ''älvor'', playing with ''Tomtebobarnen''. From ''Children of the Forest'' (1910) by Swedish author and illustrator [[Elsa Beskow]].]] In [[Scandinavian folklore]], which is a later blend of Norse mythology and elements of [[Christian mythology]], an ''elf'' is called ''elver'' in [[Danish language|Danish]], ''alv'' in [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]], and ''alv'' or ''älva'' in [[Swedish language|Swedish]] (the first is masculine, the second feminine). <!--The word is etymologically related to elv/älv ("[[river]]"). This information should belong in an etymology section together with *albh--> The Norwegian expressions seldom appear in genuine folklore, and when they do, they are always used synonymous to ''huldrefolk'' or ''[[vetter]]'', a category of earth-dwelling beings generally held to be more related to Norse dwarves than elves which is comparable to the Icelandic ''huldufólk'' (hidden people). In Denmark and Sweden, the elves appear as beings distinct from the vetter, even though the border between them is diffuse. The insect-winged [[fairies]] in [[British people|British]] folklore are often called "älvor" in modern Swedish or "alfer" in Danish, although the correct translation is "feer". In a similar vein, the ''alf'' found in the fairy tale ''The Elf of the Rose'' by Danish author [[Hans Christian Andersen|H. C. Andersen]] is so tiny that he can have a rose blossom for home, and has "wings that reached from his shoulders to his feet". Yet, Andersen also wrote about ''elvere'' in ''The Elfin Hill''. The elves in this story are more alike those of traditional Danish folklore, who were beautiful females, living in hills and boulders, capable of dancing a man to [[death]]. Like the ''[[huldra]]'' in Norway and Sweden, they are hollow when seen from the back. [[Image:Alfkors.svg|right|100px|thumb|The "Elf cross" which protected against malevolent elves.<ref name="alvkors"/>]] The elves of Norse mythology have survived into folklore mainly as females, living in hills and mounds of stones.<ref name="He-1">An account given in 1926, {{cite book| author=Hellström| year=1990| title=En Krönika om Åsbro| id=ISBN 91-7194-726-4 | pages=36}}</ref> The Swedish ''älvor''.<ref>For the Swedish belief in ''älvor'' see mainly {{cite book| last=Schön| first=Ebbe| year=1986| title=Älvor, vättar och andra väsen| id=ISBN 91-29-57688-1| chapter=De fagra flickorna på ängen}} A more summary description in English is provided by {{cite book| authorlink=Thomas Keightley| last=Keightley| first=Thomas| year=1870| url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/tfm/| title=The Fairy Mythology}}, esp. chapter [http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/tfm/tfm017.htm ''Scandinavia: Elves''].</ref> (sing. ''älva'') were stunningly beautiful girls who lived in the forest with an elven king. They were long-lived and light-hearted in nature. The elves are typically pictured as fair-haired, white-clad, and (like most creatures in the Scandinavian folklore) nasty when offended. In the stories, they often play the role of disease-spirits. The most common, though also most harmless case was various irritating [[skin rash]]es, which were called ''älvablåst'' (elven blow) and could be cured by a forceful counter-blow (a handy pair of [[bellows]] was most useful for this purpose). ''Skålgropar'', a particular kind of [[petroglyph]] found in Scandinavia, were known in older times as ''älvkvarnar'' (elven mills), pointing to their believed usage. One could appease the elves by offering them a treat (preferably [[butter]]) placed into an elven mill – perhaps a custom with roots in the Old Norse ''álfablót''. In order to protect themselves against malevolent elves, Scandinavians could use a so-called Elf cross (''Alfkors'', ''Älvkors'' or ''Ellakors''), which was carved into buildings or other objects.<ref name="alvkors">The article ''[http://runeberg.org/nfba/0313.html Alfkors]'' in ''[[Nordisk familjebok]]'' (1904).</ref> It existed in two shapes, one was a [[pentagram]] and it was still frequently used in early 20th century [[Sweden]] as painted or carved onto doors, walls and household utensils in order to protect against elves.<ref name="alvkors"/> As the name suggests, the elves were perceived as a potential danger against people and livestock.<ref name="alvkors"/> The second form was an ordinary cross carved onto a round or oblong silver plate.<ref name="alvkors"/> This second kind of elf cross one was worn as a pendant in a necklace and in order to have sufficient magic it had to be forged during three evenings with silver from nine different sources of inherited silver.<ref name="alvkors"/> In some locations it also had to be on the altar of a church during three consecutive Sundays.<ref name="alvkors"/> [[Image:Ängsälvor - Nils Blommér 1850.jpg|295px|right|thumb|''Ängsälvor'', "meadow elves", (1850), painting by [[Nils Blommér]].]] [[Image:Älvalek.jpg|295px|right|thumb|''Älvalek'', "Dancing elves", (1866), painting by [[August Malmström]].]] The elves could be seen dancing over meadows, particularly at night and on misty mornings. They left a kind of circle where they had danced, which were called ''älvdanser'' (elf dances) or ''älvringar'' (elf circles), and to urinate in one was thought to cause [[venereal diseases]]. Typically, elf circles were [[fairy rings]] consisting of a ring of small [[mushroom]]s, but there was also another kind of elf circle: :''On lake shores, where the forest met the lake, you could find elf circles. They were round places where the grass had been flattened like a floor. Elves had danced there. By [[Lake Tisaren]],<ref>[http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=59.007568,15.129204&spn=0.074904,0.231245&t=k&hl=en Google Maps<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> I have seen one of those. It could be dangerous and one could become ill if one had trodden over such a place or if one destroyed anything there.''<ref name="He-1"/> If a human watched the dance of the elves, he would discover that even though only a few hours seemed to have passed, many years had passed in the real world. (This time phenomenon is retold in [[J. R. R. Tolkien|Tolkien's]] ''[[Silmarillion]]'' when [[Thingol]] watches [[Melian]] dance. It also has a remote parallel in the [[Ireland|Irish]] [[sídhe]].) In a song from the late [[Middle Ages]] about Olaf Liljekrans, the elven queen invites him to dance. He refuses, he knows what will happen if he joins the dance and he is on his way home to his own wedding. The queen offers him gifts, but he declines. She threatens to kill him if he does not join, but he rides off and dies of the disease she sent upon him, and his young bride dies of a broken heart.<ref>{{cite book| authorlink=Thomas Keightley| last=Keightley| first=Thomas| year=1870| url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/tfm/| title=The Fairy Mythology}} provides two translated versions of the song: ''[http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/tfm/tfm018.htm Sir Olof in Elve-Dance]'' and [http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/tfm/tfm019.htm The Elf-Woman and Sir Olof].</ref> However, the elves were not exclusively young and beautiful. In the Swedish folktale ''Little Rosa and Long Leda'', an elvish woman (''älvakvinna'') arrives in the end and saves the heroine, Little Rose, on condition that the king's cattle no longer graze on her hill. She is described as an old woman and by her aspect people saw that she belonged to the ''subterraneans''.<ref>{{cite book| chapter=Lilla Rosa och Långa Leda| title=Svenska folksagor| year=1984| publisher=Almquist & Wiksell Förlag AB| location=Stockholm| pages=158}}</ref> These myths and legends of elves that are so popular among Scandinavians, are quite prevalent in their everyday lives. It has been said that to this day, many Scandinavians do still believe in this existence of " hidden people", and will often go out of their way to see that they do not disturb these creatures. For example, just outside of Reykjavik, Iceland, a soccer game was called to a halt when a misled ball rolled off the beaten path, and stopped right next to a sign that marked the home of 3 elves believed to dwell near the stones where the ball was resting. Instead of reclaiming the ball, the soccer player opted to leave it there in order to avoid disturbing the elves{{fact | date=July 20008}}. ===Icelandic elves=== Natives of [[Iceland]] either believe in elves or are unwilling to rule out their existence.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/13/international/europe/13elves.html?ex=1278907200&en=5e99759b563f81fe&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss|title=www.nytimes.com/2005/07/13/international/europe/13elves.html?ex=1278907200&en=5e99759b563f81fe&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss|title=Building in Iceland? Better Clear It With the Elves First}}</ref> Several Icelanders believe in huldufólk or “''hidden folk''”, the elves that dwell in rock formations. If the natives don’t explicitly express their belief, they are certainly reluctant to express disbelief.<ref>[http://www.novatoadvance.com/articles/2007/10/24/novato_living/doc471fb91b8f622734769663.txt Novatoadvance.com, Chasing waterfalls ... and elves]</ref> A 2006 and 2007 study on [[superstition]] by the University of Iceland’s Faculty of Social Sciences supervised by Terry Gunnell (associate folklore professor), reveal that natives would not rule out the existence of elves and [[ghosts]] (similar results of a 1974 survey by Professor [[Erlendur Haraldsson]], Fréttabladid reports). Gunnel stated: “''Icelanders seem much more open to phenomena like dreaming the future, forebodings, ghosts and elves than other nations''.” His results were consistent with a similar study conducted in 1974.<ref>[http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/daily_news/?cat_id=40764&ew_0_a_id=290137 Icelandreview.com, Iceland Still Believes in Elves and Ghosts]</ref> ==German elves== The original German elves (Old Saxon ''alf''; Middle High German: ''alb, alp''; plural ''elbe, elber''; Old High German ''alb'', by 13th century<ref>Marshall Jones Company (1930). Mythology of All Races Series, Volume 2 Eddic, Great Britain: Marshall Jones Company, 1930, pp. 220.</ref>) are thought to be light creatures who lived in heaven during the era of Germanic paganism, and may have included dark elves or dwarves underground (as understood to be similar to the álfr of Old Norse mythology). In post-Christian folklore they began to be described as mischievous pranksters that could cause disease to cattle and people, and bring bad dreams to sleepers. The German word for [[nightmare]], ''Albtraum'', means "elf dream". The archaic form ''Albdruck'' means "elf pressure"; it was believed that nightmares are a result of an elf sitting on the dreamer's chest. This aspect of German elf-belief largely corresponds to the Scandinavian belief in the ''[[Mara (folklore)|mara]]''. It is also similar to the legends regarding [[Incubus (demon)|incubi]] and [[Succubus|succubi]].<ref>Hall 2004, pp 125-26</ref> As noted above, an elven king occasionally appears among the predominantly female elves in [[Denmark]] and [[Sweden]]. In the German middle-age epic the ''[[Nibelungenlied]]'', a [[dwarf]] named ''[[Alberich]]'' play an important role. ''Alberich'' literally translates as "elf-sovereign", further contributing to the elf–dwarf confusion observed already in the [[Younger Edda]]. Via the French ''Alberon'', the same name has entered English as ''[[Oberon (Fairy King)|Oberon]]'' – king of elves and [[fairies]] in Shakespeare's ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' (see below). The [[legend]] of [[Der Erlkönig]] appears to have originated in fairly recent times in [[Denmark]] and [[Goethe]] based his poem on "Erlkönigs Tochter" ("Erlkönig's Daughter"), a Danish work translated into German by [[Johann Gottfried Herder]]. The Erlkönig's nature has been the subject of some debate. The name translates literally from the German as "[[Alder]] King" rather than its common English translation, "Elf King" (which would be rendered as ''Elfenkönig'' in German). It has often been suggested that ''Erlkönig'' is a mistranslation from the original [[Danish language|Danish]] ''ellerkonge'' or ''elverkonge'', which ''does'' mean "elf king". According to German and Danish folklore, the Erlkönig appears as an omen of death, much like the [[banshee]] in [[Irish mythology]]. Unlike the banshee, however, the Erlkönig will appear only to the person about to die. His form and expression also tell the person what sort of death they will have: a pained expression means a painful death, a peaceful expression means a peaceful death. This aspect of the legend was immortalised by [[Goethe]] in his poem ''[[Der Erlkönig]]'', later set to music by [[Franz Schubert|Schubert]]. In the first story of the [[Brothers Grimm]] fairy tale ''Die Wichtelmänner'', the title protagonists are two naked mannequins, which help a shoemaker in his work. When he rewards their work with little clothes, they are so delighted, that they run away and are never seen again. Even though ''Wichtelmänner'' are akin to beings such as [[kobolds]], [[dwarf|dwarves]] and [[brownie (elf)|brownies]], the tale has been translated into English as ''[[The Elves and the Shoemaker]]'', and is echoed in [[J. K. Rowling]]'s [[Harry Potter]] stories (see [[House-elf]]). Variations of the German elf in folklore include the [[moss people]]<ref>Thistelton-Dyer, T.F. [http://www.gutenberg.org/files/10118/10118-8.txt The Folk-lore of Plants, 1889]. Available online by Project Gutenberg. File retrieved 3-05-07.</ref> and the [[weisse frauen]] ("white women"). On the latter [[Jacob Grimm]] does not make a direct association to the elves, but other researchers see a possible connection to the shining light elves of Old Norse.<ref>Grimm, Jacob (1835). ''Deutsche Mythologie'' (German Mythology); From English released version ''Grimm's Teutonic Mythology'' (1888); Available online by Northvegr © 2004-2007, Chapter 32, pages [http://www.northvegr.org/lore/grimmst/032_02.php 2],[http://www.northvegr.org/lore/grimmst/032_03.php 3]; Marshall Jones Company (1930). ''Mythology of All Races'' Series, Volume 2 ''Eddic'', Great Britain: Marshall Jones Company, 1930, pp. 221-222.</ref> ==Dutch elves==<!-- This section is linked from [[Elf]] --> Dutch elves are like the German, in most respects. See the discussion of the Dutch "elf spirit" or "elf ghost" in ''[[Elegast]]'', the [[moss people|wood people]] and the elvenized ''[[witte wieven]]''. ==English elves==<!-- This section is linked from [[Elf]] --> [[Image:Poor little birdie teased by Richard Doyle.jpg|thumb|left|312px|''Poor little birdie teased'', by [[Victorian era]] illustrator [[Richard Doyle (illustrator)|Richard Doyle]] depicts the traditional view of an elf from later [[English folklore]] as a diminutive woodland humanoid.]] The word ''elf'' came into [[English language|Modern English]] as the [[Old English language|Old English]] word ''ælf'' (pl. ''ælfe'', with regional and chronological variants such as ''ylfe'' and ''ælfen''), and so came to [[Great Britain|Britain]] originally with the [[Anglo-Saxons]].<ref>Hall 2004, esp. pp. 212-16</ref> Words for the [[nymphs]] of the [[Greek mythology|Greek]] and [[Roman mythology|Roman mythos]] were translated by Anglo-Saxon scholars with ''ælf'' and variants on it.<ref>Hall 2004, pp. 81-92</ref> Although our early English evidence is slight, there are reasons to think that Anglo-Saxon elves (''ælfe'') were similar to early elves in Norse mythology: human-like, human-sized supernatural beings, predominantly if not exclusively male, capable of helping or harming the people who encountered them. In particular, the pairing of ''[[æsir]]'' and ''[[álfar]]'' found in the ''[[Poetic Edda]]'' is mirrored in the Old English charm ''[[Wið færstice]]'' and in the distinctive occurrence of the cognate words ''os'' and ''ælf'' in Anglo-Saxon personal names (e.g. Oswald, Ælfric<ref>Hall 2004, esp. pp. 56-66</ref>). In relation to the beauty of the Norse elves, some further evidence is given by old English words such as ''ælfsciene'' ("elf-beautiful"), used of seductively beautiful Biblical women in the Old English poems ''[[Judith (poem)|Judith]]'' and ''Genesis A''.<ref>Hall 2004, pp. 71-76, ''et passim''</ref> Although elves could be considered to be beautiful and potentially helpful beings in some sections of English-speaking society throughout its history, Anglo-Saxon evidence also attests to alignments of elves with demons, as for example in line 112 of ''[[Beowulf]]''. On the other hand, ''oaf'' is simply a variant of the word ''elf'', presumably originally referring to a [[Changeling (legend)|changeling]] or to someone stupefied by elvish [[enchant]]ment. ''Elf-shot'' (or ''elf-bolt'' or ''elf-arrow'') is a word found in Scotland and Northern England, first attested in a manuscript of about the last quarter of the 16th century. Although first attested in the sense 'sharp pain caused by elves', it is later attested denoting [[Neolithic]] [[flint]] [[arrow (weapon)|arrow]]-heads, which by the 17th century seem to have been attributed in the region to elvish folk, and which were used in healing rituals, and alleged to be used by witches (and perhaps elves) to injure people and cattle.<ref>Hall, Alaric. 2005. 'Getting Shot of Elves: Healing, Witchcraft and Fairies in the Scottish Witchcraft Trials', [http://taylorandfrancis.metapress.com/app/home/journal.asp?wasp=e3d05mvqtg0qujqugt33&referrer=parent&backto=linkingpublicationresults,1:104708,1 ''Folklore''], 116 (2005), 19-36.</ref> So too a tangle in the hair was called an ''elf-lock'', as being caused by the mischief of the elves, and sudden paralysis was sometimes attributed to ''elf-stroke''. Compare with the following excerpt from an 1750 ode by [[William Collins (poet)|Willam Collins]]: :''There every herd, by sad experience, knows'' :''How, winged with fate, their elf-shot arrows fly,'' :''When the sick ewe her summer food forgoes,'' :''Or, stretched on earth, the heart-smit heifers lie.''<ref>[[William Collins (poet)|Collins, Willam]]. 1775. ''[http://poetry.poetryx.com/poems/1850/ An Ode On The Popular Superstitions Of The Highlands Of Scotland, Considered As The Subject Of Poetry]''.</ref> The elf makes many appearances in [[ballads]] of English and Scottish origin, as well as folk tales, many involving trips to [[Elphame]] or Elfland (the ''Álfheim'' of Norse mythology), a mystical realm which is sometimes an eerie and unpleasant place. The elf is occasionally portrayed in a positive light, such as the Queen of Elphame in the ballad ''[[Thomas the Rhymer]]'', but many examples exist of elves of sinister character, frequently bent on rape and murder, as in the ''Tale of [[Childe Rowland]]'', or the ballad ''[[Lady Isabel and the Elf-Knight]]'', in which the Elf-Knight bears away Isabel to murder her. Most instances of elves in ballads are male; the only commonly encountered female elf is the Queen of Elfland, who appears in ''[[Thomas the Rhymer]]'' and ''[[The Queen of Elfland's Nourice]]'', in which a woman is abducted to be a [[wet-nurse]] to the queen's baby, but promised that she may return home once the child is weaned. In none of these cases is the elf a [[Sprite (creature)|spritely]] character with [[pixie]]-like qualities. English [[folktale]]s of the [[early modern period]] commonly portray elves as small, elusive people with mischievous personalities. They are not evil but might annoy humans or interfere in their affairs. They are sometimes said to be invisible. In this tradition, elves became similar to the concept of [[fairy|fairies]]. Successively, the word ''elf'', as well as literary term ''fairy'', evolved to a general denotation of various nature spirits like ''[[Puck (mythology)|Puck]]'', ''[[Hobgoblin (fairy)|hobgoblin]]'', ''[[Robin Goodfellow]]'', the Scots ''[[brownie (elf)|brownie]]'', and so forth. These terms, like their relatives in other [[European languages]], are no longer clearly distinguished in popular [[folklore]]. Significant for the distancing of the concept of elves from its mythological origins was the influence from literature. In [[Elizabethan England]], [[William Shakespeare]] imagined elves as little people. He apparently considered elves and fairies to be the same race. In ''[[Henry IV, part 1]]'', act II, scene iv, he has [[Falstaff]] call [[Henry V of England|Prince Henry]], "you starveling, you elfskin!", and in his ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'', his elves are almost as small as [[insect]]s. On the other hand, [[Edmund Spenser]] applies ''elf'' to full-sized beings in ''[[The Faerie Queene]]''. The influence of Shakespeare and [[Michael Drayton]] made the use of ''elf'' and ''[[fairy]]'' for very small beings the norm. In [[Victorian era|Victorian]] literature, elves usually appeared in illustrations as tiny men and women with pointed ears and stocking caps. An example is [[Andrew Lang]]'s fairy tale ''Princess Nobody'' (1884), illustrated by [[Richard Doyle (illustrator)|Richard Doyle]], where fairies are tiny people with [[butterfly]] wings, whereas elves are tiny people with red stocking caps. There were exceptions to this rule however, such as the full-sized elves who appear in [[Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron Dunsany|Lord Dunsany]]'s ''[[The King of Elfland's Daughter]]''. There is a legend concerning the Buckthorn vows that if one sprinkles [[Buckthorn]] in a circle and then dances within it under a full Moon, an elf will appear. The dancer must notice the elf and say, 'Halt and grant my boon!' before the creature flees. The elf will then grant one wish. ==Modern elves== ===Elves at Christmas=== In the [[United States|USA]], [[Canada]], and [[United Kingdom|Britain]], the modern children's [[folklore]] of [[Santa Claus]] typically includes diminutive elves at Christmas; green-clad elves with pointy ears (and, occasionally, long noses and pointy hats) as Santa's assistants or hired workers. I know who wraps the gifts at [[Christmas]] but it's not the elves. They, instead, just make the toys in a workshop located in the [[North Pole]]. In recent years, other toys—usually high-tech toys like [[personal computer|computer]]s, video games, DVDs and DVD players, and even [[mobile phone]]s—have also been depicted as being ready for delivery, but not ''necessarily'' made, in the workshop as well. In this portrayal, elves slightly resemble nimble and delicate versions of the [[Norse dwarves|dwarves]] of Norse mythology. The vision of the small but crafty Christmas elf has come to influence modern popular conception of elves, and sits side by side with the fantasy elves following Tolkien's work (see below). The American cookie company [[Keebler]] has long advertised that its cookies are made by elves in a hollow tree, and [[Kellogg's]], who happens to now be the owner of Keebler, uses the elves of [[Snap, Crackle, and Pop]] as mascots of [[Rice Krispies]] cereal, and the role of elves as Santa's helpers has continued to be popular, as evidenced by the success of the movie [[Elf (film)|''Elf'']]. It should be noted that these elves are referred to as elfish, as opposed to elvish. ===Elves in modern fantasy=== {{main|Elves in fantasy fiction and games}} [[Image:Lineage 2 1.jpg|260px|right|thumb|In most modern fantasy novels and games, elves are pictured as very tall and lanky. for example in the popular game [[Lineage II]].]] The first appearance of modern fantasy elves occurred in ''[[The King of Elfland's Daughter]]'' a 1924 novel by [[Lord Dunsany]]. The next modern work featuring elves was ''[[The Hobbit]]'', a 1937 children's book by [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]. Elves played a major role in many of Tolkien's later works, notably ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''. Tolkien's writing has such popularity that in the 1960s and afterwards, elves similar to those in Tolkien's novels became staple non-human characters in [[high fantasy]] works and in fantasy [[role-playing game]]s. More recently, elves were prominently featured in Christopher Paolini's books Eragon and Eldest. Post-Tolkien fantasy elves (popularized by the ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' [[role-playing game]]) tend to be more beautiful and more wise than humans, with sharper senses and perceptions. They are also said to be much more gifted in [[magic (fantasy)|magic]] and stronger physically and mentally (although this can be disputed by comparing human advances in technology to the somewhat rustic elven technology). Often elves do not possess facial or body hair, and are consequently perceived to be androgynous. A hallmark of fantasy elves is also their long and pointed [[ear]]s (a convention begun with a note of Tolkien's that the ears of elves were "leaf-shaped"). Elves of the Tolkien mold have become standardized staple characters of modern fantasy. It is worth noting that those things described as being of or related to these fair elves are referred to as "elven", as opposed to "elfish" (a term more closely associated with the sprite-like elves of medieval conception). ==References== ===Citations=== {{reflist|2}} ===General=== ; Old Norse: *''[[Wikisource:Prose Edda/Gylfaginning]] (The Fooling Of Gylfe)'' by Sturluson, Snorri, 13th century Edda, in English. Accessed Apr. 16, 2007 *''Gylfaginning'' in Old Norse<ref>http://www.cybersamurai.net/Mythology/nordic_gods/LegendsSagas/Edda/ProseEdda/Icelandic/GylfaginningXI-XX.htm</ref> *Marshall Jones Company (1930). ''Mythology of All Races'' Series, Volume 2 ''Eddic'', Great Britain: Marshall Jones Company, 1930, pp. 220-221. ; Fairy Tales: * [[H. C. Andersen|Anderson, H. C.]]. 1842. [http://hca.gilead.org.il/elf_rose.html ''The Elf of the Rose''] (Danish original: [http://www.kb.dk/elib/lit/dan/andersen/eventyr.dsl/hcaev017.htm ''Rosen-Alfen'']). * Anderson, H. C. 1845. [http://hca.gilead.org.il/elfin_hi.html ''The Elfin Hill''] (Danish original: [http://www.kb.dk/elib/lit/dan/andersen/eventyr.dsl/hcaev028.htm ''Elverhøi'']). *Coghlan, Ronan. 2002. ''Handbook of Fairies''. *[[Andrew Lang|Lang, Andrew]]. 1884. ''[http://arthurwendover.com/arthurs/fairy/pnobdy10.html The Princess Nobody]''. ==See also== {{commonscat|Elf}} {{wiktionary}} '''Concerning traditional elves:''' * [[Álfar]] * [[Álfheim]] * [[Dark elves]] * [[Erlking]] * [[Ljósálfar]] * [[Svartálfar]] '''Related folklore creatures:''' {| | valign="top" | * [[Brownie (elf)|Brownie]] * [[Demon]] * [[Devil]] * [[Dryad]] * [[Dwarf]] * [[Fairy]] * [[Ghost]] * [[Gnome]] * [[Goblin]] * [[Saci (Brazilian folklore)|Saci]] * [[Huldra]] * [[Haltija]] * [[Iele]] * [[Imp]] * [[Lady of the Lake]] | valign="top" | * [[Leprechaun]] * [[Norse dwarves]] * [[Nymph]] * [[Orang Bunian]] * [[Psotnik]] * [[Puck (mythology)|Puck]] * [[Satan]] * [[Sídhe]] * [[Slavic fairies]] * [[Sprite (creature)|Sprites]] * [[Sylph]] * [[Tomte]] * [[Troll]] * [[Wight]] * [[Yule Lads]] |} '''Miscellaneous:''' * [[Alfred (name)]] - from the Old English ''aelfraed'', meaning "elf counsel" * [[Elenari]] * [[Fairytale]] * [[Mythology]] * [[Sir Orfeo]] (Medieval English poetry involving elves) ---- {{Fairies}} {{NorseMythology}} {{Anglo-SaxonPaganism}} {{Christmas}} [[Category:Elves| ]] [[Category:English legendary creatures]] [[Category:Christmas characters]] [[Category:Germanic paganism]] [[bg:Елфи]] [[ca:Elf]] [[cs:Elf]] [[da:Elverfolk]] [[de:Elfen]] [[el:Ξωτικά]] [[es:Elfo]] [[eo:Elfo]] [[fr:Elfe]] [[gl:Elfo]] [[ko:엘프]] [[hr:Vilenjak]] [[id:Peri]] [[is:Álfur]] [[it:Elfo]] [[he:אלף (פנטזיה)]] [[la:Alfus]] [[lt:Elfai]] [[ms:Orang halus]] [[nl:Elf (mythologie)]] [[ja:エルフ]] [[no:Alv]] [[nn:Alv]] [[pl:Elf (fantastyka)]] [[pt:Elfo]] [[ro:Elf]] [[ru:Эльф]] [[sk:Elf]] [[sv:Quendi]] [[th:พราย]] [[tr:Elf]] [[uk:Альви]] [[zh:精靈]]