Concept in Definition ABC

Elves are fictional characters whose origin dates back to the stories of the mythology Germanic and Nordic. Their appearance resembles that of human beings.

They are physically fragile creatures, with pointed ears, long hair and expressive almond-shaped eyes. They have supernatural powers, and they are said to be immortal.

They live in contact with nature and often hide from humans. However, they sometimes contact men to help them in their personal growth. Elves approach men because they like artistic displays and beauty. They are interested in noble and pure people, but they reject violent individuals with immoral behavior.

In Norse mythology there are two types of elves: those that live in contact with light and those that live underground. These beings are at an intermediate level between men and gods, something that reminds us of the titans of Greek mythology.

In European literature

Beginning in the seventeenth century, English poets introduced elves to the

tradition literary and, together with the fairies, a world of fantasy. As time passed, the romantic writers and the Brothers Grimm continued this tradition. It should be noted that Santa's elves are a invention relatively modern literary history, as stories about these creatures began in the late nineteenth century in USA.

In Tolkien's literary world

J. R. R Tolkien is the Author from the saga "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit". This novelist English he knew the literary tradition of Germanic and Norse mythology and from it created that of his own fictional universe.

In the world created by Tolkien all events take place in the territory by Arda. In addition to elves, there are also men, dwarves with long beards, hobbits, goblins, orcs, and trolls. With regard to elves, Tolkien presents them taller than humans, with disheveled manes, cheerful and immortal. Despite their immortality, they can sometimes die from feeling sad and melancholic.

Other strange beings in the history of literature

In the literature universal are many imaginary beings. Among them we could highlight mermaids, fairies, centaurs, cyclops, gnomes or werewolves. This tradition lives on with new characters, such as mutants or superheroes.

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Themes in Elves