Dobby

[grey_wolf_c]

No: HPFGUIDX 36749

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "lucky_kari" <lucky_kari at y...> wrote:
> Actually, Tolkien was going back to an earlier model, before elves 
> became exclusively small. He couldn't stand small elves for various 
> reasons. 

That's news to me. Who are those pre-short tall elves? In what 
mythology do they make an appearance?

> > On these mythologies, elves 
> > were 30-60 cm (1-2 ft), although normally (at least in my country) 
> > closer to 50 cm. Some of them had butterfly wings in their backs 
> > (although very few were functional). 
> 
> Small elves have always been around, but aren't butterfly wings a 
> very late addition in England? It sounds more like a Renaissance 
> fancy than ordinary folklore. 

Could be. I couldn't say for sure one way or the other. Notice I was 
talking about MY country (which isn't England), and I'm pretty sure 
that some of the myths in which small elven-like winged creatures 
(although pretty evil) appear go back to the 11th century. Don't quote 
me on that, though. Those winged creatures stole babies from cradles 
and took them to the forests, or lured bigger children with their 
"angelical" faces and promises of playing, according to my folklore.
 
> >Since I'm fan of these tales, I 
> > normally picture elves in HPverse 50cm in height, but (as I've 
> already 
> > said), there's very little canon (and none of it "hard") to back-up 
> > this number.
> 
> No, I think you're right, and I think it was very courageous of 
> Rowling to buck Tolkien's trend (however excellent) for her own. 
> 
> Eileen

Thanks for the back-up, Eileen.

Hope that helps,

Grey Wolf