On the Ambiguity of Elves
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 8931295 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Jacqueline Simpson (corresponding author) |
| Year | 2011 |
| Volume | 122 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 76-83 |
| Publication date | 2011-04-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Folklore (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0015-587X • E-ISSN: 1469-8315 |
| Publisher | Routledge (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/0015587x.2011.537133 |
| OpenAlex | W2005470236 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 5 |
| References cited | 6 |
There is a sharp contrast in how elves are portrayed by three modern fantasy writers—Tolkien, Pratchett and Rowling—yet all three can be justified from traditional lore. Anglo-Saxon and medieval Icelandic evidence shows that elves have always been ambiguous figures, sometimes helpful to humans and sometimes harmful. This is closer to human experience of luck and misfortune than the Christian doctrine of good and evil spirits. Notes [1] This paper was first presented at The Folklore Society Conference on The Supernatural in Folklore, held at Leeds Trinity and All Saints College, Leeds, March 2010
Ambiguity · Art · Fantasy · Icelandic · Linguistics · Literature · Luck · Misfortune · Narrative · Theology · Folklore, Mythology, and Literature Studies · History · Philosophy · Religious Studies and Spiritual Practices · Themes in Literature Analysis
| Unique citing works | 5 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,42 |
| Citation span | 2014 - 2024 (11) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 5 |