Elf lore - know any good sources?

[swvaughn]

Hey there, fantasy peeps!

Do you know that there are about five hundred hojillion bits of information out there on the Internet regarding elf lore and mythology? Of course you do. And about two hundred hojillion of them lead to WoW -- a lovely game, really, but not what I'm looking for...

Anyone have advice on finding good source material for elf lore and mythology? Any national origin is cool (I haven't decided yet which ones to look for, though Norse origins look promising) -- I'll probably end up blending several bits together and throwing in a few ideas of my own, but it's good to have some base material.

(Yes, I know, I need books. I'll buy books eventually. Book recommendations are welcome too...)

At this time I'm most interested in discovering what elves are "weak" against -- I know some legends/lore state they have a thing against cold iron (like the fey) and a real attraction to bowls of milk.

So, if any of y'all have favorite elf-lore links and would not mind sharing with me, I'd be much obliged. :D

[The Grift]

If you want to avoid all the video-game, RPG's, and bad fantasy paperback references, a trip to the local library may be in order.

But what shall I look for once I get to the library? Well, believe it or not, the bibliography for the wikipedia entry for elves ("elf") looks like it may provide a good jumping off point for the mythological origins of our favorite pointy-eared species. And if you get your hands on one of those books, it will also have a bibliography of sorts. Pretty soon you'll find yourself with more information on old-school elves then you can shake a stick at.

Best of luck!

Here's a couple of links to get you started...

http://www.elainecunningham.com/folklore_and_mythology.htm

http://www.alarichall.org.uk/ahphdprol.pdf

http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/tfm/index.htm

some may be more helpful than others.

[swvaughn]

Thanks much, Grift! Too right -- books are generally far more helpful than anything online. :) Thank you for the links!

Maybe if I go to the library with a list, I won't get lost in all those lovely shelves and escape with my borrowed tomes before they kick me out at closing time... :D

[Britchik]

This site has become a recent favourite of mine:
http://www.pantheon.org/

You'll have to do a bit of digging to find the things you're looking for, but there should be some lovely tidbits in there. :)

[swvaughn]

Thank you muchly! *rolls up sleeves* I like digging. :D

[Zoombie]

If you want to avoid all the video-game, RPG's, and bad fantasy paperback references, a trip to the local library may be in order.



What about good fantasy paperbacks? Cause, if you want a good look at Elves, try out Wen Spencer's "Tinker."

It's got Elves...it's got Elves coming out the ears. It's also one of my very favorite books ever, so I bring it up even in the feeblest of contexts.

[Medievalist]

Elves are Germanic; look for them in Norse, Danish, and Swedish, and Anglo-Saxon lore.

And I'd pretty much skip the web. There's too much that is derived from games, or Tolkien or just fairy folklore attached to elves.

[swvaughn]

Thank you, Zoombie - I'll take that recommendation. :D

Thank you, Lisa - excellent point! There's a whooole low of WoW out there, and when someone says elf, many people think Orlando Bloom (I preferred Hugo Weaving's Elrond, meself :D)