Re: CHAT: Tolkien (was Re: fantasy)

Ed Heil wrote:
>
> I was aware of Tolkien's distaste for elves as diminutive fairies, but
> not of any particular distaste for pointy ears.  The otherwise
> well-researched Tolkien FAQ at www.faqs.org makes no mention of any
> statement of Tolkien's about disliking pointy-eared elves; if he ever
> made such a statement, one would have thought somebody would have
> noticed and mentioned it here in the FAQ.
He said, in some source I can't remember, and quoted by somebody else on
the list, that his elves were no different physically from human beings
except that they were immortal, and taller and more beautiful. And that
they had no such physical deformities.  That I remember.  I wish I could
remember the source.

Where does this association with elves, fairies, and pointy ears come
from?
I'm sure Tolkien would have considered the pointy ears a terrible
vulgarity,
and would never have entertained the possibility that his elves had
them,
any more than they would have had slanted eyes.  Slanted eyes and pointy
ears?  Where do these come from in popular conceptions of elves?

Sally

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SALLY CAVES
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Niffodyr tweluenrem lis teuim an.
"The gods have retractible claws."
                                from _The Gospel of Bastet_
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