Writers frequently use real-life mythology as an inspiration when creating their own races and characters, with some being more creative than others. Even J. R. R. Tolkien, one of the most prolific and brilliant creators of contemporary writing, borrowed from ancient myth and legend when creating his own library of work. However, he didn't just cut and paste these figures into his stories as caricatures but used his passion for legend and language to make them his own.

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The Elves of Tolkien's mythology don't have a lot in common with the helpers in Santa's workshop or the wee folk of ancient Celtic mythology. Some details are the same, such as an affinity for magic, immortality, and a deep and mysterious connection to nature, but there are a lot more differences than similarities.

6 Different Mythological Origins

eivor and vikings

The mischievous elves of real-world myth have their beginnings in old German stories, but Tolkien's Firstborn is based on Scandinavian myth and legend, specifically in Finland. Tolkien was fascinated by the old Norse sagas and incorporated their aesthetic into his creation of the Elves of Middle-earth.

The language of the Elves is inspired by both Finnish and Old English, the latter of which Legolas quotes at certain moments in the books. There's very little Germanic influence other than the references to this ancient tongue. The modern depictions of Elves as tall, beautiful beings is a Romantic image that was invented much later, started by Tolkien and continued by Gary Gygax.

5 Serious, Not Mischievous

Elrond in The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring and Rings of Power

Tolkien's Elves are known for their quiet gravitas, a natural development after living for centuries. They have a deep and abiding wisdom that other races have sought out Elves of real-world mythology are completely different. Elrond was put in charge of organizing and curating the Council that would decide the fate of the One Ring because he was one of the oldest and wisest beings in Middle-earth.

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Elves of Western mythology are tricksters, and often the games they play are cruel and dangerous. Puck, a famous character from a Midsummer Knight's Dream, introduces himself with a short list of exploits like knocking people off stools and frightening cows. These aren't exactly the kinds of adventures you read about in The Lord of the Rings.

4 Different Fashion Sense

legolas the lord of the rings the hobbit archer movie

There aren't a lot of pointy hats or bright green shirts among the Elves of Tolkien. There are some similarities when it comes to colors, but the green and brown that Legolas is wearing sounds more like travel clothing than for sleigh riding.

A Silvan elf that dresses for stealth might wear green, and the animated Frankin-Bass movie depicts the Wood Elves wearing clothing made from leaves. High Elves are usually shown wearing white or blue, and often have long flowing garments that resemble the clothing wizards or priests would wear. Arwen, for example, is often depicted wearing silver jewelry and blue clothing.

3 Healers, As Opposed To The Bearers Of Sickness

Elrond In lothlorien

Elrond in particular was known throughout Middle-earth for his healing skills. It was a talent that he had known for most of his life, but many of the High Elves had similar powers. Galadriel, who nursed the resurrected Gandalf back to life, was also a famous healer.

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This is in stark contrast to the elves of medieval Europe, who also carried and spread sickness among their other less mischievous pursuits. Witches could be in league with elves, acting as their familiars and helpers, and local superstition attached them to plagues, blights, or disease.

2 More Like Angels Than Fairies

Galadriel Nenya

The Elves of Tolkien are part of a great hierarchy that begins with the Valar, the supreme beings that created Middle-earth, then to their servants the Maia, and then to the Firstborn. When humans first met the High Elves in Middle-earth, they mistook them for Valar.

Whereas fairies, elves, and imps have some control over petty or useless types of magic that's just for fun, Elves have a holy power that shuns evil itself. These are more like the beings of light from the ancient Finnish sagas than the giggling gnomes from Celtic bedtime stories. This is why Gollum can't eat their lembas bread, the reason Shelob can't stand to look at the Phial of Galadriel, and why the Nazgûl can't cross the river to reach Imladris.

1 Silver Or Green Skin

elves woodland and high split image

Unlike elves of western mythology, which are either luminous beings or little green people, the Elves of Tolkien come in distinct varieties. The Elves that had lived in Valinor under the light of the Two Trees had grey or silver skin, like Elrond and Galadriel. This is why they were called Sindar, which means the Grey People.

Another group of elves was those that lived in Mirkwood. They were ruled by Thranduil, who was Sindar himself, but the Silvan elves he ruled over had refused the summons and had never been to Valinor. They stayed in their woodland home and had green skin. Legolas probably had grey skin because of his father, but his mother's identity is unknown, and if she had been a Silvan elf she would have passed a shade of forest green on to her son.

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