It isn't worth taking the poll, since you have completely left out the original elves! Real elves. alfar ok aesir... the elves and the gods. The elves were BEFORE the gods of Norse mythology and are higher-ranking, more powerful creatures. There are also dark elves, with several similarities to dwarves, but again, more powerful. The gods meddled in human lives occasionally (although not as much as did the Greek gods), but the elves are barely mentioned in the stories... they usually didn't even meddle in the affair of gods and giants. Tolkien was, of course, familiar with the original elves, as well as the devolved creatures of fairytales. His elves are fine enough, but rather too human in their concerns and a bit too solid. There are entire classes of mythological beings, from the radiant high elves to the farm guardians to the mischievous pixies all lumped together now into simpering butterfly-winged girl-children wearing flower pasties. bah! to quote from Puck of Pook's Hill: ********************* "'No. You talk about "the People of the Hills", but you never say "fairies",' said Una. 'I was wondering at that. Don't you like it?' 'How would you like to be called "mortal" or "human being" all the time?' said Puck; 'or "son of Adam" or "daughter of Eve"?' 'I shouldn't like it at all,' said Dan. 'That's how the Djinns and Afrits talk in the Arabian Nights.' 'And that's how I feel about saying - that word that I don't say. Besides, what you call them are made-up things the People of the Hills have never heard of - little buzzflies with butterfly wings and gauze petticoats, and shiny stars in their hair, and a wand like a schoolteacher's cane for punishing bad boys and rewarding good ones. I know 'em!' 'We don't mean that sort,'said Dan. 'We hate 'em too.' 'Exactly,' said Puck. 'Can you wonder that the People of the Hills don't care to be confused with that painty- winged, wand-waving, sugar-and-shake-your-head set of impostors? Butterfly wings, indeed! I've seen Sir Huon and a troop of his people setting off from Tintagel Castle for Hy-Brasil in the teeth of a sou'-westerly gale, with the spray flying all over the Castle, and the Horses of the Hills wild with fright. Out they'd go in a lull, screaming like gulls, and back they'd be driven five good miles inland before they could come head to wind again. Butterfly-wings! It was Magic - Magic as black as Merlin could make it, and the whole sea was green fire and white foam with singing mermaids in it. And the Horses of the Hills picked their way from one wave to another by the lightning flashes! That was how it was in the old days!' **************** and those elves of Kipling aren't even as glorious as the original elves!!!!! Carolly