"about-elf-and-faerie" - читать интересную книгу автора (Tolkien J.R.R)

Peter A van Heusden
Wed, Nov 25, 1992

Elf and Faerie : The development of Elves in Tolkien's Mythology

"Though I am old from wandering
Through hollow lands and hilly lands
I will find out where she has gone
And kiss her lips and take her hands
And walk among the long dappled grass
And pluck till time and times are done
The silver apples of the moon
The golden apples of the sun"
W.B. Yeats

Many readers of Tolkien's works are familiar with the faeries of
literature and folklore, and the differences and similarities between
these and Tolkien's Elves. I believe in Tolkien's Elves we are seeing a
reinterpretation of these beings, and by studying them we can glean
insights into Tolkien's mythogenic intentions in 'Lord of the Rings'.

The idea of an elf, or fairie, is one which can be traced back thousands
of years, for in tales of countless folk there appear memories of the fey
folk of the hollow hills, and it seems that they have always hovered out
there, beyond the light of the fire, and hidden from us by confusing paths
in the wood. With this tradition Tolkien was well acquainted, although we
can but speculate on the nature and quality of his sources. He seems not
to have had a truly deep knowledge of faerie stories, but that can be
expected, given that they were not considered a subject worthy of study in
his time. (And seldom are accepted even now.)

It was accepted by most Medieval theologians that faeries were tied to the
devil, either as demons, or the spirits of pagan sinners. The Queen of
Faerie was a temptress, tempting such 'innocents' as Thomas the Rhymer
into lustful abandon, seducing them into accepting the pagan gods,
offering them dubious gifts, and partaking in other scurrilous practices.
We can note with relief that Tolkien rejected such nonsense. He points out
that the road to Faerie is not that to Heaven or Hell(1), indeed, Faerie
is a quite separate place, a place defined by its 'feel'. This is the most
important aspect of Faerie, and the one which must have most enchanted Tolkien.
In considering the folklore that inspired the Elves, we must distinguish
between two 'brands' of faerie. On the Celtic side there are those like the
Sidhe, inhabitants of hollow hills, dwellers of night and shadow. These are
beings seldom seen under the light of the sun and it is of this type that
Tolkien is speaking most in 'On Faerie Stories', when he quotes that the road
to Faerie is the one 'Where thou and I this night maun gae.' Though two
other roads are described, the road to Heaven, and that to Hell, only in
this instance is the time of travel defined. So here we have a people who
live in a world full of glamour and who remain ever hidden, and indeed it is
these faeries we see in early work, such as 'Goblin Feet'.