Levistus's_Leviathan
5e Freelancer
Our Elves Are Different is a very common trope in the fantasy genre, but I've lately become more aware of a subtrope of it; the need for nearly every fantasy writer that builds a world that contains elves in it to make their own fantasy name for them. There's a ton of them. Here are just a few examples that I can think of off of the top of my head:
And this leads me to ask why? Why are there so many different names for elves in the fantasy (and sci-fi) genre? Why do people feel the need to make yet another name for the elven race? I have also noticed that this applies to dwarves, giants, and other fantasy races to some extent, but none of them have it to the same extent as Elves. Any thoughts?
- Eldar from Warhammer 40k
- Tel'Quessir from the Forgotten Realms
- Alfar from Norse Mythology
- Mer from The Elder Scrolls
- Quendi from The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit (feel free to correct me if I got this wrong, any of you Tolkien-enthusiasts)
- All of the names for the elven races in Dragonlance end with "esti" (similar to "mer" from The Elder Scrolls)
- Älfa in the Inheritance Cycle (very similar to the Norse Alfar)
- Possibly Vulcans from Star Trek, but they might not count.
- Fair Folk in Fablehaven
And this leads me to ask why? Why are there so many different names for elves in the fantasy (and sci-fi) genre? Why do people feel the need to make yet another name for the elven race? I have also noticed that this applies to dwarves, giants, and other fantasy races to some extent, but none of them have it to the same extent as Elves. Any thoughts?