Hobbits & Halflings

[Roman]

Do Hobbits & Halflings have a deeper mythological backround or do they merely come from Tolkien.

 

[fusangite]

Your question is kind of problematic in that no mythology has the enormous variety of little human-like people D&D does. In my view, they have as legitimate a mythological pedigree as various types of dwarves, elves and faeries because they are obviously inspired by some or all of these sorts of creatures. As for whether they have a distinct mythological pedigree separate from dwarves, elves and fey, I would be very surprised if they did.

 

[Roman]

Your question is kind of problematic in that no mythology has the enormous variety of little human-like people D&D does. In my view, they have as legitimate a mythological pedigree as various types of dwarves, elves and faeries because they are obviously inspired by some or all of these sorts of creatures. As for whether they have a distinct mythological pedigree separate from dwarves, elves and fey, I would be very surprised if they did.

Ok, I think I should clarify my question. Do hobbits or halflings appear (by appear I mean them being mentioned by name) in any myths or legends before Tolkien's books?

Also, how about Orcs, do they appear (same definition) in any myths or legends before Tolkien's books?

 

[fusangite]

Also, how about Orcs, do they appear (same definition) in any myths or legends before Tolkien's books?

I don't know the pedigree of the orc and how far back it goes but it reaches back at least as far as William Blake's prophetic poems in the early 19th century.

 

[Roman]

I don't know the pedigree of the orc and how far back it goes but it reaches back at least as far as William Blake's prophetic poems in the early 19th century.

I just did an extensive web-search on the origin of Hobbits and Orcs. Hobbits are Tolkien's own creation (though there was some inspiration from previou sources). Orcs are also Tolkien's though the term Orc (and also Orcus) or Ork existed before and was used to describe demons.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

I recall a reference in Bulfinch's Mythology to a "habit," which was also called a "halfling," but the creature in question was nothing like Tolkien's hobbits.

 

[Committed Hero]

I

I just did an extensive web-search on the origin of Hobbits and Orcs. Hobbits are Tolkien's own creation (though there was some inspiration from previou sources). Orcs are also Tolkien's though the term Orc (and also Orcus) or Ork existed before and was used to describe demons.

I thought "orc" was Gaelic for a pig or perhaps a boar.

 

[Geoff Watson]

An "orc" is a type of whale.

Geoff.

 

[JDowling]

An "orc" is a type of whale.

Geoff.

isn't that 'Orca'?

 

[Starglim]

The Orco in Orlando Furioso (16th century) is a gigantic semi-humanoid sea creature.

Jack Vance uses "halfling" to mean a relatively humanlike fay or half-elf, though I don't know if that goes back to historical usage. There have certainly been many different myths about little people who live in burrows or isolated valleys.