D&D 5E Origin of pointy eared folk

[Bacon Bits]

(the canonicicity of pointed elf ears in the books seems to be a disputed point, as Tolkien describes them not as pointed, but as leaf-shaped).

So, wait, what's the dispute? People think he meant oak or aspen leaves? Who describes something shaped like an aspen leaf as "leaf shaped"? Birch, elm, ash, or beech is the more typical shape. Or maple, I suppose, but that's even more ridiculous.

I'd expect he meant a shape similar to a leaf shaped blade, or leaf shaped spearhead or arrowhead. That's the typical leaf shape.

 

[Charlaquin]

So, wait, what's the dispute? People think he meant oak or aspen leaves? Who describes something shaped like an aspen leaf as "leaf shaped"? Birch, elm, ash, or beech is the more typical shape. Or maple, I suppose, but that's even more ridiculous.

I'd expect he meant a shape similar to a leaf shaped blade, or leaf shaped spearhead or arrowhead. That's the typical leaf shape.

The short answer is that Tolkien was a linguist first and foremost, so any thorough analysis of his work must necessarily be a great deal more pedantic than the casual fan is likely to consider. He chose his words very carefully, and if pointedness was the image he intended to conjure, then pointed is likely the word he would have used. It’s also worth noting that the two sources referenced to indicate pointed elf ears are not in his fiction, but in letters, the canonicity of which are themselves a matter of debate. In one, he refers to hobbit ears as “only slightly more pointed and “elvish” than human ears.” Note the word “more” implying that the point of reference, human ears, must have a degree of pointedness he would consider comparable. Note also the quotation marks around “elvish” which could imply reference to the colloquial use of the term rather than elves in his own fiction. In the other, he describes elf ears as “leaf-like,” and while leaves do have points, it’s important to remember that we are talking about ears, and the likeness to leaves may well be relative to general ear shape. It’s important to remember the context of the fiction in discussion as well - Tolkien describes his elves as being genetically the same as humans, and says that elves can be mistaken for humans in many situations.

for the long answer, I’ll leave a link to a much more thorough argument.

https://middle-earth.xenite.org/do-tolkiens-elves-have-pointy-ears/

 

[Satyrn]

The short answer is that Tolkien was a linguist first and foremost, so any thorough analysis of his work must necessarily be a great deal more pedantic than the casual fan is likely to consider.

Casual. Tolkien. Fan.

Does that exist?

 

[jasper]

Long Long ago in a Far far realms there live a race of thin humans who ate well but love taunting larger folk. Trolls, ogres, and giants got tired of being made fun of. To show their displeasure they would pick up the thin humans by the ears and drag them back to the human's mothers. The mothers would not punish the taunting humans. So trolls, ogres, and giants started grabbing them by the ears and throwing at trees. The humans would lived still taunted the trolls, ogres, and giants. So the larger folk starting making games like elf shot. (see how many elfs you throw a taunting human. Note an elf was equal to a five foot step). After a few decades of this some humans thru a genetic defect started growing pointed ears.
From Elf on the stage by Carol Burnett.

 

[Charlaquin]

Casual. Tolkien. Fan.

Does that exist?

Sure. The people who just watched the movies. Probably either read the books once and don’t really remember them or tried a couple times and never managed to finish (and by “the books” I mean just Lord of the Rings and maybe The Hobbit).

 

[Draegn]

From another part of the world which you may find to be of interest.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanau_epe

 

[Blue]

I'm not sure going back to the origin i the place to go. I would think that pointed ears became more popular in a visual medium, as something acceptable or possibly even alluring but still alien. I don't think that the origins of myths will have nearsly the preponderance of pointed ears as we see now.

I would put this akin to "what are the origins of aliens visualized humans with weird foreheads", when really that mostly exploded as a easy canvas to work with in cinema.

 

[jasper]

So, wait, what's the dispute? People think he meant oak or aspen leaves? Who describes something shaped like an aspen leaf as "leaf shaped"? Birch, elm, ash, or beech is the more typical shape. Or maple, I suppose, but that's even more ridiculous.

I'd expect he meant a shape similar to a leaf shaped blade, or leaf shaped spearhead or arrowhead. That's the typical leaf shape.

But there is pipe weed in Mr. T works. So their ears could be shaped like that evil 5 leaf weed...... evil grin.

 

[Charlaquin]

But there is pipe weed in Mr. T works. So their ears could be shaped like that evil 5 leaf weed...... evil grin.

I pitty the fool who’s never tried longbottom leaf!

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

But there is pipe weed in Mr. T works. So their ears could be shaped like that evil 5 leaf weed...... evil grin.

Tobacco leaf has only one point, similar to those pointy elf and hobbit ears, and is much more evil.