DIALOGUS - John R. R. Tolkien - Elves, Elves, Elves

Elves, Elves, Elves

lady_of_shalott@sapo.pt
Mr. Tolkien,

Now you're communicating through Dialogus, perhaps you'd prefer me to write in french, but I had already made so many mistakes in the other letters I've sent to other colleagues of yours in this wonderful, internetic "agora" that now I'll ask about agonizing questions, I really have to express myself in a language I can use more easily (excuse me for my future errors, english isn't my natural language).

I'm confident you've already read a bit of HP, which, though I'm a huge fanatic, isn't near the wonderful present you gave us by writting your books! But I really have to ask this, because all these doubts are tormenting and burning me.

- In JK Rowling there are some creatures to whom she called "Elves" (domestic elves!!!!). They have pointy ears (I won't ask what Mr. Jerome already asked, but I also thank him, because that was also a doubt of mine), they're a little bigger than midgets, they're brown, ugly and, most of all, presented as dumb and uncapable of fighting for their own freedom, once they're enslaved by wizards. It isn't made any reference at all to your elves, or, at least, to folklore elves.

Is there any mythical/legendary true in these creatures? Can they really be called "Elves"?

Or do you consider this to be only a reaction to the Elves of LOTR, whose beauty, talent and harmony with the nature might make us feel "ashamed"? I have to admit my imaginary elves do have pointy ears, but, once you said for you they don't, perhaps that was just a way of pointing the difference between elves and men.

- Walking away from HP, I also would like to ask you if you can tell me where could we find elves. I've been thinking perhaps they could only be found in the Scandinavian forests or in the English woods, and, perhaps with a little bit of negative prejudice towards my country (Portugal), thinking it would be impossible to imagine a Lusitan elf! But, if elves do have some liaisons with humans, couldn't they be spread throughout Europe? Or will we find them only in countries where the people look more like them? Or do we have a stereotyped image of the elves, that presents them normally as blond, white-skinned, tall, etc? Or is that really their aspect? I confess I have difficulty thinking about elves on Algarve, where we have enchanted mourishes and enchanted christians, and people present more arabic traces than the northern european ones; but perhaps could we find them in Oporto?

- In a close cousin book of Dragons& Dungeons (I don't remember the english translation exactly, but I think it's called the Lance of the Dragon), the authors speak about a variety of elvish races, ones considering themselves as superior to others? Do you think there's any liability on this, or is it just the author's imagination?

I hope I'm not being boring!

Best regards,

Filipa Antónia

John R.R. Tolkien
Dear Filipa,

I have never read «HP» and here in England, at the time I write this letter, nobody has ever heard of this book. In fact, when I requested the help of the Dialogus editors, I had to have them read your letter in full so that they could understand that this «HP» was actually one Harry Potter.

From what I was told afterward, those books use time-proven techniques of fairy-tales, hence their success most probably, but I should read more to share a better informed opinion. Yet if the author's elves are like what you describe, I will probably dislike them, especially because I now consider books written for children as a mistake. Anyway these elves have a few things in common with post-Shakespeare tradition but nothing at all with the Eldar, of which the name Elf is just an imperfect yet historically suitable translation. Think of them as Eldar first before thinking about «Elves».

Now you seem to consider Elves as objectively qualifiable or identifiable. But it seems obvious to me that none shall hold the truth about them, for «elf» has only become an empty word for anyone's imagination, near or far from tradition. This is why your search for Elves looks to me quite strange, if not a little dangerous - or should I say, with all due respect, deranged? Do not let the power of Faerie cloud your eyes and mind. You will never find Elves anywhere, as they are a creation of Man's imagination and I am sure you do understand that fact. Do not waste your time, especially with my Elves, the Eldar, for they cannot exist. All of Mankind has fallen.

Sincerely, JRRT

lady_of_shalott@sapo.pt
Dear Mr.Tolkien,

Thank you for your answer!

I do apologize for the "HP". In fact, it's a terrible mistake taking for granted that you would know what I was meaning. But I'm sure you'll excuse me since I'm a deranged person and my language will be, therefore, disturbed. In this present moment I'm quite positive what I'm writing is quite legible, but due to my psychotic condition, that might be a delusional perception. I also beg your pardon if I'm being agressive towards you but you, though as a linguist, psychology isn't your area will also know that some psychotics tend to be paranoid and to perceive the others as being terrible creatures, in this specific context, dreadful orcs.

Anyway, though with all these pills it's hard to be sure, I think I wasn't wanting to look for "elves or eldars". Perhaps... perhaps, I was so happy because I could ask you some questions that I forgot to write them in a more academic way. But you'll also know that psychotics have a tendency to think others can read their minds and, therefore, you'll excuse me once more.

Actually, I was wondering if we could virtually find them outside northern countries. For someone who wrote what you wrote, you seem to have a certain difficulty in reading through pure text! Please, do note I really think you're Tolkien, and therefore, I'm absolutely angry with you once you didn't answer my questions, which might mean you're an impostor trying to cheat me, in order to kill me once I know Tolkien is not really dead, but presently writing new songs for Elvis. If I wasn't a deranged person, I might ask myself why are you making all that fuss, once it's you (the anonymous behind the mail) that pretend to be a dead person. I've only entered the game with a bit more enthusiasm than you were perhaps prepared to receive. If I wasn't deranged, I'd also ask myself if all this thing of pretending we are believing we are actually talking to some dead people isn't also a bit crazy. Because if you believe I'm delusional because I'm asking for elves, I don't want to imagine what you would think of someone who writes to king Arthur??!! That must be a really mad person! I'd also think that in the presence of an idea like Dialogus, the public should be also creative and original, because if we weren't, the whole idea would go down the toilet. But, since I'm a bit "loony", I'll still accept that you are Tolkien.

I'm not so sure if "I do understand the fact" because, besides being crazy, I'm also stupid and, this mail is a mistery because I don't even know the all alphabet, so, logically, I take the conclusion this mail is not being written by me, but by someone else!

Kind regards!

Filipa Antónia?

				Elves, Elves, Elves




lady_of_shalott@sapo.pt				Mr. Tolkien, Now you're communicating through Dialogus, perhaps you'd prefer me to write in french, but I had already made so many mistakes in the other letters I've sent to other colleagues of yours in this wonderful, internetic "agora" that now I'll ask about agonizing questions, I really have to express myself in a language I can use more easily (excuse me for my future errors, english isn't my natural language). I'm confident you've already read a bit of HP, which, though I'm a huge fanatic, isn't near the wonderful present you gave us by writting your books! But I really have to ask this, because all these doubts are tormenting and burning me. - In JK Rowling there are some creatures to whom she called "Elves" (domestic elves!!!!). They have pointy ears (I won't ask what Mr. Jerome already asked, but I also thank him, because that was also a doubt of mine), they're a little bigger than midgets, they're brown, ugly and, most of all, presented as dumb and uncapable of fighting for their own freedom, once they're enslaved by wizards. It isn't made any reference at all to your elves, or, at least, to folklore elves. Is there any mythical/legendary true in these creatures? Can they really be called "Elves"? Or do you consider this to be only a reaction to the Elves of LOTR, whose beauty, talent and harmony with the nature might make us feel "ashamed"? I have to admit my imaginary elves do have pointy ears, but, once you said for you they don't, perhaps that was just a way of pointing the difference between elves and men. - Walking away from HP, I also would like to ask you if you can tell me where could we find elves. I've been thinking perhaps they could only be found in the Scandinavian forests or in the English woods, and, perhaps with a little bit of negative prejudice towards my country (Portugal), thinking it would be impossible to imagine a Lusitan elf! But, if elves do have some liaisons with humans, couldn't they be spread throughout Europe? Or will we find them only in countries where the people look more like them? Or do we have a stereotyped image of the elves, that presents them normally as blond, white-skinned, tall, etc? Or is that really their aspect? I confess I have difficulty thinking about elves on Algarve, where we have enchanted mourishes and enchanted christians, and people present more arabic traces than the northern european ones; but perhaps could we find them in Oporto? - In a close cousin book of Dragons& Dungeons (I don't remember the english translation exactly, but I think it's called the Lance of the Dragon), the authors speak about a variety of elvish races, ones considering themselves as superior to others? Do you think there's any liability on this, or is it just the author's imagination? I hope I'm not being boring! Best regards, Filipa Antónia


John R.R. Tolkien				Dear Filipa, I have never read «HP» and here in England, at the time I write this letter, nobody has ever heard of this book. In fact, when I requested the help of the Dialogus editors, I had to have them read your letter in full so that they could understand that this «HP» was actually one Harry Potter. From what I was told afterward, those books use time-proven techniques of fairy-tales, hence their success most probably, but I should read more to share a better informed opinion. Yet if the author's elves are like what you describe, I will probably dislike them, especially because I now consider books written for children as a mistake. Anyway these elves have a few things in common with post-Shakespeare tradition but nothing at all with the Eldar, of which the name Elf is just an imperfect yet historically suitable translation. Think of them as Eldar first before thinking about «Elves». Now you seem to consider Elves as objectively qualifiable or identifiable. But it seems obvious to me that none shall hold the truth about them, for «elf» has only become an empty word for anyone's imagination, near or far from tradition. This is why your search for Elves looks to me quite strange, if not a little dangerous - or should I say, with all due respect, deranged? Do not let the power of Faerie cloud your eyes and mind. You will never find Elves anywhere, as they are a creation of Man's imagination and I am sure you do understand that fact. Do not waste your time, especially with my Elves, the Eldar, for they cannot exist. All of Mankind has fallen. Sincerely, JRRT


lady_of_shalott@sapo.pt				Dear Mr.Tolkien, Thank you for your answer! I do apologize for the "HP". In fact, it's a terrible mistake taking for granted that you would know what I was meaning. But I'm sure you'll excuse me since I'm a deranged person and my language will be, therefore, disturbed. In this present moment I'm quite positive what I'm writing is quite legible, but due to my psychotic condition, that might be a delusional perception. I also beg your pardon if I'm being agressive towards you but you, though as a linguist, psychology isn't your area will also know that some psychotics tend to be paranoid and to perceive the others as being terrible creatures, in this specific context, dreadful orcs. Anyway, though with all these pills it's hard to be sure, I think I wasn't wanting to look for "elves or eldars". Perhaps... perhaps, I was so happy because I could ask you some questions that I forgot to write them in a more academic way. But you'll also know that psychotics have a tendency to think others can read their minds and, therefore, you'll excuse me once more. Actually, I was wondering if we could virtually find them outside northern countries. For someone who wrote what you wrote, you seem to have a certain difficulty in reading through pure text! Please, do note I really think you're Tolkien, and therefore, I'm absolutely angry with you once you didn't answer my questions, which might mean you're an impostor trying to cheat me, in order to kill me once I know Tolkien is not really dead, but presently writing new songs for Elvis. If I wasn't a deranged person, I might ask myself why are you making all that fuss, once it's you (the anonymous behind the mail) that pretend to be a dead person. I've only entered the game with a bit more enthusiasm than you were perhaps prepared to receive. If I wasn't deranged, I'd also ask myself if all this thing of pretending we are believing we are actually talking to some dead people isn't also a bit crazy. Because if you believe I'm delusional because I'm asking for elves, I don't want to imagine what you would think of someone who writes to king Arthur??!! That must be a really mad person! I'd also think that in the presence of an idea like Dialogus, the public should be also creative and original, because if we weren't, the whole idea would go down the toilet. But, since I'm a bit "loony", I'll still accept that you are Tolkien. I'm not so sure if "I do understand the fact" because, besides being crazy, I'm also stupid and, this mail is a mistery because I don't even know the all alphabet, so, logically, I take the conclusion this mail is not being written by me, but by someone else! Kind regards! Filipa Antónia?