Fairies: Difference between revisions

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<small>"''It was often said (in other families) that long ago one of the Took ancestors must have taken a fairy wife.''"<ref name=H1>{{H|1}}</ref></small>
[[File:Olga Kukhtenkova - Fairy dancing.jpg|250px|thumb|''Fairy dancing'' by [[:Category:Images by Olga Kukhtenkova|Olga Kukhtenkova]]]]
{{Quote|It was often said (in other families) that long ago one of the Took ancestors must have taken a fairy wife.|''[[The Hobbit]]'', "[[An Unexpected Party]]"}}


'''Fairies''' were creatures of [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] legend, only mentioned fleetingly.<ref name=H1/> If such creatures ever existed, it is possible that the Fairies of the [[Third Age]] were among the "''servants and helpers''" of the [[Maiar]] (as mentioned in [[Elves|Elven]] chronicles)<ref>{{S|IIc}}</ref> — lesser spirits that remained in [[Middle-earth]].
'''Fairies''' were creatures of [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] legend, only mentioned fleetingly.<ref name=H1>{{H|1}}</ref>


==Other versions of the legendarium==
==Other versions of the legendarium==
In early writings of the [[legendarium]], ''Fairies'' was a name for the Elves.<ref>{{HM|LT1}}, ''passim''</ref><ref>{{HM|LT2}}, ''passim''</ref>
In early writings of the [[legendarium]], ''Fairies'' was a name for the [[Elves#Fairies|Elves]].<ref>{{HM|LT1}}, ''passim''</ref><ref>{{HM|LT2}}, ''passim''</ref><ref>{{PE|11}}, p. 70 (note on name Tilith)</ref>
===Names===
Faërie, Faëry, Faery [...]
==Inspiration and Etymology==


[[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s concept of ''Faërie'' uses a deliberate variant spelling of ''fairy''. While both spellings derive from [[Middle English]] ''faie'' ("possessing magical powers"), the name ''fairy'' carry connotations of 'prettiness'. Tolkien wanted to distance himself from this modern sense, and by using ''Faërie'' (variants included ''Faery'' and ''Fayery'') he sought "''connotations older and considerably darker''".<ref>{{HM|OFS}}, p. 85</ref>  
===Other names===
Faërie, Faëry, Faery, Fairyland [...]
 
==Inspiration and etymology==
[[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s concept of ''Faërie'' uses a deliberate variant spelling of ''fairy''. While both spellings derive from [[Middle English]] ''faie'' ("possessing magical powers"), the name ''fairy'' carries connotations of 'prettiness'. Tolkien wanted to distance himself from this modern sense, and by using ''Faërie'' (variants included ''Faery'' and ''Fayery'') he sought "''connotations older and considerably darker''".<ref>{{HM|OFS}}, p. 85</ref>
 
==See also==
*[[Fays]]
*[[Faerie]]
*[[Elves#Fairies|Elves: Fairies (Inspiration)]]


==External links==
==External links==
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{{references}}
{{references}}
{{legend}}
{{legend}}
[[Category:Creatures]]
[[Category:Spirits]]
[[fi:Keijut]]

Latest revision as of 11:32, 31 October 2021

"...there is much else that may be told." — Glóin
This article or section is a stub. Please help Tolkien Gateway by expanding it.
Fairy dancing by Olga Kukhtenkova
"It was often said (in other families) that long ago one of the Took ancestors must have taken a fairy wife."
The Hobbit, "An Unexpected Party"

Fairies were creatures of Hobbit legend, only mentioned fleetingly.[1]

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

In early writings of the legendarium, Fairies was a name for the Elves.[2][3][4]

Other names[edit | edit source]

Faërie, Faëry, Faery, Fairyland [...]

Inspiration and etymology[edit | edit source]

J.R.R. Tolkien's concept of Faërie uses a deliberate variant spelling of fairy. While both spellings derive from Middle English faie ("possessing magical powers"), the name fairy carries connotations of 'prettiness'. Tolkien wanted to distance himself from this modern sense, and by using Faërie (variants included Faery and Fayery) he sought "connotations older and considerably darker".[5]

See also[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

References

Legendary races of Arda
 Animals:  Dumbledors · Gorcrows · Hummerhorns · Pards · Swans of Gorbelgod · Turtle-fish
Dragon-kind:  Sea-serpents · Spark-dragons · Were-worms
Evil Races:  Ettens · Giants · Half-trolls · Hobgoblins · Ogres · Snow-trolls · Two-headed Trolls
Other:  Badger-folk · Great beasts · Lintips · Mewlips · Nameless things · Spectres
Individuals:  Talking Gurthang · Talking purse · The Hunter · Lady of the Sun · Lonely Troll · Man in the Moon · The Rider · River-woman · Tarlang · Tim · Tom · White cow