Elfology

He had prepared such a fine pedestal for her, draped her in so many beautiful illusions. But if she was an elf, there was no keeping an elf on a pedestal. No sooner had he arranged her there nicely, than off she flopped in her elfish way, scattering the illusions he had attached to her, as it were, a Salome shedding her seven veils. So he fluttered between his beliefs and doubtings. Had he been better versed in elfology, he might have employed more blunt, more masterly tactics; […]

When I set out to plan a series of picture books about European elves, the first task was to sort out the strands of their individual characteristics. In studying folklore collected in the nineteenth century, I found a whole sociology of elfdom emerging from people’s beliefs. Before I was done, I felt I could take a degree in elfology.

What is the hardest thing about being one of Santa’s elves? […] “Passing the final exam for your degree in Elf Sciences.” — Ruth / elfology student

Headmaster Magnus Skarphedinsson will spend an afternoon telling you tales about huldufólk, elves, gnomes, and other creatures from Icelandic folklore. You’ll get your very own textbook and a tour of some local “elf sites.” Best of all, you get a diploma in “elfology.”

Spring 1998 classes available by mail: *ELFOLOGY. Learn the secrets to tracking down and capturing the little men of the forest.

The elf hunters were nowhere to be found in the caves. “Ah, they must have gone on to somethin’ else when they ran out of nuisance to cause here,” guessed Aden. Barth probably would have preferred this to what really happened, but we mustn’t get ahead of ourselves now must we? You, being a clever reader, and having paid good attention to elfology in school, have probably got it all figured out anyhow.

We find the little people in folklore, we find them in language, we find them in scripture, we find them in elfology, and we find them in the fossil record.

Vicki McWilliams who’s on the job learning expertise earned her Master’s degree in Elfology.