Elves and Dwarves had a long history in European folklore before Tolkien, dating back to ancient Norse mythology. Norse culture was one of Tolkien's areas of expertise, and he frequently drew upon ...

Beyond their traditions and customs, there's even a strange piece of information about a change in spelling that came from ...

I came across the Norse Myths as a boy ... really bright he’s murdered fairly early on by some rather wicked dwarves or dark elves. And they turn his blood into the Mead of Poetry and when ...