ALFR

Álfr, in Norse mythology and Germanic folklore, denotes a class of supernatural beings commonly rendered as elves. In Old Norse usage, a singular álfr and a plural álfar appear in the sources; elves are depicted as powerful beings associated with nature and magic, existing alongside gods, giants, and humans within a broader cosmology. Alfheimr, “the realm of the elves,” is listed as one of the Nine Worlds and is tied to the god Freyr in several accounts.

Two principal strands are described in sources: ljósálfar, the “light elves,” who are generally depicted as benevolent and beautiful; and dökkálfar or svartálfar, the “dark elves,” often portrayed as subterranean or more enigmatic. In some medieval texts, dökkálfar are conflated with dwarves, while other sources preserve a distinction between the elf and dwarf groups.

Elves in Norse myth are not purely decorative beings; they can interact with gods and mortals, sometimes helping or hindering people through enchantment, weather, or prophecy. Their behavior ranges from protective forest spirits to disruptive tricksters, depending on the tale.

Legacy: The elf concept from Norse belief significantly influenced later folklore in Scandinavia and beyond. In modern fantasy literature, the term and its conventions shaped portrayals of elves as a noble, enduring race; Tolkien’s elaboration of elven kind drew on these earlier traditions, among others.

Modern scholarship treats álfr as a historical mythic category within Norse and Germanic folklore, distinct from, but related to, other elf-like beings in European folklore. The term remains a focal point for studies of myth, language, and cultural contact.