Elves are one of the most popular supernatural creatures around. There are many different elves, from mischievous little goblins to kind-hearted forest sprites. But what are their pointy ears for?
To find the answer, we’ll look into five reasons why those adorable little creatures have pointy ears in the first place. So read on if you want to know why elves have pointy ears!
Why Do Elves Have Pointy Ears?
1. Hearing
Elf ears are pointy so they can hear things humans can’t. Elves love listening to the sounds of nature, which is why they’re always found in the woods.
They hear all sorts of noises, like rustling leaves and chirping birds. Elves also like to listen to conversations but only do it when they feel like it!
So don’t worry if you see an elf eavesdropping on your conversation — it only means he likes what he hears!
2. Beauty
Pointy ears are a sign of beauty in folklore. One common explanation for elves’ pointy ears is that they’re seen as an indication of their beauty.
Many people in folklore have pointed ears, and they’re often seen as a sign of beauty. Pointed ears may also be related to the elven ability to hear magical sounds humans can’t hear.
Perhaps pointy ears help the elf community determine which of them are more beautiful than others. It’s hard to argue that pointy ears make elves more appealing.
These tiny creatures wouldn’t look the same if they had regular human ears. In elf lore, the pointy ears likely serve as a distinguishing feature — one that’s regarded as an indication of reverence.
Whatever the case, pointy ears certainly make elves stand out among other mystical creatures!
3. Makes Them Look Cuter
One of the most iconic features of elves is their pointy ears, which come in all shapes and sizes. Pointy ears are a common characteristic across many different magical creatures like leprechauns and fairies, so it’s not surprising that they appear in so many stories.
Elves’ pointy ears make them look cute! Their pointed ears make them seem more adorable and cuddly to children. Plus, it helps people distinguish elves from other supernatural creatures with similar features like goblins.
Some believe elves were created to teach children about Christmas traditions through stories that would be easy for them to understand and remember.
Others believe that the pointy ears represent just how sharp an elf’s hearing abilities are. Still, others say they help elves fly like airplanes by acting as wings on either side of their head.
But whatever the reason for their pointy ears, everyone can agree that these little creatures are adorable!
4. Invented By J.R.R. Tolkien
Many scholars believe J.R.R. Tolkien invented elves with pointy ears, as elves are first mentioned in his novel “The Hobbit.” They live a long time and are good at making things like swords, bows, and arrows.
It’s also believed that Hobbits and elves have pointy ears so that they can hear well. This is because elves used to live in the forest and had to be on the lookout for danger all the time.
Indeed, many dangers lurked around every corner in the Hobbit/Lord of the Rings universe. Since Hobbits and elves were at war with orcs and other creatures, it makes sense that J.R.R. Tolkien would design Hobbits and elves with ears made for better hearing.
Whether Tolkien invented elves with pointy ears is up in the air. What we do know is that Tolkien made the pointy-eared look famous.
Today, elves are almost always drawn or portrayed with pointy ears. There’s no denying the impact Tolkien made on the legacy of elvish creatures in the future.
5. Popularized By Disney
One of the most popular methods of explaining pointy ears is that they are a stylized representation of the pointed hats elves wear. Pointed hats are generally associated with elves and many other mythological creatures.
While it’s unclear where or when this hat style originated, Disney popularized the look over the years in their portrayal of elves, notably one named Tinker Bell.
Disney has many other creations that portray pointy ears. This trend will likely continue for many years to come.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on why Frodo left on a boat, why Gandalf turned white, and why people watch anime.
Conclusion
As we can see, there are many reasons elves have pointy ears. They can hear things we can’t, their ears make them look cuter, and highly influential people popularized the pointy-eared look.
But whatever the reason, elves look a lot better when portrayed with pointy ears.