“What about side by side with a friend?” : Dissecting the ‘Elves versus Dwarves’-trope, its mythological origins and application in a selection of contemporary High Fantasy universes

Elves and dwarves have been staple characters in High Fantasy universes since their dynamics have been defined by J.R.R. Tolkien in his ‘Middle-earth’-universe. With origins in Anglo-Saxon and Norse mythology regarding etymology, gender and imagination, both elves and dwarves were likely based on the same or a similar concept. While these influences are apparent in all the analyzed fantasy universes, namely ‘Middle-earth’, ‘Warhammer’ and the Dungeons and Dragons setting: ‘Forgotten Realms’, they portray both races/species as inherently different. The purpose of this paper is the characterization of elves and dwarves, as well as an analysis of their relationship in the respective universes. With the trope being a medievalism and fantasy media actively influencing how the European Middle Ages are imagined, this paper also aims to explore the connection between fiction and the construction of history. Lastly, the dynamics of the trope, as well as its implementation in and impact on the genre of High Fantasy are discussed.