Elf versus dwarf
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In Norse mythology, the races of elves (or elfs) and dwarves (or dwarfs) have always been opposites in many ways, though they are often mistaken for each other in modern times. The elves were of human height and beautiful, while the dwarves are commonly thought of as short and ugly. (The Eddas, however, describe the dwarves as having the same height as humans[link]). The origins of the elves are a lacuna in the Norse sources. The origins of dwarves are detailed. They originated by spontaneous generation, as maggots in the corpse of the cosmic giant Ymir, and the gods gave them mind and human semblance. The elves live in the sky in Álfheim, and the dwarves in underground caverns. The elves like to sing and dance, while the dwarves like smithing and wealth. The two races were opposites, but did not represent good and evil, as there were many folk tales of good and honest dwarfs. Dwarves are naturally honest but can be driven by greed. Most often they can put aside their greed for friendship or more serious matters. In the modern 'Lord of the Rings' series, the dwarves set aside their problems and send Gimli, son of Gloin to help in the war of the ring.
The Norse carved reliefs of an elf and a dwarf into door posts which adorned the entrance of their wooden houses, in honor of the two deity-like races. The elf was carved at the top, and the dwarf at the bottom of the post. When the Norse moved to settle in another place, they would take their door posts with them on board the boat. They would toss the carved door post into the sea. The currents would sweep away the door posts, and the Norse sailors would follow the posts. Wherever the posts washed ashore is where the Norse people would build houses and live there. This is how much they trusted the elves and dwarves.
Modern Fantasy
In modern fantasy fiction literature, such as Tolkien's Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, the opposite natures of elves and dwarves was taken a step further. Elves eat and sleep lightly, if at all, while dwarves eat, drink, and sleep deeply. Elves are thin and agile, while dwarfs are stout and strong. Elven men very rarely have beards, while dwarf men and (sometimes) women often have beards. Dwarves stay to fight to the death, while the elves sail away. Elves tend to be proficient in magic, while Dwarves are either distrustful or incapable of magic, and in some cases will use technology (often steam-driven) instead. Both races wear and use medieval weapons and armor, although Elves are often portrayed as using bows or long, thin blades, while Dwarves are typically depicted using stouter, more solid weapons such as hammers and axes. These themes are used many times in many fictional fantasy adventure novels, RPGs, computer games, magazines and other media.The two races have a rivalry going, and dislike each other, avoiding each other's company (dwarves more so than elves). Dwarves see elves as flighty and irresponsible, while elves see dwarves as materialistic workaholics, unable to have fun. "Never trust an elf!" says Gimli the dwarf in The Lord of the Rings. Later in the trilogy, Legolas the elf and Gimli became the best dwarf-friend and elf-friend in the history of Middle-earth. The rivalry had not always existed, but became more pronounced during that latter end of the First Age.
In some fantasy worlds, this enmity has escalated into skirmishes, battles, and even full-scale war. One such example is the War of the Beard (or the War of Vengeance, as the dwarves call it) in the Warhammer universe, where raids by Dark Elves sparked a war between High Elves and Dwarfs; the latter had not distinguished a difference between the alignment separation of the two kin. This war was so vast it effectively ended elf and dwarf control of the Old World and paved the way for Humans and Orcs
The old rivalry took a comedic turn in the cartoon series The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, in which the elves and dwarfs war over cookies and mushrooms.
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