In the links which
Mr Wight kindly gave there are two references to Elvish ears being pointed:
Quote:
I picture a fairly human figure, not a kind of 'fairy' rabbit as some of my British reviewers seem to fancy: fattish in the stomach, shortish in the leg. A round, jovial face; ears only slightly pointed and 'elvish'; hair short and curling (brown). The feet from the ankles down, covered with brown hairy fur. Clothing: green velvet breeches; red or yellow waistcoat; brown or green jacket; gold (or brass) buttons; a dark green hood and cloak (belonging to a dwarf). (Emphasis added)
A description of Bilbo in Letter #27 (March/April 1938)
|
and
Quote:
LAS- *lasse leaf: Q lasse, N lhass; Q lasselanta leaf-fall, autumn, N lhasbelin (*lassekwelene), cf. Q Narqelion. Lhasgalen Greenleaf, Gnome name of Laurelin. (Some think this is related to the next and *lasse 'ear'. The Quendian ears were more pointed and leaf-shaped than [?human].) (Emphasis added)
From The Etymologies (in HoME V), dating from the late 1930s
|
These would seem to be the only published references to the shape of Elven ears, but do suggest that Tolkien conceived of them as pointed, at least in the late 1930s.
What's wrong with Half-Elves having pointed ears, anyway? Perhaps they were less pronounced than full-blood Elves.