I always am facinated by this topic! IMO it's a study of time and perception, and how it effects both mortals and immortals. It's also a study of Bliss without religion.
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They are Elves and are drawn from Scandinavian myth. As such, they are similar to humans, but are somehow superhuman, almost a representation of perfection. They are drawn from an idea that Elves are noble beings, beautiful and even take an interest in humans
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The author clearly used a broad palatte to draw from. I usually think of it as an evolutionary process. But, I think in my mind, I try too often to draw up a "unifying priciple" when it comes to this subject. Clearly, as their involvement in the physical world diminished, the desire, or the recognition of love from men towards fairy, became less pronounced. Or more rare, shall we say. And, of course, as history shows, what we dont understand or cant comprehend we often refer to the sword and flame to solve our problem (burned at the stake or drowned - problem solved).
But couldn't the Fairy and the Faerie bet one in the same? For example, as with humans - we are the same men as those who walked ME in the 1st age, but there were clearly differences. They lived for hundreds of years, and had prowess in both mind and body. We may still have those characteristics, but they have been forgotten over time and are unused..?..? Regardless, we were a younger race living in an age barely touched upon by Tolkien, and mostly undreamed of in a practical, scientific sense. But elves were younger then too. I would say Faerie turned to fairy when cities and kindoms diminshed to wood and cave. The Peril remains the same, but the stakes were raised - and the players most definately had changed. Same critter, different stage of evolution.
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The love of Faery is the love of love: a relationship towards all things. animate and inanimate, which includes love and respect, and removes or modifies the spirit of possession and domination......
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Understandable concept, from a humans point of view. But what is Love, which (at it's most basic concept) is a Truth, from an Elf/Fairy POV? They are undying, yes. But they are subject (at least in the Tolkienian universe) to fading, or withering, per say. So, does that truth change after 1, 2, 5, or 10 thousand years?