Erlking

Erlking

In German and Scandinavian folklore, an erlking is a mischievous or malevolent sprite. Erlkings often exercise a fatal influence, especially on children by means of alluring promises or visions that led to destruction. The Erlking has been interpreted as being a singular being, rather than a collective term, and has also been equated with the devil. The Erlking is sometimes seen as a kind harbinger who is saddened by the news he brings.

The Erlkönig was introduced into German poetry in 1778 through the translation by Johann Gottfried von Herder of a Danish ballad. Herder mistranslated the title as "king of the alders" rather than "king of the elves." The word, meaning "elf king", derives from German "Erlkönig" and Danish "Ellekonge". In English the name became "erlking".

Goethe wrote a ballad, "Der Erlkönig", which has been set to music by Franz Schubert and is one of the most famous Romantic "lieder". The ballad was translated into Russian by Vasily Zhukovsky.

In the anthology "Nocturnes" by Irish writer John Connolly, there is a short story entitled "The Erlking" that tells of how the creature tries to ensnare a young boy.

Angela Carter also wrote a short story called "The Erl-King." In her version, it is a human woman the elf enchants. She plots to murder her captor, even knowing that his death will only pull her deeper under his spell.The folk band Ghost Bees wrote a song on their 2007 album "Tasseomancy" called Erl King.

Weblinks

* [http://www.klavierlied.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=45%3Aerlkoenig&catid=34%3Afranz-schubert-1797-1828&Itemid=28&lang=en Music by Schubert - free recording (complete) and free score ]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Erlking — Erl king , n. [G. erlk[ o]nig, fr. Dan. ellekonge elfking.] A personification, in German and Scandinavian mythology, of a spirit or natural power supposed to work mischief and ruin, esp. to children. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • erlking — [ʉrl′kiŋ΄, erl′kiŋ] n. [partial transl. of Ger erlkönig, lit., alder king, from Herder s poem; a misunderstanding by Herder (1778) of Dan ellerkonge, var. of elverkonge, king of the elves] Gmc. Folklore a spirit who does mischief and evil, esp.… …   English World dictionary

  • Erlking — Erlkönig (créature) The Erlking, par Albert Sterner, vers 1910 L Erlkönig (Roi des Aulnes) est un personnage représenté dans un certain nombre de poèmes et ballades allemandes comme une créature maléfique qui hante les forêts et entraîne les… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • erlking — noun /ˈɜːlkɪŋ/ in German mythology, a giant who preys on children , 1962: This line, and indeed the whole passage (lines 653 664), allude to the well known poem by Goethe about the erlking, hoary enchanter of the elf haunted alderwood, who falls… …   Wiktionary

  • erlking — /errl king /, n. (in German and Scandinavian mythology) a spirit or personified natural power that works mischief, esp. to children. [1790 1800; < G Erlkönig alder (tree) king, J. G. von Herder s mistrans. of Dan ellerkonge, var. of elverkonge… …   Universalium

  • erlking — /errl king /, n. (in German and Scandinavian mythology) a spirit or personified natural power that works mischief, esp. to children. [1790 1800; < G Erlkönig alder (tree) king, J. G. von Herder s mistrans. of Dan ellerkonge, var. of elverkonge …   Useful english dictionary

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