Visible differences between Elf and Human?

[Peter_20]

I always though Elves were supposed to look like tall humans or something - tall humans with long hair and little androgenic hair.
However, there's something about them that still makes them look special; do you know of anything?

[Earniel]

Originally Posted by Peter_20

I always though Elves were supposed to look like tall humans or something - tall humans with long hair and little androgenic hair.
However, there's something about them that still makes them look special; do you know of anything?

Hm, is this a slightly disguised attempt to restart the Elven pointy ear-debate, I wonder?

Their beauty is given as one of the Elven characteristics. And if I recall correctly, the light in their eyes.

[Peter_20]

Originally Posted by Eärniel

Hm, is this a slightly disguised attempt to restart the Elven pointy ear-debate, I wonder?

Their beauty is given as one of the Elven characteristics. And if I recall correctly, the light in their eyes.

Nope, it's not a disguised attempt in any way whatsoever, although I see why you would think so. XD

Oh, thanks for your info.
I always loved the Elven style.

Also, I don't like thinking of Elves as having pointy ears, because they aren't really supposed to be *Elves*, but rather a kind of human race with different characteristics.

[Olmer]

Originally Posted by Peter_20

Also, I don't like thinking of Elves as having pointy ears,...

Tough luck! If Tolkien said "pointy", than it is "pointy", but of course not of the size of Rodger Rabbit's.
http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/3...elgovarjo9.gif

[Wayfarer]

Tolkien never said 'pointy' though, so it's a moot point.

There is a definite implication - at least, I perceive there to be one, but I'm not being as scholarly about it nowadays as I would have in the past - that Elves and Humans aren't really physically or biologically different. This is indicated in, frex, that the two can crossbreed without difficult, and in that human and elven children look alike.

So Elves and Humans undergo a divergence as they age, and their spirits adapt their respective bodies in preparation for different fates - I think that's in Laws and Customs, but I can't recall offhand. It does seem like Elves are more distinguished by their superficial features - eyes, voice, and hair, complexion, et cetera.

None of the races in Middle Earth fall outside the range of physical possibilities for normal humans, so Elves are pretty much what you'd expect from immortal humans with idealized physical forms.

[Olmer]

Originally Posted by Wayfarer

Tolkien never said 'pointy' though, so it's a moot point.

He did. In the Letter#27, while describing Hobbits, he said that their "ears only slightly pointed and "elvish".