In Norse mythology, the races of elves and dwarfs have always been opposites in many ways, though they are often mistaken for each other in modern times. The elves were human height and beautiful, while the dwarves were short and ugly. 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. Norse or Scandinavian mythology refers to the pre-Christian religion, beliefs and legends of the Scandinavian people, including those who settled on Iceland, where the written sources for Norse mythology were assembled. ... For alternate meanings, see Lightning (disambiguation). ... In Norse mythology, the dwarves (Old Norse: dvergar, sing. ... For the moon of Saturn, see Ymir (moon). ... Álfheim (Old Norse Álfheimr Elf-home) is the abode of the Álfar Elves in Norse mythology and appears also in northern English ballads under the forms Elfhame and Elphame, sometimes modernized as Elfland or Elfenland. ...

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. Norsemen (the Norse) is the indigenous or ancient name for the people of Scandinavia, including (but not limited to) the Vikings. ... In the art of sculpture, a relief is an artwork where a modelled form projects out of a flat background. ...

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. J. R. R. Tolkien in 1916, wearing his British Army uniform in a photograph from the middle years of WW1. ... The trip taken in The Hobbit in middle earth shown in red The Hobbit is a fantasy novel written by J. R. R. Tolkien originally as a childrens story in the tradition of the fairy tale. ... The One Ring, as envisaged by Gerald Stiehler The Lord of the Rings is an epic high fantasy saga by British author J. R. R. Tolkien, his magnum opus (disputed — see talk page) and a sequel to his well-received earlier work, The Hobbit. ... A man with a full beard A beard is the hair that grows on a mans chin, cheeks, neck, and the area above the upper lip (the opposite is a clean-shaven face). ... Magic: The Gathering. ... A steam engine is a heat engine that makes use of the thermal energy that exists in steam, converting it to mechanical work. ... A bow is a weapon that shoots arrows powered by the elasticity of the bow. ... For the tabletop games, see Warhammer Fantasy and Warhammer 40,000. ... The axe (or ax) is an ancient and ubiquitous tool that has been used for millennia to shape, split and cut wood, harvest timber, as a weapon and a ceremonial or heraldic symbol. ... This article is about traditional role-playing games. ...

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. The difference is similar to conservatives and liberals, or of art and science. "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. Conservatism or political conservatism is any of several historically related political philosophies or political ideologies. ... Look up liberal on Wiktionary, the free dictionary Liberal may refer to: Politics: Liberalism American liberalism, a political trend in the USA Political progressivism, a political ideology that is for change, often associated with liberal movements Liberty, the condition of being free from control or restrictions Liberal Party, members of... In J. R. R. Tolkiens The Lord of the Rings, Gimli is a Dwarf of Durins Folk who is chosen to accompany Frodo Baggins as a member of the Fellowship of the Ring on the quest to destroy the One Ring. ... The One Ring, as envisaged by Gerald Stiehler The Lord of the Rings is an epic high fantasy saga by British author J. R. R. Tolkien, his magnum opus (disputed — see talk page) and a sequel to his well-received earlier work, The Hobbit. ... In J. R. R. Tolkiens The Lord of the Rings, Legolas Greenleaf is a Sindarin Elven prince who becomes a member of the Fellowship of the Ring. ... A map of the Northwestern part of Middle-earth at the end of the Third Age, courtesy of the Encyclopedia of Arda. ... In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, the First Age began with the awakening of the Elves, and ended with the final overthrow of Morgoth by the combined armies of Valinor and Beleriand. ...

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. Being kicked out of the High Elvish fortress for drawing weapons in what was a commonly peaceful castle, the Dwarves beards were removed by the Elves. Such actions were harshly unacceptable for the stout race. From there, a war was set against the High Elves by the Dwarves. The story told by each race differs much in tone and certain facts, though many players take each story in different manners, the High Elf one does strike as being the more truthful one, mentioning how they did not bear weapons against the Dwarves saying in their own tale how the Elves were too cowardly to bring up arms; and again later how Dwarfs were far too powerful and trained to be harmed by the Elven folk against being said by the Elves that they did not strike to harm, rather parry each blow. Warhammer Battle miniatures - Dwarfs, Gotrek & Felix Warhammer or Warhammer Fantasy is a fantasy setting created by Games Workshop, in which many games of that company are set, the best known ones being the Warhammer Fantasy Battles wargame, and the Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay role-playing game. ... ... In Games Workshops Warhammer Fantasy setting, the High Elves are a race of Elves who live on the Isle of Ulthuan, analogous to Atlantis. ... Warhammer Fantasy Battle Dwarf minatures The Dwarfs are also a race in Warhammer Fantasy. ...

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. The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, created by Maxwell Atoms, is an animated series that currently airs on Cartoon Network in the U.S. The two main plot characters, Billy and Mandy, have obliged the Grim Reaper to be their best friend forever after having won a bet over...