elfology

He had prepared such a fine pedestal for her, draped her in so many beautiful illusions. But if she was an elf, there was no keeping an elf on a pedestal. No sooner had he arranged her there nicely, than off she flopped in her elfish way, scattering the illusions he had attached to her, as it were, a Salome shedding her seven veils. So he fluttered between his beliefs and doubtings. Had he been better versed in elfology, he might have employed more blunt, more masterly tactics; […]

[1921?], John Cournos, “Circe”, in The Wall, London: Methuen & Co. Ltd.; New York, N.Y.: George H[enry] Doran Company, →OCLC, chapter VIII, section I, page 207

When I set out to plan a series of picture books about European elves, the first task was to sort out the strands of their individual characteristics. In studying folklore collected in the nineteenth century, I found a whole sociology of elfdom emerging from people’s beliefs. Before I was done, I felt I could take a degree in elfology.

1969 June, Mary Calhoun, “Tracking Down Elves in Folklore”, in The Horn Book Magazine, volume XLV, number 3, page 278

What is the hardest thing about being one of Santa’s elves? […] “Passing the final exam for your degree in Elf Sciences.” — Ruth / elfology student

1996 December 18, Tulsa World, 92nd year, number 98, Tulsa, Okla., section “East Tulsa”, page 2

Headmaster Magnus Skarphedinsson will spend an afternoon telling you tales about huldufólk, elves, gnomes, and other creatures from Icelandic folklore. You’ll get your very own textbook and a tour of some local “elf sites.” Best of all, you get a diploma in “elfology.”

2011, Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader for Girls Only!, Portable Press, →ISBN

The elf hunters were nowhere to be found in the caves. “Ah, they must have gone on to somethin’ else when they ran out of nuisance to cause here,” guessed Aden. Barth probably would have preferred this to what really happened, but we mustn’t get ahead of ourselves now must we? You, being a clever reader, and having paid good attention to elfology in school, have probably got it all figured out anyhow.

2013, B. Grace Emtage, Of Acorns and of Lobsters, Xlibris, →ISBN