Talk:The Elves and the Shoemaker

Untitled
It seems a bit off to say that "elves" is incorrect. "Elf" is hardly a word which has historically had a precise meaning. --Saforrest 21:31, 9 May 2006 (UTC)

The original title of this fairy tale is "Die Wichtelmänner", which was translated by Margaret Hunt as "The Elves" (, and other). It seems to me that the title then later was expanded to "The Shoemaker And The Elves" for the 1935 Columbia cartoon and some childbooks. Is there any source that "Der Schuhmacher und die Heinzelmännchen" is used as german title for the story? Heizer 21:47, 16 February 2007 (UTC)
 * Any copy of Grimms' Fairy Tales ought to have the original title. We just need a German speaker to check.  Goldfritha 03:13, 17 February 2007 (UTC)


 * I am. I have started Heinzelmännchen some time ago and now wondered about the english version. Another reference is Heizer 10:16, 17 February 2007 (UTC)

From this google booksearch I've learned now, that already 1869 "THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER" was the english title for "Das erste Märchen" of the "Wichtelmänner". The first edition of this translation is from 1823/1826, but that's not available for me. Heizer 14:05, 21 March 2007 (UTC)

Influence on Harry Potter series?
Surely this story must have been an influence on Rowling's depiction of house elves who are set free when given clothing. - Kurt —Preceding unsigned comment added by 4.252.6.71 (talk) 04:52, 17 March 2008 (UTC)

Maybe not. This story is, itself, very similar to the stories surrounding hobs (and occasionally brownies) in some parts of the UK. 173.49.74.37 (talk) 02:02, 28 February 2011 (UTC)