The King of Elfland’s Daughter · Chapter
XXXI: The Cursing of Elfin Things explained
The Freer of Erl stands outside his holy place and pronounces a solemn curse upon all elfin and magical beings, including trolls, goblins, will-o'-the-wisps, and all things that come from Elfland.
What happens
The Freer of Erl stands outside his holy place and pronounces a solemn curse upon all elfin and magical beings, including trolls, goblins, will-o'-the-wisps, and all things that come from Elfland. The twelve old men of the parliament witness this, while Orion, lost in elfin thoughts, passes through the village with his hounds toward Elfland. The curse creates a circle of darkness around the Freer, pushing back the supernatural lights and creatures, but beyond it the will-o'-the-wisps and other fabled beings continue their revelry, drawn by Orion's longing for his mother and the call of Elfland.
Themes in this chapter
Magic vs. Reality
The Freer's curse attempts to banish all magical and elfin influences from Erl, creating a stark boundary between the orderly, human world and the chaotic, supernatural realm.
Longing and Loss
Orion's elfin thoughts and yearning for his mother Lirazel draw the creatures of Elfland to Erl, highlighting his inner conflict and sense of loss.
Tradition vs. Desire
The parliament and the Freer represent tradition and order, while Orion's wandering and the influx of elfin beings embody the pull of desire and the unknown.
Characters to notice
- Orion
Passes through Erl with his hounds, thinking no earthly thoughts, drawn eastward toward Elfland by his yearning for his mother.
- The Freer
Stands outside his holy place, facing Elfland, and intones a powerful curse against all elfin and magical things.
- Erl
The twelve old men of the parliament run down the hill into the dusk and witness the Freer's curse, weary of magic.
Key passages
“Curst be all wandering things, whose place is not upon Earth.”
May all beings that do not belong to the earthly realm be cursed.
The Freer opens his curse by condemning all supernatural wanderers.
“Cursed be gnomes, trolls, elves and goblins on land, and all sprites of the water.”
May all land-dwelling gnomes, trolls, elves, and goblins, as well as water sprites, be cursed.
The Freer specifically names various categories of mythical creatures.
“Cursed be toadstool rings and whatever dances within them.”
May fairy rings and all that dance inside them be cursed.
The Freer condemns the folkloric phenomenon of toadstool rings associated with fairy dances.