Only slightly. (Note that Tolkien's use of the word "elvish" here refers to the Elfs of popular folklore, who were often pictured with pointed ears. ... The Elves of Middle-earth (except for the Silvan Elves in The Hobbit) were at the time of this letter known to only a few people.)

Did Tolkien's elves have pointy ears?

ANSWER: No. Tolkien's elves do not have pointy ears.

Who came up with pointy ears?

Pointy ears have become associated with elves in Victorian literature of the 19th century. Popularization of the pointed ears as an attribute of elves has been attributed to the works of J. R. R.