In European folklore and myth, the Erlking is a sinister elf who lingers in the woods. He stalks children who stay in the woods for too long, and kills them by a single touch. The name "Erlking" is a name used in German Romanticism for the figure of a spirit or "king of the fairies".

What does the Erl-King symbolize?

“Erlkönig” (also called “Der Erlkönig“) is a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. It depicts the death of a child assailed by a supernatural being, the Erlking or “Erlkönig” (suggesting the literal translation “alder king”). It was originally composed by Goethe as part of a 1782 Singspiel entitled Die Fischerin.

What is the story of the Erl-King?

The Erl-King, also called The Elf-King, dramatic ballad by J.W. ... The poem is based on the Germanic legend of a malevolent elf who haunts the Black Forest, luring children to destruction. It was translated into English by Sir Walter Scott and set to music in a famous song by Franz Schubert.