Question

The Old High German word for the mandrake plant literally meant “secret” of these beings. A Norse expression for urinating literally meant “to drive away [these beings],” since they could not tolerate uncleanness. The Poetic Edda calls Wayland the Smith the “prince of” these beings. A boar is sacrificed to these beings on Yule, who appear in an alternate name of that festival. (-5[1])These beings are called (*) huldufolk, or (-5[1])“hidden people” in Iceland. Freyr’s home in (-5[1])Asgard has a name meaning “world of” these beings, supporting the idea that the distinction between the Vanir and these beings was once blurry. The Prose Edda distinguishes between “dark” and “light” (10[1])varieties of these beings. (10[1])For 10 points, name these powerful magical humanoids in Norse myth, often depicted with pointy ears in popular fiction. (10[1])■END■ (10[1])

ANSWER: elves [or elf; accept elf-shot; accept Álfar; accept light elves or dark elves or Dökkálfar and Ljósálfar] (The expression is ganga álfreka.)
<Taylor Harvey, Mythology>
= Average correct buzz position

Back to tossups

Buzzes

PlayerTeamOpponentBuzz PositionValue
Micah ColmanWaterloo MikuToronto Joy62-5
Gareth ThorlaksonToronto WearyLibrary of Babel School of Continuing Studies68-5
Ishan JoshiMixed-Affiliated Contingency, Off the Team & Absent: Wong, AdrianToronto Rofl75-5
Jared HeWaterloo HatsuneLa Clique du Château10710
Henry AtkinsLibrary of Babel School of Continuing StudiesToronto Weary11110
Marcus Forbes-GreeneToronto JoyWaterloo Miku13010
Joey SunToronto RoflMixed-Affiliated Contingency, Off the Team & Absent: Wong, Adrian13110

Summary

2023 Penn Bowl (Mainsite)10/21/2023Y7100%0%29%102.29
2023 Penn Bowl (Harvard)10/21/2023Y3100%0%67%111.33
2023 Penn Bowl @ UNC10/28/2023Y3100%0%33%110.33
2023 Penn Bowl @ Waterloo10/28/2023Y4100%0%75%119.75
2023 Penn Bowl (South Central)10/28/2023Y3100%33%33%94.00
2023 Penn Bowl (UK)10/28/2023Y5100%60%40%75.40
2023 Penn Bowl @ FSU10/28/2023Y2100%0%0%95.50