Stemming from the interesting read in the Twilight thread (now locked), I got to wondering.

Many myths and legends, as we know them now, differ from their originals. Vampires were the main topic of the other thread, but there are other myths and legends that have "changed" over the years.

Vampires had some basis in facts. (These are coming form memory, so I will count on being corrected where I am wrong )

There was (is still?) a disease that makes a person's gums retract thus giving them more pronounced teeth, like fangs.

Drinking human blood was not unheard of long ago.

Tolkien and his Elves and Dwarves.

Didn't Tolkien change Elves from the shorter, more "fun-loving, fairy like" Keebler Elves to the more serious "taller than man" kind? Elves, in European mythology were thought to live "under hills", (sounds like Hobbits, eh?). Tolkien changed this, too, placing them in tall trees with villages and cities built in those tress.

Also, Dwarves are a naturally occurring phenomena due to genetics. We have amongst us today both Dwarfs and Midgets, Midgets being more "miniature advlts." proportionate. Are there myths about dwarfs that I am missing?

What are your thoughts, additions, or corrections?