Page "Elf" Paragraph 72

According to German and Danish folklore, the Erlkönig appears as an omen of death, much like the banshee in Irish mythology.

Unlike the banshee, however, the Erlkönig will appear only to the person about to die.

His form and expression also tell the person what sort of death they will have: a pained expression means a painful death, a peaceful expression means a peaceful death.

This aspect of the legend was immortalised by Goethe in his poem Der Erlkönig, later set to music by Schubert.