A fact from Hödekin appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the Did you know column on 28 February 2008, and was viewed approximately 11 times (disclaimer) (check views). The text of the entry was as follows:
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The information from Arrowsmith seems to indicate that the Hödekin is a type of kobold, while all of the sources to which I have access treat it as a specific named kobold (i.e., a unique creature). Is this correct? Just checking, because something needs to be reconciled as things stand, I think. — Dulcem (talk) 12:52, 25 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, my query exactly: is this not solely Hödekin of Hildesheim? I've added some connections with other pranksters that have been suggested in the past by scholars, with references. Does not German Hode (singular) suggest scrotal sack, Hoden (plural) being testicles? Keightly's mistranslation "hat" has spurred his elaborated hat description. --Wetman (talk) 19:01, 25 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Taxonomy is a very loose thing in folklore. In Arrowsmith, the Hutchen and Hinzelmannchen are discussed in an entry together separate to Kobolde, but are related, so to clarify, yes they agree it is a specific subset of critter. Sorry if my writing came over all vague on that one. The Kobolde entry focusses on hte wooden or wax figurines more. Casliber (talk·contribs) 19:16, 25 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Rather than taxonomy of a genre of creatures, my question was, isn't Hödekin of Hildesheim a specific Kobold, whose tale is sited in Hildesheim? As a parallel, there are many outlaw heroes, but Robin Hood is the one in Sherwood Forest. Is there anything generic about Hödekin and, even more specifically, are there, as the article currently suggests, more than one? Hödekin texts would help. All we have so far are C19 antiquarian reports. --Wetman (talk) 22:57, 25 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Gosh. I should add, Hodekin isn't mentioned in Arrowsmith, only Hutchen...there seem to be more than one story about Hutchen so maybe that should be the article name with Hodekin as a variant in one story. Funny thing 'bout these oral traditions, no standardization.....Casliber (talk·contribs) 02:20, 26 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Ah, it makes more sense now. :) My suggestion would be to add the Hutchen information from Arrowsmith to kobold (it's really just a variant name for that creature, it seems), and leave this page to discuss the specific kobold named Hödekin. — Dulcem (talk) 02:39, 26 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Cool; I'll move the Arrowsmith stuff to Talk:Kobold (with the rest of the material from that author) until I get a chance to integrate it with the article proper. Wetman, any comments? — Dulcem (talk) 04:36, 26 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]
