Goblin: Difference between revisions
Fixed a couple of typos, linked to Orc (Middle-earth) in the discusion of Tolkien's orcs |
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==Modern fiction and popular culture== |
==Modern fiction and popular culture== |
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The [[orc]]s in [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' and ''[[The Hobbit]]'' are also referred to as goblins. These works, featuring goblins of almost-human stature, generally set the tone for the depiction of goblins in modern fantasy fiction and games. Goblins are similarly |
The [[Orc (Middle-earth)|orc]]s in [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' and ''[[The Hobbit]]'' are also referred to as goblins. These works, featuring goblins of almost-human stature, generally set the tone for the depiction of goblins in modern fantasy fiction and games. Goblins are similarly portrayed, though they are roughly half the size of adult humans, and appear as [[non-player character]]s in the paper-based [[role-playing game]] ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' and the much later online games ''[[RuneScape]]'' and ''[[World of Warcraft]]'' (and are a playable race in the ''WoW'' expansion ''[[World of Warcraft: Cataclysm]]''). Most modern fantasy games follow this format. Despite its title, goblins are featured as the main villains in the [[cult film]] ''[[Troll 2]]''. |
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Many other works also continue the folkloric presentation of goblins as diminutive, as in the 1986 film ''[[Labyrinth (film)|Labyrinth]]'', the [[Harry Potter]] books and film series, and the film ''[[Legend (film)|Legend]]''. |
Many other works also continue the folkloric presentation of goblins as diminutive, as in the 1986 film ''[[Labyrinth (film)|Labyrinth]]'', the [[Harry Potter]] books and film series, and the film ''[[Legend (film)|Legend]]''. |
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[[Eoin Colfer]]'s [[Artemis Fowl (series)|Artemis Fowl]] depicts Goblins as having close ancestry with [[Lizard|lizards]], which would explain their lidless eyes (and their need to lick them as they can dry up), forked tongue and scaly skin. The Goblins in the series are dull-witted and have a non-magical ability to conjure [[Meteoroid#Fireball|fireball]]s. |
[[Eoin Colfer]]'s [[Artemis Fowl (series)|Artemis Fowl]] depicts Goblins as having close ancestry with [[Lizard|lizards]], which would explain their lidless eyes (and their need to lick them as they can dry up), forked tongue and scaly skin. The Goblins in the series are dull-witted and have a non-magical ability to conjure [[Meteoroid#Fireball|fireball]]s. |
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In recent literature appears the [[Midnightgoblin]], depicted as a tall, fair-haired creature which haunts camping people around midnight, |
In recent literature appears the [[Midnightgoblin]], depicted as a tall, fair-haired creature which haunts camping people around midnight, continuously asking for fire and finally occupying their tents by brute force. In "[[Of Gold And Goblin]]" the origin of the midnightgoblin remains unclear, although it is stated that their appearance may be in some way related to atmospherical phenomenons such as shooting stars. According to literature they often seek company of dwarfs. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 22:15, 11 November 2010
| Grouping | Fairy |
|---|---|
| Country | Scandinavia, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, United States |
| Habitat | Caves, woodland |
A goblin is a legendary evil or mischievous creature, described as a grotesquely evil or evil-like phantom. They are attributed with various (sometimes conflicting) abilities, temperaments and appearances depending on the story and country of origin. In some cases, goblins have been classified as constantly annoying little creatures somewhat related to the brownie and gnome. They are usually depicted as small, sometimes only a few inches tall, sometimes the size of a dwarf. They also often are said to possess various magical abilities.
Name
English goblin continues Anglo-Norman gobelin, rendered as Middle Latin gobelinus, itself a loan from a Germanic term cognate to German kobold.[1]
Alternative spellings include gobblin, gobeline, gobling, goblyn.
Hiisi, folletto, duende, tengu, Menninkäinen and kallikantzaroi are often translated into English as 'goblins'.[citation needed] The Erlking and Billy Blind are sometimes called goblins. 'Goblin' is often used as a general term to mean any small mischievous being.
Origins in folklore
- The Benevolent Goblin, from Gesta Romanorum (England)[2]
- The Boy Who Drew Cats (Japanese fairy tale)
- Chinese Ghouls and Goblins (England 1928)
- Erlking is a malevolent goblin from German legend.
- The Goblin of Adachigahara (Japanese fairy tale)[3]
- The Goblin Pony, from The Grey Fairy Book (French fairy tale)
- The Goblins at the Bath House (Estonia), from A Book of Ghosts and Goblins (1969)
- The Goblins Turned to Stone (Dutch fairy tale) [4]
- Gwyn ap Nudd was ruler over the goblin tribe. (Welsh folklore) [5]
- Shiva has a cohort of goblins and ghouls (India).
- Twenty-Two Goblins (Indian fairy tale)[6]
Goblin-related place names
- Bryn yr Ellyllon: 'The Hill of the Goblins', Mold, Flintshire, Wales, UK
- 'The Gap of Goeblin', a hole and underground tunnel in Mortain, France.[7]
- Goblin Combe, in north Somerset, UK
- Goblin Valley State Park, Utah, U.S.
- Goblin Crescent, Bryndwr, Christchurch, NZ
- Yester Castle (aka 'Goblin Hall') East Lothian, Scotland
- Goblin Bay, Beausoleil Island, Ontario, Canada
Early fiction
- The Goblins, a comedy play by Sir John Suckling (1638 England; the title alludes to thieves rather than actual goblins)
- Goblin Market, a poem by Christina Rossetti (1859 England)
- The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald (1872)
- Davy and the Goblin by Charles E. Carryl [8] (1884)
- The 19th century Irish song "Rocky Road to Dublin" includes the words "I cut a stout blackthorn, to banish ghosts and goblins".
Modern fiction and popular culture
The orcs in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit are also referred to as goblins. These works, featuring goblins of almost-human stature, generally set the tone for the depiction of goblins in modern fantasy fiction and games. Goblins are similarly portrayed, though they are roughly half the size of adult humans, and appear as non-player characters in the paper-based role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons and the much later online games RuneScape and World of Warcraft (and are a playable race in the WoW expansion World of Warcraft: Cataclysm). Most modern fantasy games follow this format. Despite its title, goblins are featured as the main villains in the cult film Troll 2.
Many other works also continue the folkloric presentation of goblins as diminutive, as in the 1986 film Labyrinth, the Harry Potter books and film series, and the film Legend.
One modern account gives a fabled origin for goblins in Britain. After spreading throughout the UK, they sneaked aboard ships and sailed to France, and from there rapidly moved all over Europe. They are said to have no homes, being wanderers, dwelling temporarily in mossy cracks in rocks and tree roots.[9][10]
In the children's animated series Make Way for Noddy, there are two goblins named Sly and Gobbo, who are often very mischievous.
There are many (human) villains in the Spider-Man franchise whose names include "goblin", and who use a goblin motif, such as several incarnations of the Green Goblin as well as Hobgoblin and Demogoblin.
In Warcraft the goblins are in the form of small green humanoids with long thin noses and ears. The Warcraft goblins are allied with the orcs and are very technologically advanced.
Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl depicts Goblins as having close ancestry with lizards, which would explain their lidless eyes (and their need to lick them as they can dry up), forked tongue and scaly skin. The Goblins in the series are dull-witted and have a non-magical ability to conjure fireballs.
In recent literature appears the Midnightgoblin, depicted as a tall, fair-haired creature which haunts camping people around midnight, continuously asking for fire and finally occupying their tents by brute force. In "Of Gold And Goblin" the origin of the midnightgoblin remains unclear, although it is stated that their appearance may be in some way related to atmospherical phenomenons such as shooting stars. According to literature they often seek company of dwarfs.
See also
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References
- ^ The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English
- ^ Apples4theTeacher - short stories
- ^ Rick Walton - folktale
- ^ Dutch Fairy Tales for Young Folks, 1918, compiled by William Elliot Griffis
- ^ Sacred texts
- ^ Sacred texts
- ^ Ghosts, Goblins, and Haunted Castles, Aventinum Publishers, 1990 in English, page 51
- ^ SF Site
- ^ The Complete Encyclopedia of Elves, Goblins, and Other Little Creatures by Pierre Dubois, in English 2005
- ^ Encyclopedia of Things That Never Were by Michael Page & Robert Ingpen, 1987
Further reading
- British Goblins: Welsh Folk-lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions by Wirt Sikes
- Encyclopedia of Things That Never Were by Michael Page & Robert Ingpen
- The Complete Encyclopedia of Elves, Goblins, and Other Little Creatures by Pierre Dubois
- Goblins! and The Goblin Companion by Brian Froud
- Spirits, Fairies, Gnomes and Goblins: an Encyclopedia of the Little People by Carol Rose
- Davy And The Goblin by Charles E. Carryl (1884)
