Goblins

Goblin is a term for a folkloric or fictional humanoid creature found in European lore and modern fantasy. Traditionally small, ugly, and mischievous or malevolent, goblins are associated with theft, trickery, and hostile behavior. The word entered English in the late Middle Ages, likely from Old French gobelin, and is related to the German Kobold and similar spirits.

Folklore presents goblins in many guises. In British and continental traditions they are cave-dwelling or forest spirits that haunt houses, mines, or ruins; they are often opportunistic troublemakers rather than strictly evil. Germanic kobolds inhabit mines or homes and can be either helpful or troublesome. Common motifs include traps, stolen goods, and encounters with iron or daylight that hinder their powers.

Appearance and society vary. Goblins are usually described as small to medium-sized with rough features and skin tones ranging from gray to greenish, though descriptions differ. They commonly live in tribes or clans led by a chieftain or shaman and rely on stealth, ambush, and cunning. Temperament ranges from cowardly to aggressive, depending on the tale.

In modern fantasy, goblins are a staple monster in literature, games, and media. J. R. R. Tolkien popularized a warlike goblin breed in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, shaping many later depictions. In Dungeons & Dragons and other games, goblins are a distinct, low-to-mid intelligence race with tribal societies, often as antagonists or comic relief. Their portrayal varies across works and cultures.

Across traditions, goblins function as a flexible symbol of hidden, unpredictable danger and the boundary between mischief and malice.