Goblins

INTRODUCTION & HISTORY
Goblins are diminutive creatures (some stories portray them as human sized) said to have originated in either British or French folklore. The name goblin has many potential origins. It is believed to have originated from the Latin gobelinus or the Greek kobolos, meaning rogue. However, two more plausible theories have come about. The first tied the term to the British Isle peoples, the Guelphs and the Ghibellines. The Guelphs supposedly despised their rival Ghibellines so much that their name became a 'bogey' word, and ultimately evolved into modern 'goblin.' The second theory relates goblins back to the almost-forgotten fairy figure of Ghob, the King of the Gnomes. In Old English, the earth-spirits who followed him may have been referred to as Ghoblings. This theory is likely more plausible.

The name 'hobgoblin' is thought to be an abbreviation of 'Robin Goblin,' supposedly the name Druids gave to the first goblins when they entered Britain. Goblins are ghastly looking creatures with nasty habits.They are homeless nomads who dwell in mossy cracks and trees.Their diets consist mostly of raw meat and rotted trees and fungi. They are diminutive with hairy-covered bodies and smelly.

Goblins are closely linked to gnomes, dwarfs, trolls and orcs, who are considered larger sized versions.

POPULAR CULTURE AND MODERN SOCIETY
Goblins are a very common in the world of videogames. In the Warcraft games, Goblins are diminutive, green-skinned humanoids native to Azeroth. Early in their history, goblins were an unintelligent race used as slave labor by a tribe of trolls on their home island of Kezan. Constant exposure to a rare ore caused them to develop into a hyper-intelligent race that soon overthrew their masters and created a new civilization. However the supplies of the ore were eventually exhausted and, facing a slow loss of their intelligence, the goblins took to trade and exploration in search of new deposits. During the Second War they aligned with the Horde, providing the technical services the dwarves and gnomes offered the Alliance. Following the Horde's defeat the naturally mercantile race took a neutral stance in world affairs.

In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry and his friends Hermione and Ron have to sneak into the Gringotts Bank that's guarded by money and jewel savvy goblins. Goblins are also portrayed as being distrustful of humans to a fault. Like dwarfs, they're great craftsmen.However, they are portrayed as greedy and fierce when it comes to their treasures. They consider the maker of an object, its true owner and therefore see humans who buy goblin-made treasures as borrowers or thiefs.

Like elves, goblins have a shaky relationship with humans. They are generally characterized as villains and betrayers. They have their own rules and code of conduct that differ from those of humans. The result is that they are labelled as distrustful and rude, if not sneaky and mischievous. They cause trouble for humans, so the two rarely associate unless it's necessary.