Hobgoblins

From Tolkien Gateway
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This article describes a concept which is mentioned in J.R.R. Tolkien's works, but was never given a definite name.
Ron Chironna - Hobgoblins for MECCG

Hobgoblin was a name "for the larger kinds"[1] of Orcs found in Middle-earth in the Third Age. In the quest for the Lonely Mountain, Gandalf warns Bilbo Baggins that the Grey Mountains are "simply stiff with goblins, hobgoblins, and orcs of the worst description".[2]

Other versions of the legendarium

The term appears only once in The Hobbit. It has been speculated that "the term perhaps, but doubtfully, refers to the large soldier-orcs known as Uruks"[3], possibly since Tolkien had not created the latter name by the time of his writing of The Hobbit.

In a 1971 letter to Roger Lancelyn Green, Tolkien commented that "the statement that hobgoblins were 'a larger kind' is the reverse of the original truth."[4]

Portrayals in adaptations

1996, 1997: Middle-earth Collectible Card Game:

The card "Hobgoblins" was released in two editions: one for the expansion set Middle-earth: The Dragons (card art by Ron Chironna) and one for Middle-earth: The Lidless Eye (card art by Heather Hudson).

2018: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Hobgoblins are a breed of large, tusked Orc-kind found in the Grey Mountains. They are not servants of Sauron and instead belong to the Frost-horde, followers of the dragon Hrímil Frost-heart. Hrímil was imprisoned in the dungeons of Barad-dûr for refusing to give up one of Seven Rings that she had swallowed. For this, the Frost-horde and all hobgoblins detest Sauron and his followers, only allying with them briefly as part of deception to further their own plans.

External links

Legendary races of Arda
 Animals:  Dumbledors · Gorcrows · Hummerhorns · Pards · Swans of Gorbelgod · Turtle-fish
Dragon-kind:  Sea-serpents · Spark-dragons · Were-worms
Evil Races:  Ettens · Giants · Half-trolls · Hobgoblins · Ogres · Snow-trolls · Two-headed Trolls
Other:  Badger-folk · Great beasts · Lintips · Mewlips · Nameless things · Spectres
Individuals:  Talking Gurthang · Talking purse · The Hunter · Lady of the Sun · Lonely Troll · Man in the Moon · The Rider · River-woman · Tarlang · Tim · Tom · White cow

References