Goblin

Goblins are a race of cruel, wicked, and clever creatures that inhabit the mountains and dark places of Middle-earth, serving as one of the primary antagonistic forces in The Hobbit. They are characterized by their hatred of order and prosperity, their skill in tunneling and crafting instruments of torture, and their deep enmity with dwarves, elves, and men. Their presence shapes the journey of Thorin and Company from the capture beneath the Misty Mountains to the climactic Battle of the Five Armies, and their defeat brings a lasting peace to the northern lands.

Nature and Characteristics

Goblins are described as cruel, wicked, and bad-hearted. They make no beautiful things, but they are highly clever, capable of tunneling and mining as well as any but the most skilled dwarves. They craft hammers, axes, swords, daggers, pickaxes, tongs, and instruments of torture, often forcing prisoners and slaves to work until they die for want of air and light. It is not unlikely that they invented some of the machines that have since troubled the world, especially ingenious devices for killing large numbers of people at once, for wheels and engines and explosions always delighted them. They do not hate dwarves especially, but they hate everybody and everything, particularly the orderly and prosperous. In some parts, wicked dwarves have even made alliances with them. They have a special grudge against Thorin's people because of a past war. The term "orc" is the hobbits' form of the name given to these creatures, and it is not connected at all with the word for sea-animals of dolphin-kind. In English, the only correct plural of dwarf is dwarfs, but in this story "dwarves" and "dwarvish" are used only when speaking of the ancient people to whom Thorin and his companions belonged.

Role in the Journey

Goblins are a recurring threat throughout the quest. The dwarves and Bilbo are captured by goblins in the Misty Mountains after taking shelter in a cave during a thunderstorm. The goblins drag them deep into Goblin-town, where the Great Goblin interrogates them. The goblins recognize the sword Orcrist, which they call Biter, and it enrages them. Gandalf kills the Great Goblin and leads the escape. Later, goblins ally with Wargs to hunt the company, and they participate in the burning of the trees where the dwarves and Bilbo are trapped. The goblins are ultimately driven off by the Great Eagles. The goblins of the Misty Mountains are also responsible for the death of Thror, Thorin's grandfather, in the mines of Moria, killed by Azog the Goblin.

The Battle of the Five Armies

After the death of Smaug, a vast goblin host, led by Bolg, marches from the North to attack the Lonely Mountain. They are described as a black cloud hurrying forward, so dense that no light could be seen between their wings. The goblins ride wolves and are accompanied by Wargs. Their army is immense, with countless banners, black and red. The battle is joined by elves, men, and dwarves, who unite against the common foe. The goblins are initially successful, scaling the Mountain and attacking from above, but the arrival of the Great Eagles and Beorn turns the tide. Beorn, in bear shape, pulls down Bolg and crushes him. The goblins are routed and pursued; three parts of the goblin warriors of the North perish on that day, and the mountains have peace for many a year.

Aftermath and Legacy

Following the Battle of the Five Armies, the goblins of the Misty Mountains are few and terrified, hidden in the deepest holes they can find. The Wargs vanish from the woods, and men go abroad without fear. In the years that follow, the last goblins are hunted from the Misty Mountains, and a new peace comes over the edge of the Wild. The defeat of the goblins, along with the death of Smaug, marks the end of an era of darkness in the northern lands. Bilbo, who had heard tales of dragons and goblins and giants from Gandalf's fireworks at Old Took's parties, returns home to find that his own adventures have become part of the lore that will be told for generations.