Goblin Coloring Pages
Goblins began as pranksters. In old stories from France and England they were small spirits who hid your boots and soured the milk, and nobody could say for sure whether they meant any harm. Over the centuries they grew bigger ears and a worse reputation. Now they're usually the first creatures a hero meets in a fantasy game.
Jump to: Preschool Goblins | Where Goblins Come From | Fantasy Games | Modern Fantasy | Goblin Women | Goblin Camp
Preschool Goblins
Not every goblin is a menace. These ones have big eyes, big ears and a grin that says they might have hidden your sock, but only as a joke.
Where Goblins Come From
The word goblin comes from Old French, and the first goblins on record lived in medieval France and England. They weren't soldiers or villains. They were household nuisances.
Spoiled Milk
When the milk turned sour or a pail got knocked over in the night, the goblin got the blame. It was a handy excuse, since nobody ever managed to catch one.
Treats by the Fire
Boots were left by the fire to dry overnight, which made them easy to lose, and the goblin got the blame for that too. The best way to stay on his good side was to leave a small treat by the hearth, like a bowl of porridge or cream. A well fed goblin might even leave your boots alone.
Mine Goblins
Miners in Wales and Cornwall told stories about tiny spirits who tapped on the tunnel walls. Some said the tapping led them to good ore. Others said it was a warning to get out before the roof came down.
Kobolds
Kobolds are the German cousins of the goblin, and the two names may even share the same roots. Like goblins they haunted houses and mines, and German miners blamed them for ore that looked like silver but gave off poisonous fumes when it was heated. They were so annoyed that they named the metal after the kobolds, and we still call it cobalt today...
Brownies
Scottish brownies were the helpful cousins of the goblin family. They finished the chores overnight, and all they asked for was a bowl of cream. But never try to thank one with a gift of clothes, because that is the quickest way to lose him...
Goblin Market
In Victorian times a famous poem called Goblin Market imagined goblin men selling fruit so tempting that nobody could say no. The idea stuck, and goblins with baskets of strawberries and apples have been turning up in art ever since.
Goblins in Fantasy Games
Fantasy games made goblins the classic first monster: small and sneaky and almost always in a crowd. Writers then gave them kings and bigger cousins to keep the story interesting.
Cheeky Goblins
Cartoon goblins mostly look like they just got away with something.
Hobgoblins
Before games turned him into a soldier, a hobgoblin was a friendly house prankster, a lot like a brownie. In games he's the bigger, tougher cousin who gets sent to boss the smaller goblins around.
Cloaks and Lanterns
Goblins like the dark, so a cloak and a lantern are standard kit.
Goblins in Modern Fantasy
In today's books, shows and games goblins come in every personality. Some are sweet and shy, some are greedy bankers who count every coin twice, and some are warriors who would rather fight than talk.
The Princess and the Goblin
In The Princess and the Goblin, a book from 1872, goblins live in caves under a mountain and creep out after dark. They're tough as rock everywhere except their feet, which are very soft. A young miner figures that out, and it turns out cheerful rhymes are a pretty good weapon too.
The Hobbit
In The Hobbit, goblins live in a maze of tunnels under the Misty Mountains, ruled by the Great Goblin. They sing as they march and they're sneaky enough to grab travellers in the dark. In The Lord of the Rings the author mostly calls them orcs instead.
Lord of the Rings coloring pages
Role-Playing Games
In tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons, goblins are the classic first fight for a brand new hero. In Pathfinder you can play as one.
Dungeons and Dragons coloring pages
Goblin Alchemists
Potions are goblin magic: a bit of this, a splash of that, and stand back. In Warcraft goblins run some of the best potion labs around, and Pathfinder has goblin alchemist options for players who like things that fizz.
World of Warcraft Goblins
In World of Warcraft goblins are the great inventors and dealmakers, always building a gadget or striking a bargain. They're clever and quick and a little too fond of gold.
Goblin Women
Goblin women have their own jobs and their own style. Some gather herbs, and some look like they're in charge of the whole camp.
Goblin Camp
Most goblin stories end around a campfire, where the tales get bigger every time someone tells them. Somebody always brings a lute, there's a pot on the fire, a few patched tents and a long argument about whose turn it is to stir.
