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Goblin Facts & Worksheets

Often believed to be evil, greedy, or mischievous, goblins are mythical creatures who bring nothing but trouble to humans.

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Often believed to be evil, greedy, or mischievous, goblins are mythical creatures who bring nothing but trouble to humans. Originating from European folklore, goblins roam the earth in various shapes and sizes, each with different kinds of special abilities.

See the fact file below for more information on the goblins or alternatively, you can download our 23-page Goblin worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

ETYMOLOGY

  • Goblin originated from the king of the gnomes, Ghob, whose followers are called “ghob-lings”.
  • It is also derived from the Anglo-French gobelin and Medieval Latin gobelinus, which was the devil haunting the cities of Normandy before 1141.
  • Some believe that the word goblin may be related to the German word kobold and to the Medieval Latin cabalus, from the Greek kobalos, which means “villain”.
  • A group of goblins is called a horde, while female goblins are referred to as hags, crones, or goblette.

APPEARANCE AND BEHAVIOR

  • Despite having unappealing looks, goblins are beings having human characteristics. They are small, dark-skinned creatures, almost resembling a dwarf; there are some giant goblins whose height can be up to 6 feet.
  • They have big ears and noses, with filthy, yellow, crooked teeth.
  • They can be stout or thin, with thick brows. They have a rough, slightly high-pitched voice, mixing human language with their own.
  • Blood acidifies when a goblin smiles. If they laugh, milk turns sour and fruits fall from trees.
  • Goblins are usually found in caves, rock crevices, and roots of ancient trees of inaccessible places. They can even barge into houses or annoy people by knocking on doors and walls and then immediately disappear.
  • Nothing makes them happier than bringing trouble to people because of their lack of knowledge in human ethics and morality.
  • They are nomadic; they do not like staying in one place for too long. They are lazy creatures that enjoy doing nothing. In case of danger, they just magically disappear and hide.
  • They are also shapeshifters, taking on animal form. Goblins cast spells on humans, giving them nightmares or stealing their children away, replacing them with goblin babies or changelings.

TYPES OF GOBLINS

  • Hobgoblin. With their dark-colored shaggy hair, hobgoblins are tiny pranksters that love to mess with humans through direct influence or theft. One thing that makes them different from other goblins is their close labor relations to humans – they are willing to do chores in exchange for a bowl of milk or a spark of fire. They are mischievous, solitary miniaturized versions of elves or fairies.
  • Kol’ksu. Mermaid-like goblins with eyes similar to dragons, this is a water goblin who is very notorious and carnivorous – they eat humans and even other goblins. They tend to confuse other creatures because of their magical white hair, making them look delicate and kind, tricking their victims. Aside from getting killed, humans who stare at Kol’ksu’s eyes will also be vanished from this world, leaving no trace of his existence.
  • Knocker. Similar to the Hobgoblin as they are also very close to humans. Knockers live in mines, having a kind side as long as miners value their existence. Their names come from the knocking sound before a collapse inside the mine. Knockers are also said to be the spirits of those who died in mine fatalities.
  • Hogboon. Also known as the Hogboy, Hogboons are very affectionate earth goblins. Due to their good heart, many people claim that they might not be goblins at all. They live in mounds near farms, bringing luck to the nearby family and serving as guardians of their lands. If humans refuse to share the farms benefits with them, they will bring bad luck to the land estate.
  • Trow. One of the most easily distinguishable goblins, trows are usually old and short with an ugly appearance. They are nocturnal goblins, appearing invisible to the human eye at night. They are living in luxury – their homes are covered in gold and silver, and only the finest food and wine is served. Trows choose to visit human homes at night, playing pranks on the home owners.
  • Tengu. A Japanese word which means “heavenly dog”, Tengu is similar to a dog-like Chinese demon named Tiangou. They are the most familiar Yokai, supernatural spirits, in Japanese legends. These Asian goblins are watcher spirits of the mountains, feared yet respected.
  • Kobold. Originating from a German folklore, Kobolds are sprites who live on ships, mines, and even in human homes. Their appearance adapts and changes, depending on whom they are with. Usually, they choose to be household spirits where they can help with chores or play tricks if insulted.
  • Kallikantzaros. Came from Greek legends, Kallikantzaros, or Christmas goblins, live deep underground, and they only reach the surface of the earth every dawn of December 25th until January 6th. They bring nothing but chaos to the human realm by starting fires, souring milk, riding on people’s back, and braiding horses’ tails.
  • Phooka. From Irish origins, Phooka transforms into a number of shapes, but usually chooses to be a pitch-black dog or horse with flaming eyes. The sound of this goblin’s giggle at night serves as a warning for people to beware of odd horses next time they get lost in the road.
  • Bogey. Smallest of all goblins, Bogeys are the hardest to kill. They are black in color and reside in gloomy places of houses, such as attics and closets. They are fond of scaring children and adults as they pop out from the closet. The “Bogeyman” is derived from this type of goblin.

Goblin Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the goblins across 23 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Goblin worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the goblins which are mythical creatures who bring nothing but trouble to humans. Originating from European folklore, goblins roam the earth in various shapes and sizes, each with different kinds of special abilities.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Goblin Facts
  • Mischievous Goblins
  • Goblin Facts
  • Talk Goblin to Me
  • Types of Goblins
  • More About the Types
  • Green Creatures
  • Goblins in Movies
  • Create Your Goblin
  • Her Goblin Encounter
  • Goblins Around the World

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Link will appear as Goblin Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, October 15, 2019

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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