| Hobgoblin | |
|---|---|
 Hobgoblin Hall, a 1904 drawing by Herbert Railton of William Wordsworth's house, Rydal Mount | |
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Other Names |
Dobby, Bauchan, Bwbach, or Boobach |
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First Appearance |
English Folklore |
Origin[]
A hobgoblin is a household spirit, appearing in English folklore, once considered helpful, but which since the spread of Christianity has often been considered mischievous. Shakespeare identifies the character of Puck in his A Midsummer Night's Dream as a hobgoblin.
Hobgoblins seem to be small, hairy little men who, like their close relatives the brownies, are often found within human dwellings, doing odd jobs around the house while the family is asleep. Such chores are typically small tasks like dusting and ironing. Often, the only compensation necessary in return for these is food.
While brownies are more peaceful creatures, hobgoblins are more fond of practical jokes. They also seem to be able to shapeshift, as seen in one of Puck's monologues in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Robin Goodfellow is perhaps the most mischievous and most infamous of all his kind, but many are less antagonizing. Like other fairy folk, hobgoblins are easily annoyed. They can be mischievous, frightening, and even dangerous. Attempts to give them clothing will often banish them forever, though whether they are offended by such gifts or are simply too proud to work in new clothes differs from teller to teller.
Notable named hobgoblins include Billy Blind, Blue Burches, and Robin Roundcap.
Dobby is another term for hobgoblin in Lancashire and Yorkshire, especially one that is a relentless prankster. Much like the boggart, a dobby's pranks may become so troublesome that a family decides to move elsewhere, only to find that the dobby has followed them (one version of this tale involves Robin Roundcap). The term is also referenced in the character of the house-elf Dobby in the Harry Potter series.
The bauchan is a Scottish domestic hobgoblin that is mischievous and belligerent but also very helpful when the need arises.
The bwbach (or boobach, plural bwbachod) is a Welsh domestic hobgoblin that will perform household chores in return for bowls of cream. They are good-natured but mischievous and have a dislike of clergymen and teetotalers, upon whom they will play relentless pranks.
In the poem "L'Allegro" (1645) by John Milton a domestic hobgoblin or brownie, known as a Lubbar Fend (or lubber fiend) and described as strong and hairy, threshes the corn then lays by the fireplace enjoying his bowl of cream that he earns as payment.
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of Hobgoblins from before January 1, 1930 are public domain in the US.
Some notable appearances are listed below:
Public Domain Literary Appearances[]
- The Knight of the Burning Pestle (1607)
- County Folklore. Vol. 6 (1612)
- L'Allegro (1645)
- Popular Tales of the West Highlands (1890)
- The Devil and His Imps: An Etymological Inquisition (1895)
- The English and Scottish Popular Ballads (1882-1898)
- Rustic Speech and Folk-Lore (1913)
Notes[]
- Hobgoblins exist in the works of Tolkien as a larger kind of orc, though they are not prominently featured. In the preface of The Hobbit, he states that "Orc is not an English word. It occurs in one or two places but is usually translated goblin (or hobgoblin for the larger kinds)".
- In Dungeons & Dragons, the name "hobgoblin" is used for a vaguely ape-faced humanoid species that live in militarized tribal societies or as leaders of goblin tribes.
- Marvel supervillain Hobgoblin is named after the creature from English folklore.