Concerning Orcs and Goblins in Tolkien's UniverseJohn Ronald Reuel Tolkien, or simply JRR Tolkien as he was commonly known, is the author of a widely known series of books set in the fictional land of Middle-earth. Among these books, the ones that attract the most attention are those of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and its prequel, The Hobbit. Given that these are fantasy novels, it is not surprising that many of the characters or creatures described in their pages are those of fiction. Sometimes Tolkien drew his characters from other sources or medieval texts. The Halflings for example, or Hobbits as Tolkien called them, were a race of people small in stature but bold in spirit. Hobbits are often described as cheerful, witty people with little technology and a wide range of farming and gardening techniques. A good comparison might be that of the rural Irish. Hobbits are the main protagonists of the novels, alongside a select group of men and dwarves. The orcs and goblins of Mordor, Isengard, and the Misty Mountains oppose the hobbits of the Fellowship of the Ring and the Hobbit. Orcs and goblins were mentioned in literature long before Tolkien's time, but it was his work in these novels that propelled them into the spotlight as a common enemy in literature, film, and even gaming video. The orc's mindset is fetid and focused on combat. There are many examples and descriptors of Tolkien's orcs that inform the reader of their evil and malicious ways. Despite this, orcs and goblins are not just faceless enemies. They are intelligent and interesting races with a complex history and a strong social and moral system. But in the middle of this paper, you fail to see the advantages of taking sides and serving a master, whether he brought them forth from the earth or not. In some ways they can be compared to the Vikings, who were also brave fighters; showing devotion to their thane lord. They were also a cunning people, inventing long ships and the first magnetic compasses; inventions that would lead them to quick victories time and time again. Perhaps this is where Tolkien got his inspiration from. One thing that is undeniable however is that Orcs are a deeply fascinating and complex fantasy race. Works cited by Tolkien, John Ronald Reuel, Humphrey Carpenter and Christopher Tolkien. The letters of JRR Tolkien. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH), 1981. Canvas. .. “Goblin.” Online etymology dictionary. Np, and Web. February 24 2012. .