Brian Froud's "Goblins!" Trivia Quiz

Answer: Overloading electrical outlets

Laantorn is the goblin of fire - his favourite activity is to knock over the candles in peoples' homes. He also likes electricity, and in particular, making electrical appliances malfunction and smoke. If you plug five or more plugs into one electrical outlet, using an adaptor, Laantorn will immediately be summoned, seeing it as an invitation into your home.

Answer: New houses

Floo causes cold wind to come down chimneys and under doors, and he also makes people feel achy and worn down. In old buildings, he is seen as a nuisance, but is said to be a danger in new homes where he could blow out the pilot light on an oven, and cause a gas leak.

Answer: Yellow

Gargle is the goblin scribe, and is the goblin which Brian had captured in his downstairs toilet. Gargle is one of the more intelligent goblins, and also makes excellent grilled cheese sandwiches.

Answer: Mucal Lord

Cattarh, who is called Cattarah at some points in the book, is one half of the pair known as "the runny boys" - the other being Floo. Cattarh is more frequently seen than Floo, but gets very angry if he is called common. His preferred title is Cattarh the Brazen and Bold, Lord of Nasal Flushing, Handkerchief Fouler, Head Stuffer Extraordinaire.

Although Floo and Cattarh are referred to as Mucal Lords, this isn't one of Cattarh's preferred titles.

Answer: Laanthorn and Floo

Lumin was once the goblin who was responsible for blowing out candles when the light was most needed, but he now focuses on light bulb malfunctions. He has frequent arguments with Laantorn, particularly when he blows out candles that Laantorn has just knocked over, preventing a fire from starting.

This in turn leads to arguments with Floo, who thinks it's his duty to cause draughts to blow out candles.

Answer: Froze the water pipes, causing them to burst

Bloewsabella is the goblin of ice and cold, and is often found with Floo. When she is feeling simply mischievous, she will often cool down freshly cooked food, or lower the temperature in the fridge. When she was very angry, as in the case illustrated, she froze the water pipes until they burst, then froze the water which flooded the kitchen.

Answer: One shoe

Damblynge likes to steal things, and in particular, he likes to steal one half of pairs of things. It isn't known why he only takes one half of the pair, but it causes extreme annoyance and confusion to the victim.

Answer: Dairy

Malecha is known as the Milk Curdler, because her favourite trick is to spoil milk, cream, butter, etc. She is capable of causing damage to all kinds of foods, and depending on her mood, may vary from her normal habit of focusing on dairy foods.

Answer: Lemon

Shuus are a type of tiny goblin which like to steal shoes, and especially socks, which they view as torture devices. Shuus become intoxicated by lemon-fresh odours, which makes them even more tireless than they already were. Shuus will also kick humans in the backside if they appear to have forgotten something, as they detest forgetfulness.

Answer: Behind the sofa

Jylde is the goblin chef, who will often make such delights as Hot Kitty Litter Parfait Crowned with Mouldy Margarine. He uses human kitchens, and leaves a dish as a thank you, as he doesn't clean up. He is mistrustful of fridges, after losing a friend in a "freak defrosting accident", so he leaves the dishes behind the sofa.

Answer: They made a beautiful sound when warmed in the hand

Dinbole the Whittler was entrusted with the Two Pearls of Rueful Pastimes, but he lost one. He now spends his time looking for it in the mortal world. He became convinced that it was hidden in a chair or table leg, so he likes to whittle them down in search of the pearl, with the help of the Great Goblin Scraping Scalpel.

Answer: Dipping pets' paws into soot, and encouraging them to run round the house

The goblin chimney sweeps enter human homes through the chimney, and create as much mess with the soot and ash as they can. At Christmas time, they will steal the presents, and fill the empty boxes with ash and woodchips.

Answer: Because daytime napping is sacred to goblins

Baatten and Paatten are brothers, who cause the aches and pains people wake up with. They do this with their "dancing tantrums", which are maces and batons. However, they are always losing them, so they frequently use objects found in the victims home, most often shoes and spatulas.

Answer: Neither of them - he comes and goes as he pleases

The two great goblin kingdoms are: The Noble and Fetid Kingdom of Mephistis, which is ruled by The Royal Lady Empyreuma Frouzy, and the Great and Putrescent Kingdom of Malkin, which is ruled by brothers Mucor and Rubigo. Almost all goblins belong to one of the kingdoms, with the occasional traitor flitting between them, but Sirincus does not affiliate himself with either.

His job is to place value on everything.

Answer: Aggat

Aggat is the goblin responsible for the pebbles and stones people find in their shoes. His previous job was to hurl the goblin-bolt (a rock inside sodden bread) at people, which induced severe cramp of the little finger from 10 minutes to an hour.

Answer: Ear

Haamspray is the goblin of changes in air pressure. His speciality is making people's ears pop, and causing discomfort at great heights. He is also known for letting the air out of car tyres.

Answer: Sylvia

Gummery is the goblin who takes people's teeth, and is often mistaken for the tooth fairy. Goblin law states that he owns the teeth if he cleans them, and therefore he doesn't like people cleaning their own teeth. If he catches you cleaning your teeth, he will throw your brush into the toilet.

Answer: 4 days

Goblins tend to go from courtship to break up within four days. Passil can reduce this time to half a day. He is the goblin who brings things to premature fruition, and can also give humans a bad rash or spots with his Poxing Cloth. If he catches you mistreating houseplants, he will care for them, and visit you with his cloth.

Answer: Bantam of the opera

Oorudun is the goblin who makes loud noises and keeps people awake at night. He loves to sing, although his voice is frightening, as is his breath. He sang the lead in the goblin play "Bantam Of The Opera".

Answer: Feast of Felicitous Famishments

The other three answers are all goblin days of celebration, listed in the goblin calender. Cannicken uses the horn to summon the goblin nobility once a year to the feast. The rest of the year, he likes to hide in human houses, blowing the horn at unfortunate moments, producing a loud noise and unpleasant smell.