In J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit," Gandalf mentions that one of the reasons the goblins are not pursuing their group is because they fear daylight. He explains that goblins, or rather, Orcs, dislike sunlight and tend to hide during the day. Additionally, he mentions that by using the elven blades, which were known for their ability to cause great harm to goblins, they made the goblins hesitate and reevaluate their decision to follow.
