Book Anatomy · The Princess and the Goblin
The Princess and the Goblin: Theme and motif
12 lenses on theme and motif for The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald. Count lenses are exact for our text. AI lenses are our reading and cite only quotes that passed a word for word check.
Jump to: J1 J2 J3 J4 J5 J6 J7 J8 J9 J10 J11 J12
J1. Where is the theme first stated, and by whom? AI
The theme of belief versus doubt is first stated implicitly in chapter 4 when the nurse disbelieves Irene's grandmother story. Chapter 23 makes it explicit when Curdie's mother tells him some things exist beyond sight.
Chapters: Ch 4, Ch 23
You don't believe me, then!' exclaimed the princess, astonished and angry, as she well might be. (Ch 4, para 23)
That may be only because you do not understand it. If you did, you would probably find it was an explanation, and believe it thoroughly. (Ch 23, para 14)
J2. The theme question, and how each subplot answers it. AI
Irene's subplot answers: belief in the unseen grandmother saves her. Curdie's subplot answers: trusting magic he cannot see allows him to help others. The goblin threat answers: those who deny reality are destroyed.
Chapters: Ch 3, Ch 21, Ch 22, Ch 23, Ch 27
Of one thing you may be sure, that while you hold it, I hold it too. (Ch 15, para 81)
That may be only because you do not understand it. If you did, you would probably find it was an explanation, and believe it thoroughly. (Ch 23, para 14)
I thought so, Curdie! I was sure it wasn't a dream. I was sure my grandmother had been to see you. Don't you smell the roses? It was my grandmother healed your leg, and sent you to help me. (Ch 28, para 36)
J3. Motif tracker: recurring images by chapter. Both
Light and darkness, Feet and shoes, Invisible thread. See the full lens on the book page.
J4. Symbols, and how their meaning shifts. AI
The thread symbolises faith and guidance. Early it is invisible; Irene must trust it. By chapter 28, Curdie can follow it, showing his belief has grown. The ring shifts from mystery to proof of the grandmother's love.
Chapters: Ch 11, Ch 15, Ch 20, Ch 21, Ch 28
I am spinning this for you, my child. (Ch 11, para 29)
Of one thing you may be sure, that while you hold it, I hold it too. (Ch 15, para 81)
She put it on, and then, feeling with the forefinger of her right hand, soon found her grandmother's thread, which she proceeded at once to follow (Ch 20, para 2)
J5. Theme words and their frequency over the book. Count
Theme words and how often they come in each tenth of the book.
| Word | Total | By tenth |
|---|---|---|
| goblin | 164 | 4 38 27 9 5 24 7 1 31 18 |
| grandmother | 122 | 14 0 2 14 36 1 17 24 1 13 |
| light | 76 | 1 10 6 3 13 8 13 11 2 9 |
| thread | 70 | 1 0 0 2 5 0 49 3 0 10 |
| believe | 62 | 12 0 0 5 3 1 6 21 6 8 |
| feet | 49 | 2 12 4 2 2 10 4 1 8 4 |
| darkness | 12 | 0 0 0 1 3 3 3 0 0 2 |
| truth | 7 | 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 |
| faith | 1 | 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 |
| magic | 0 | 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
J6. The moral argument: who stands for which side? AI
Irene and Curdie stand for belief, duty and love. The grandmother stands for invisible wisdom. The goblin king and queen stand for greed and denial of truth. The king stands for authority learning to trust.
Chapters: Ch 3, Ch 9, Ch 18, Ch 27, Ch 30
I'm your great-great-grandmother,' said the lady. (Ch 3, para 32)
I'll have the skin taken off between her toes, and tie them up till they grow together. Then her feet will be like other people's (Ch 18, para 13)
There, Curdie! There's the kiss I promised you! (Ch 30, para 17)
J7. The title: its meaning and echoes in the text. Both
How often the key words of the title appear in the text.
| Word | Times |
|---|---|
| Princess | 271 |
| Goblin | 54 |
The title pairs princess and goblin as opposites. Irene is royal, above ground, believing. Goblins are underground, denying reality, weak. The story shows how the princess defeats the goblin threat through faith and the goblin boy Curdie's heroism.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 27, Ch 31
They were much too afraid of the goblins to let her out of the house then, even in company with ever so many attendants; and they had good reason, as we shall see by and by. (Ch 1, para 5)
Where 'tis all a hole, sir, Never can be holes: Why should their shoes have soles, sir, When they've got no souls? (Ch 27, para 13)
J8. Epigraphs, allusions and borrowed texts. Both
No well known books or writers are named outright. (rough estimate from word lists)
Not a feature of this book. MacDonald uses no epigraphs or borrowed texts. The work stands alone as original fairy-tale.
J9. Opening image against final image. AI
Opening image: princess confined indoors for safety, goblins feared below. Final image: house repaired, goblins fled or tamed, princess and Curdie together, peace restored. From danger to safety, from doubt to belief.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 32
They were much too afraid of the goblins to let her out of the house then, even in company with ever so many attendants; and they had good reason, as we shall see by and by. (Ch 1, para 5)
But most of them soon left that part of the country, and most of those who remained grew milder in character, and indeed became very much like the Scotch brownies. (Ch 32, para 5)
J10. Pairs and contrasts, such as light and dark. Both
Counts of each side of the main contrasts.
| Pair | First word | Second word |
|---|---|---|
| light / darkness | 63 | 12 |
| above / below | 9 | 9 |
| believe / doubt | 46 | 20 |
| safe / danger | 19 | 14 |
Light versus darkness: grandmother's light guides; goblin darkness threatens. Above ground versus underground: safety versus danger. Belief versus doubt: characters who believe survive; those who deny reality perish.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 14, Ch 20, Ch 27, Ch 31
But a great silver globe was hanging in the air; and as she gazed at the lovely thing, her courage revived (Ch 14, para 9)
it must be--her great-great-grandmother's lamp, which guided her pigeons home through the darkest night! (Ch 14, para 9)
Where 'tis all a hole, sir, Never can be holes: Why should their shoes have soles, sir, When they've got no souls? (Ch 27, para 13)
J11. Core values at stake: life, love, justice, truth. AI
Truth is at stake: characters must learn to believe in what they cannot see. Love is at stake: the grandmother's love protects Irene; Curdie's love for the princess drives him. Justice is at stake: the goblins are defeated.
Chapters: Ch 3, Ch 15, Ch 21, Ch 27, Ch 30
Of one thing you may be sure, that while you hold it, I hold it too. (Ch 15, para 81)
I thought so, Curdie! I was sure it wasn't a dream. I was sure my grandmother had been to see you. Don't you smell the roses? It was my grandmother healed your leg, and sent you to help me. (Ch 28, para 36)
There, Curdie! There's the kiss I promised you! (Ch 30, para 17)
J12. What the book leaves open on purpose. AI
The book leaves open the nature of the grandmother's magic and her true identity. It ends with the promise of another volume about Curdie and Irene's future. The goblins' ultimate fate is unclear.
Chapters: Ch 32
The rest of the history of The Princess and Curdie must be kept for another volume. (Ch 32, para 6)
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