The Princess and the Goblin · Chapter
Curdie's Clue explained
Curdie, while spying on the goblins, follows his string but is led astray when goblin creatures steal his pickaxe.
What happens
Curdie, while spying on the goblins, follows his string but is led astray when goblin creatures steal his pickaxe. He stumbles into a goblin palace, confronts the king and queen, and uses his knowledge of goblins' vulnerable feet to fight them. He is eventually captured and trapped in a hole, but not before learning important clues about the goblins' plans.
Themes in this chapter
Courage vs. Fear
Curdie shows courage by confronting the goblin king and queen despite being outnumbered and trapped.
Deception and Appearance
The goblins' deceptive appearance and Curdie's mistaken trust in his string highlight the theme of things not being as they seem.
Perseverance and Hard Work
Curdie's persistent spying and his use of the pickaxe symbolize hard work and determination in the face of adversity.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“Curdie was as watchful as ever, but was almost getting tired of his ill success.”
Curdie remained alert but was becoming frustrated by his lack of progress.
Highlights Curdie's perseverance despite repeated failures.
“He made a sudden rush at the king and stamped with all his might on His Majesty’s feet.”
Curdie attacked the goblin king by stomping on his feet, exploiting their known weakness.
Shows Curdie's strategic thinking and knowledge of goblin vulnerabilities.