The Princess and the Goblin · Chapter
The Goblin-Miners explained
Servants discuss strange noises in the king's house, which are actually caused by goblins mining beneath.
What happens
Servants discuss strange noises in the king's house, which are actually caused by goblins mining beneath. The goblins dislodge a huge block, shaking the house, and later scoop through sand to reach the king's wine cellar. They then return to the goblin palace to announce their success, and the goblin royal family and people rush to the house to kidnap Princess Irene that night.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Appearance
The servants and captain misinterpret the noises as an earthquake or rats, failing to perceive the true goblin threat.
Perseverance and Hard Work
The goblins persist in their mining efforts, dislodging a huge block and scooping through sand to reach the wine cellar.
Good vs. Evil
The goblins' plot to kidnap Princess Irene represents the evil forces arrayed against the kingdom.
Characters to notice
- Princess Irene
The princess hears the noises and asks her nurse about them.
- Nursie
The nurse reports the noises to the other servants and mentions the princess's questions.
- The Captain
The captain of the gentlemen-at-arms dismisses the noise as an earthquake and does not believe Curdie's warnings.
- Curdie
Curdie is not present in the chapter, but his warnings are disregarded by the captain.
- Glump
The goblin king is mentioned as leading the goblin forces to the king's house.
- Harelip
The goblin queen is mentioned as wearing one stone shoe and one skin shoe, and participating in the invasion.
Key passages
“That same night several of the servants were having a chat together before going to bed.”
That evening, a group of servants gathered to talk before sleeping.
Opening scene setting the servants' discussion.
“The fact, as discovered afterwards, was that the goblins had, in working up a second sloping face of stone, arrived at a huge block which lay under the cellars of the house, within the line of the foundations.”
It was later learned that the goblins, while mining a second sloping rock face, had reached a massive boulder beneath the house's cellars, near the foundations.
Explanation of the cause of the shaking.
“In a moment the goblin royal family and the whole goblin people were on their way in hot haste to the king’s house, each eager to have a share in the glory of carrying off that same night the Princess Irene.”
Immediately, the goblin king, queen, and all the goblins rushed to the king's house, each wanting to help kidnap Princess Irene that night.
Climax of the chapter showing the goblin invasion.