The Princess and the Goblin · Chapter
The Last Chapter explained
The miners and Curdie's family return home, taking Lootie with them.
What happens
The miners and Curdie's family return home, taking Lootie with them. They drain the king's house, find dead goblins including the queen, and secure the passage. Many goblins flee or become friendly over time, while the miners destroy the remaining goblin creatures. The chapter ends with a note that the rest of the story will be told in another volume.
Themes in this chapter
Perseverance and Hard Work
Curdie and the miners work tirelessly to drain the king's house and secure the passage, demonstrating determination and collective effort.
Good vs. Evil
The defeat of the goblins and the destruction of their creatures marks the triumph of good over evil, though some goblins eventually reform.
Family and Loyalty
Curdie takes Lootie into his family, showing loyalty and care for those who were once his enemies.
Characters to notice
- Curdie
Takes charge of draining the king's house and organizing the miners to build new outlets and secure the passage.
- Peter Peterson
Accompanies Curdie and helps with the work of draining and securing the house.
- Mrs. Peterson
Goes with Curdie and Peter to their home on the mountain.
- Lootie
Taken by Curdie and his parents to live with them; she does not understand the origin of the light that shines on their path.
- The King
His house is flooded and later drained; dead goblins are found inside.
- Harelip
Mentioned among the dead goblins found in the wine cellar.
Key passages
“All the rest went up the mountain, and separated in groups to the homes of the miners. Curdie and his father and mother took Lootie with them.”
Everyone else climbed the mountain and split into groups to go to the miners' houses. Curdie, his parents, and Lootie went together.
Describes the return journey after the goblin invasion.
“For days and days the water continued to rush from the doors and windows of the king’s house, and a few goblin bodies were swept out into the road.”
Water poured from the king's house for many days, washing a few dead goblins into the road.
Highlights the aftermath of the flood.
“Their skulls became softer as well as their hearts, and their feet grew harder, and by degrees they became friendly with the inhabitants of the mountain and even with the miners.”
Over time, the goblins' skulls and hearts softened, their feet toughened, and they gradually grew friendly with the mountain people and miners.
Describes the transformation of the remaining goblins into benign beings.