The Princess and the Goblin

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. A theme throughout the novel is What It Means to Be a Princess.

• What trait(s) does MacDonald suggest make(s) Irene a princess? (topic sentence)
• Identify at least 3 places in the text where MacDonald defines what it means to be a princess, and explain how Irene exhibits these traits through her personality and actions.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, examine how Irene’s princess-like qualities make her a good role model for readers.

2. The relationship between Curdie and Irene develops in ways that cause each to grow.

• What kind of friendship do Curdie and Irene have, and how does it change by the novel’s conclusion? (topic sentence)
• Detail at least 3 places in the book where Curdie and Irene interact, how these interactions unfold, and what they learn about themselves and each other as a result.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, discuss how Curdie and Irene’s relationship impacts their growth as individuals.

3. MacDonald uses setting as a motif to characterize people, create mood and atmosphere, and develop themes.

• How does setting illuminate the differences between humans and goblins? (topic sentence)
• Compare and contrast MacDonald’s depictions of the human world and the goblin world, incorporating at least 1 quote to illustrate each.
• In your concluding sentence or sentences, discuss the significance of the surviving goblins’ relocation above ground in light of the novel’s use of setting.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. The Princess and the Goblin was published in 1872, during the Victorian era in England. At this time, coal mining was at its peak, the Industrial Revolution was thriving, and religious faith was beginning to dwindle. How does MacDonald’s story reflect the time period in which it was written? Does it challenge any of the common ideologies of the time? Do the ideals of What It Means to Be a Princess hold up today? Consider the characters’ lives (miners and royalty) and the traits they exhibit, the role of faith in the novel, the dichotomy between humans and goblins, and the fact that The Princess and the Goblin is a fantasy novel.

2. The Princess and the Goblin depicts goblins as both subhuman and descended from humans. What is the cause of this conflict between goblins and humans? How does the goblins’ belief in their oppression shape their worldview and even their development as a species? Does MacDonald suggest their resentment is justified? Why or why not?

3. Grandmother is omniscient and can only be seen by those who believe in her, and the same can be said of her magical thread and the moon-lamp and pigeons which often accompany her presence. Is Grandmother human, or is she something more? What do her powers indicate about Irene’s family lineage, and why does Grandmother require Irene’s Faith in the Mystical? How does Irene demonstrate this faith, and how does Curdie learn to accept the possibility of the unseen? Is The Princess and the Goblin a religious allegory? Why or why not?