Goblin Counsels
by George MacDonald · from The Princess and the Goblin
Adapted Version
Curdie was in a dark cave. It was cold. He woke up slowly. He felt a little hungry. His stomach rumbled. He heard strange sounds. They were soft. He felt better now. Not so tired.
It was night. Goblins like the dark. They are busy at night. They make noise. They talk about Curdie. What will they do? They talk about what to do. Curdie listened close.
Curdie sang a song. He sang it loud. "A goblin lives in a hole. He makes a shoe. The shoe is floppy. A bird asks, 'What is that?' He smiles. 'It is a funny shoe!'" He sang again. He liked his song.
The Goblin Queen was very angry. Her face was red. "Stop that noise!" she cried. She stamped her foot. The Goblin Prince made grumpy noises. He did not like the song. He stood by the stones. He looked mad.
Curdie sang more. He sang a new song. "Go to bed, Queen. Take off your shoe. Your feet are funny. They are big and long. Go to bed, Queen. Take off your shoe." He sang it twice. He sang it with a smile.
The Goblin King laughed. He laughed out loud. "Queen, show me your feet!" he said. He thought it was funny. The Queen did not want to. She shook her head. They started to argue. They fussed loudly. They made much noise.
The Goblin Queen was very, very angry. She was so mad. "I will not!" she cried. Her voice was loud. "Go to bed now! All of you!" She told them. She pointed a finger.
The goblins went away. They grumbled softly. Curdie was alone. The cave was quiet. The fire was warm. It felt good. It was bright now. Curdie felt hope. Hope filled his heart.
Curdie tried to get out. He pushed the stone. He pushed with all his might. He could not move it. It was too heavy. He sat down. He thought hard. He would sing more songs. He would be brave. He would be clever. He would find a way.
Original Story
Goblin Counsels
He must have slept a long time, for when he awoke he felt wonderfully restored—indeed almost well—and very hungry. There were voices in the outer cave.
Once more, then, it was night; for the goblins slept during the day and went about their affairs during the night.
In the universal and constant darkness of their dwelling they had no reason to prefer the one arrangement to the other; but from aversion to the sun-people they chose to be busy when there was least chance of their being met either by the miners below, when they were burrowing, or by the people of the mountain above, when they were feeding their sheep or catching their goats. And indeed it was only when the sun was away that the outside of the mountain was sufficiently like their own dismal regions to be endurable to their mole eyes, so thoroughly had they become unaccustomed to any light beyond that of their own fires and torches.
Curdie listened, and soon found that they were talking of himself.
'How long will it take?' asked Harelip.
'Not many days, I should think,' answered the king. 'They are poor feeble creatures, those sun-people, and want to be always eating. We can go a week at a time without food, and be all the better for it; but I've been told they eat two or three times every day! Can you believe it? They must be quite hollow inside—not at all like us, nine-tenths of whose bulk is solid flesh and bone. Yes—I judge a week of starvation will do for him.'
'If I may be allowed a word,' interposed the queen,—'and I think I ought to have some voice in the matter—'
'The wretch is entirely at your disposal, my spouse,' interrupted the king. 'He is your property. You caught him yourself. We should never have done it.'
The queen laughed. She seemed in far better humour than the night before.
'I was about to say,' she resumed, 'that it does seem a pity to waste so much fresh meat.'
'What are you thinking of, my love?' said the king. 'The very notion of starving him implies that we are not going to give him any meat, either salt or fresh.'
'I'm not such a stupid as that comes to,' returned Her Majesty. 'What I mean is that by the time he is starved there will hardly be a picking upon his bones.'
The king gave a great laugh.
'Well, my spouse, you may have him when you like,' he said. 'I don't fancy him for my part. I am pretty sure he is tough eating.'
'That would be to honour instead of punish his insolence,' returned the queen. 'But why should our poor creatures be deprived of so much nourishment? Our little dogs and cats and pigs and small bears would enjoy him very much.'
'You are the best of housekeepers, my lovely queen!' said her husband. 'Let it be so by all means. Let us have our people in, and get him out and kill him at once. He deserves it. The mischief he might have brought upon us, now that he had penetrated so far as our most retired citadel, is incalculable. Or rather let us tie him hand and foot, and have the pleasure of seeing him torn to pieces by full torchlight in the great hall.'
'Better and better!' cried the queen and the prince together, both of them clapping their hands. And the prince made an ugly noise with his hare-lip, just as if he had intended to be one at the feast.
'But,' added the queen, bethinking herself, 'he is so troublesome. For poor creatures as they are, there is something about those sun-people that is very troublesome. I cannot imagine how it is that with such superior strength and skill and understanding as ours, we permit them to exist at all. Why do we not destroy them entirely, and use their cattle and grazing lands at our pleasure? Of course we don't want to live in their horrid country! It is far too glaring for our quieter and more refined tastes. But we might use it as a sort of outhouse, you know. Even our creatures' eyes might get used to it, and if they did grow blind that would be of no consequence, provided they grew fat as well. But we might even keep their great cows and other creatures, and then we should have a few more luxuries, such as cream and cheese, which at present we only taste occasionally, when our brave men have succeeded in carrying some off from their farms.'
'It is worth thinking of,' said the king; 'and I don't know why you should be the first to suggest it, except that you have a positive genius for conquest. But still, as you say, there is something very troublesome about them; and it would be better, as I understand you to suggest, that we should starve him for a day or two first, so that he may be a little less frisky when we take him out.'
'Once there was a goblin
Living in a hole;
Busy he was cobblin'
A shoe without a sole.
'By came a birdie:
"Goblin, what do you do?"
"Cobble at a sturdie
Upper leather shoe."
'"What's the good o' that, Sir?"
Said the little bird.
"Why it's very Pat, Sir—
Plain without a word.
'"Where 'tis all a hole, Sir,
Never can be holes:
Why should their shoes have soles, Sir,
When they've got no souls?"'
'What's that horrible noise?' cried the queen, shuddering from pot-metal head to granite shoes.
'I declare,' said the king with solemn indignation, 'it's the sun-creature in the hole!'
'Stop that disgusting noise!' cried the crown prince valiantly, getting up and standing in front of the heap of stones, with his face towards Curdie's prison. 'Do now, or I'll break your head.'
'Break away,' shouted Curdie, and began singing again:
'Once there was a goblin,
Living in a hole—'
'I really cannot bear it,' said the queen. 'If I could only get at his horrid toes with my slippers again!'
'I think we had better go to bed,' said the king.
'It's not time to go to bed,' said the queen.
'I would if I was you,' said Curdie.
'Impertinent wretch!' said the queen, with the utmost scorn in her voice.
'An impossible if,' said His Majesty with dignity.
'Quite,' returned Curdie, and began singing again:
'Go to bed,
Goblin, do.
Help the queen
Take off her shoe.
'If you do,
It will disclose
A horrid set
Of sprouting toes.'
'What a lie!' roared the queen in a rage.
'By the way, that reminds me,' said the king, 'that for as long as we have been married, I have never seen your feet, queen. I think you might take off your shoes when you go to bed! They positively hurt me sometimes.'
'I will do as I like,' retorted the queen sulkily.
'You ought to do as your own hubby wishes you,' said the king.
'I will not,' said the queen.
'Then I insist upon it,' said the king.
Apparently His Majesty approached the queen for the purpose of following the advice given by Curdie, for the latter heard a scuffle, and then a great roar from the king.
'Will you be quiet, then?' said the queen wickedly.
'Yes, yes, queen. I only meant to coax you.'
'Hands off!' cried the queen triumphantly. 'I'm going to bed. You may come when you like. But as long as I am queen I will sleep in my shoes. It is my royal privilege. Harelip, go to bed.'
'I'm going,' said Harelip sleepily.
'So am I,' said the king.
'Come along, then,' said the queen; 'and mind you are good, or I'll—'
'Oh, no, no, no!' screamed the king in the most supplicating of tones.
Curdie heard only a muttered reply in the distance; and then the cave was quite still.
They had left the fire burning, and the light came through brighter than before. Curdie thought it was time to try again if anything could be done. But he found he could not get even a finger through the chink between the slab and the rock. He gave a great rush with his shoulder against the slab, but it yielded no more than if it had been part of the rock. All he could do was to sit down and think again.
By and by he came to the resolution to pretend to be dying, in the hope they might take him out before his strength was too much exhausted to let him have a chance. Then, for the creatures, if he could but find his axe again, he would have no fear of them; and if it were not for the queen's horrid shoes, he would have no fear at all.
Meantime, until they should come again at night, there was nothing for him to do but forge new rhymes, now his only weapons. He had no intention of using them at present, of course; but it was well to have a stock, for he might live to want them, and the manufacture of them would help to while away the time.
Story DNA
Moral
Wit and courage can overcome brute force and malice.
Plot Summary
Imprisoned in a goblin cave, Curdie overhears the goblin king and queen plotting his slow, gruesome death. The cruel goblins discuss their disdain for 'sun-people' and even their desire to exploit humanity. In defiance, Curdie begins to sing mocking rhymes that target the queen's hidden, ugly feet. His songs successfully provoke a domestic quarrel between the king and queen, causing them to retreat in disarray. Though still trapped, Curdie finds renewed hope and resolves to continue using his wit and rhymes as his only weapons against his captors.
Themes
Emotional Arc
captivity to defiance
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
MacDonald's work often blends Christian allegory with traditional fairy tale elements, though this specific excerpt focuses more on the immediate conflict and character dynamics.
Plot Beats (14)
- Curdie wakes in the goblin cave, feeling restored but hungry, and overhears voices.
- He realizes it's night and the goblins are active, discussing his fate.
- The goblin king plans to starve Curdie for a week, believing humans are weak.
- The queen suggests feeding Curdie's body to their creatures after he starves, to avoid wasting 'fresh meat'.
- The king agrees, suggesting they tie Curdie up and have him torn apart by their creatures in the great hall.
- The queen then muses about destroying all 'sun-people' and using their lands and cattle, revealing their ambition.
- The king agrees to starve Curdie for a few days first to make him less 'frisky'.
- Curdie begins singing a mocking song about a goblin cobbling a shoe without a sole, implying goblins have no souls.
- The queen is horrified by the song, and the prince threatens Curdie.
- Curdie continues singing, now directly taunting the queen about her hidden, sprouting toes.
- The king, intrigued by the song, demands to see the queen's feet, leading to a scuffle.
- The queen, enraged, insists on her royal privilege to sleep in her shoes and orders everyone to bed.
- The goblins retreat, leaving Curdie alone with the fire burning brighter.
- Curdie tries to escape but fails, then resolves to pretend to be dying and to continue forging rhymes as his only weapons.
Characters
Curdie ★ protagonist
A young, resilient boy, likely small in stature but with surprising strength and endurance for his age. His body, though currently weakened by captivity, is capable of quick movement and physical exertion.
Attire: Not explicitly described in this excerpt, but as a 'sun-person' from the mountain, he would likely wear practical, durable clothing suitable for mining or herding, such as woolen trousers, a linen shirt, and sturdy boots, possibly with a leather jerkin.
Wants: To escape captivity and survive. To outsmart the goblins and return to his own world.
Flaw: His physical vulnerability as a human child against the stronger, more numerous goblins. His hunger and exhaustion are immediate weaknesses.
In this excerpt, he demonstrates his resilience and resourcefulness, using his wit to survive and annoy his captors. He resolves to continue fighting for his freedom.
Defiant, clever, resourceful, brave, quick-witted. He uses his intelligence and wit to challenge his captors.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young boy with a determined expression, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a lean build, fair skin, and short, practical brown hair. He wears a simple, worn grey tunic and dark trousers, with sturdy leather boots. He is seated on the ground, looking resolute. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Goblin King ⚔ antagonist
A large, imposing goblin, nine-tenths solid flesh and bone, indicating a bulky, dense build. He is accustomed to darkness, suggesting mole-like eyes. His physical presence is one of power and authority within his domain.
Attire: Not explicitly detailed, but as a king, he would wear garments that signify his status within goblin society. These would be made of rough, durable materials, possibly adorned with crude metal or stone, in dark, earthy tones suitable for a subterranean existence.
Wants: To maintain his authority, to punish 'sun-people', and to indulge in the simple pleasures of cruelty and consumption.
Flaw: Easily provoked and annoyed by Curdie's songs, revealing a lack of true composure. He is also somewhat henpecked by his Queen.
Remains largely unchanged, demonstrating his inherent cruelty and pomposity, though he is briefly flustered by Curdie's taunts and his wife's stubbornness.
Pompous, cruel, easily amused, somewhat dim-witted, but capable of indignation. He enjoys the suffering of others.
Image Prompt & Upload
A large, bulky male goblin standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a wide, crude face with small, dark, mole-like eyes and a broad nose. His skin is rough and greyish-green. He wears a tunic of coarse, dark brown fabric, possibly with some crude metal clasps, and heavy, stone-like boots. He has a pompous, indignant expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Goblin Queen ⚔ antagonist
A formidable goblin queen, described as having a 'pot-metal head' and 'granite shoes', suggesting a hard, metallic, and unyielding appearance. She is likely robust and strong.
Attire: Her 'granite shoes' are a key feature. Her other attire would be of rough, durable materials, possibly adorned with crude, dark jewels or metal, in colors suitable for a subterranean environment, perhaps a dark, heavy gown or tunic.
Wants: To assert her will, to inflict suffering on 'sun-people', and to manage her household resources (including potential food sources) efficiently.
Flaw: Her vanity regarding her feet/shoes, which Curdie exploits. She is easily enraged by insults.
Remains consistently cruel and cunning, demonstrating her dominant personality within the royal couple. Her only moment of vulnerability is her rage over her feet.
Cruel, cunning, practical (in a gruesome way), stubborn, easily angered, and enjoys tormenting others. She is the more intelligent and decisive of the royal couple.
Image Prompt & Upload
A formidable female goblin standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has a hard, metallic-grey face with small, piercing dark eyes and a wide, cruel mouth. Her skin is rough and grey. She wears a dark, heavy gown of coarse, thick fabric, possibly adorned with crude, dark stones. Her feet are encased in heavy, blocky shoes that resemble carved granite. She has a triumphant, scornful expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Harelip (The Goblin Prince) ○ minor
A young goblin, characterized by a hare-lip, indicating a cleft lip. His build would be typical of a young goblin, likely smaller than his parents but still dense and strong.
Attire: As a prince, he would wear clothing that signifies his status, likely simpler versions of his parents' attire, made of rough, dark fabrics.
Wants: To participate in the cruelty and gain his parents' approval.
Flaw: His youth and lack of independent thought, easily influenced by his parents.
Remains a static character, serving to amplify the cruelty of his parents.
Cruel, eager to please his parents, easily excited by violence, and somewhat simple-minded.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young male goblin standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a small, crude face with a visible cleft lip (hare-lip) and small, dark eyes. His skin is greyish and rough. He wears a simple, dark, coarse tunic. He has an eager, somewhat simple expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Curdie's Prison Cave
A small, dark, confined space within the goblin's mountain dwelling, sealed by a heavy stone slab. It is completely devoid of natural light, relying on the distant glow of goblin fires and torches from the outer cave.
Mood: Confined, tense, isolated, yet also a place of defiant resistance.
Curdie is imprisoned here, overhears the goblins' plans, and uses his singing to provoke and disrupt them.
Image Prompt & Upload
A claustrophobic, rough-hewn stone cave interior, barely illuminated by a sliver of warm, flickering light filtering through a narrow crack where a massive, crudely cut stone slab meets the natural rock wall. The air is thick with unseen dust, and the textures of the rock are damp and uneven. The perspective is low, emphasizing the oppressive weight of the ceiling. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Goblin Outer Cave / Great Hall
A larger, cavernous space within the mountain, serving as a gathering place for the goblins. It is illuminated by their fires and torches, casting flickering light and deep shadows. The king, queen, and prince converse here, planning Curdie's fate.
Mood: Eerie, menacing, echoing, filled with the harsh voices and laughter of the goblins.
The goblin royal family discusses Curdie's punishment and their plans for the 'sun-people,' while Curdie's singing interrupts their conversation.
Image Prompt & Upload
A vast, echoing subterranean cavern, carved and worn by time, with rough, uneven rock walls that disappear into oppressive darkness overhead. Numerous crude, flickering fire pits and iron torches mounted on the walls cast long, dancing shadows, illuminating grotesque goblin figures in the foreground. The ground is uneven, strewn with loose rocks and damp earth. The air is smoky and heavy. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
