The Princess and the Goblin (1991) Plot Summary Explained

The goblins seek revenge for being exiled underground by humans long ago. Prince Froglip boasts that humans once forced the goblins to live underground, and the Goblin King and Queen plot to flood the mines and drown the humans as retaliation for this ancient injustice.

Foreshadowing: Early in the film, Curdie explains to Irene that goblins are behind the monster attacks, establishing their hostile intent toward humans.

• goblin revenge
• flood plot
• mines
• exile
• history

Great-Great-Grandmother Irene gives Irene an invisible magical thread that literally pulls Irene toward wherever Curdie is. When Irene follows the thread, it leads her and Turnip directly into the goblin realm where Curdie is being held.

Foreshadowing: The grandmother gives Irene the thread after warning her of upcoming danger, implying it will be essential for her survival.

• magic thread
• invisible thread
• grandmother
• goblin realm

Curdie explains that the deformed animals attacking Irene are actually creatures controlled by goblins, and the goblins' control can be broken by singing. When Curdie sings, the monsters stop their attack because the goblin magic is disrupted by the sound.

Foreshadowing: Curdie's singing in the forest immediately stops the monster attack, demonstrating this power early in the story.

• song
• monsters
• goblin control
• curdie singing

After falling into the goblin realm and discovering their flood plot, Curdie sneaks back alone that night to gather more information about the goblins' plans. Though his father wants to investigate officially, Curdie decides his smaller size makes him better suited for reconnaissance.

Foreshadowing: Curdie's curiosity and bravery are established when he first saves Irene in the forest by singing.

• curdie
• goblin realm
• reconnaissance
• miners

The goblins plan to unleash floodwaters into the mine tunnels to drown all the humans working there. They have access to underground water sources and intend to overwhelm the mines completely, killing the miners and potentially flooding upward into the castle itself.

Foreshadowing: Curdie overhears the Goblin King and Queen revealing this plan in the cavern beneath the goblin realm.

• flood
• mines
• goblin king
• underground water

Froglip plans to abduct Irene and force her into marriage as a way to force reconciliation between goblins and humans. By making the princess his queen, he believes he can end the conflict between the two races and unite them through royal marriage.

Foreshadowing: Irene and Turnip hear Froglip announce this plan while following the invisible thread to the goblin realm.

• froglip
• abduction
• marriage
• prince goblin

Curdie teaches the defenders a clever fighting technique: stomping their feet and singing together creates enough noise and vibration to push the goblins out of the castle. The goblins cannot withstand this combined sound and movement, forcing them to retreat.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Curdie demonstrates that goblins are vulnerable to song, establishing this as their weakness.

• defense
• stomping
• singing
• goblin weakness
• castle battle

When the goblins unleash the floodwaters, the miners attempt to divert the water through tunnels leading away from the mines. However, Curdie realizes that if the miners succeed in directing all the water toward the tunnels, the water will have nowhere to go but up into the castle itself, flooding the ramparts where everyone is standing.

Foreshadowing: The timeline shows the miners reinforcing tunnels to hold back water, which sets up the climactic flood threat.

• flood
• castle
• mines
• water rising
• ramparts

Froglip captures Irene on the castle ramparts, holding her hostage as the floodwaters rise. Curdie finds them and, with Irene's help, manages to knock Froglip from the castle walls. Froglip falls to his death, ending the goblin royal line and removing the main threat to Irene and the kingdom.

Foreshadowing: Froglip's arrogance and physical advantage over Curdie is established earlier when he boasts about his plans.

• froglip
• fall
• ramparts
• defeat
• princess irene

The spectral ancestor warns Princess Irene that she will soon be in grave danger, preparing her for the goblin threat ahead. This warning comes true when Irene is later captured by Froglip, but the grandmother's gift of the magical thread helps Irene survive and escape the danger.

Foreshadowing: The warning is given the day before Curdie discovers the goblin plot, establishing the supernatural protection Irene will need.

• ancestor
• spirit warning
• danger
• protection
• magic thread