In The Princess and the Goblin MacDonald offers plausible characters with human emotions and motives. Princess Irene and Curdie both have unusual strength of character, yet they sometimes fall prey to temptations and human weaknesses. Irene panics in a stressful situation; Curdie lets loose with a cutting, hurtful remark. The evil goblins are memorable for their cunning and for their bizarre sense of family togetherness.

The plot of The Princess and the Goblin contains a large number of exciting incidents. There are preliminary skirmishes, suspenseful reconnaissance missions, and daring rescues, all building to a climactic battle near the end.

The story's narrative incidents are not only skillfully paced but also motivated by both internal and external conflicts.

The goblins' stratagems (external conflict) threaten the life of the princess and lead Curdie to thwart their plot. Charac ters also go through internal struggles as they commit acts...