The Princess and the Goblin inspired many famous writers, including J. R. R. Tolkien, author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and C. S. Lewis, author of The Chronicles of Narnia. Why is The Princess and the Goblin such an influential story? What evidence exists in the aforementioned fantasy novels, as well as any others written in the 20th or 21st centuries, that indicates the authors were inspired by MacDonald’s work?

Irene is a princess by blood, but this is not what the author uses to define her princess status. What does it mean to “be a princess”? Is it about a royal status or something more? How does Irene exhibit the traits that MacDonald claims are princess-like, and how does her transformation throughout the novel turn her into more of a princess than ever?

Grandmother 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 that 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