December 23, 1879 by George MacDonald
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald is a fantasy novel published in 1872. The story follows an eight-year-old princess named Irene who lives with her nursemaid, Lootie, in a remote mountain kingdom ruled by her father, the king. One day, while exploring the castle's labyrinthine passages, Irene encounters a mysterious old man who claims to be her great-great-grandfather and reveals that she has magical powers. As the story unfolds, Irene discovers that there are goblins living beneath the mountain and they plan to kidnap her and take over the kingdom. With the help of her new friend Curdie, a miner's son, Irene must use her magic to defeat the goblins and save the day. The book is considered a classic of children's literature and has been adapted into several films and stage productions.
By George MacDonald · First published 1879 · Genre: Poetry, Philosophical, Spiritual · 535 words
First lines
I. A thousand houses of poesy stand around me everywhere; / They fill the earth and they fill my thought, they are in and above the / air; / But to-night they have shut their doors, they have shut their shining / windows fair, / And I am left in a desert world, with an aching as if of care.
II. Cannot I break some little nut and get at the poetry in it?
What this Textopian page supports
December 23, 1879 is listed on Textopian as a poem by George MacDonald, dated 1879 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: George MacDonald
- Date: 1879 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Philosophical, Spiritual, Symbolism, Nature
- Length: 535 words
- Structure: 1 section, 13 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for December 23, 1879 by George MacDonald
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
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Genres
- Poetry — The text is structured in verse form, with a focus on rhythm, meter, and imagery, characteristic of poetry.
- Philosophical — The themes explore existential and introspective questions about self-awareness and the nature of truth.
- Spiritual — There are references to divine elements and a search for meaning within a spiritual context.
- Symbolism — The use of metaphors and symbols, such as houses, eggs, and seeds, conveys deeper meanings beyond the literal text.
Tags
historical fiction · 19th century · Victorian era · Christian themes · moral lessons · family dynamics · redemption · spirituality · faith · love · sacrifice · community