Golden Compass Summary

The Golden Compass is the first of three books in author Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials book series. This page contains plot summary information for both the book and the film adaptation.

The Golden Compass Novel Summary
- Random House: The Golden Compass Summary
  - "The Golden Compass forms the first part of a story in three volumes. The first volume is set in a world like ours, but different in many ways... In "The Golden Compass", readers meet for the first time 11-year-old Lyra Belacqua, a precocious orphan growing up within the precincts of Jordan College in Oxford, England. It quickly becomes clear that Lyra's Oxford is not precisely like our own - nor is her world. In Lyra's world, everyone has a personal dæmon, a lifelong animal familiar. This is a world in which science, theology and magic are closely intertwined..."
- BookRags: The Golden Compass Plot Summary
  - "The Golden Compass follows the ever-expanding adventure of Lyra Bacquela as she travels north in search of a kidnapped friend. The story begins in Jordan College, Oxford, where Lyra is an average eleven-year-old girl who enjoys playing with her friend, Roger. One day, while snooping around Jordan College, Lyra accidentally learns about a mysterious substance known as Dust, which is attracted to adults but not to children..."
- SparkNotes: The Golden Compass Plot Overview
  - "The novel begins in an alternate world that is similar to Earth. Lyra Belacqua, a young girl who has been given shelter by the scholars at Jordan College at Oxford University, and her "daemon," Pantalaimon, hide in an off-limits wardrobe in the Headmaster's rooms. (In Lyra's world, daemons are the external forms of people's souls.) Lyra and Pantalaimon learn that Lord Asriel, Lyra's uncle, is about to be poisoned by the Headmaster for mysterious reasons. They warn Lord Asriel in time to save his life. Later, they overhear Lord Asriel telling the scholars at Jordan about a strange substance he is researching called "Dust." Lord Asriel is able to convince the scholars to fund his further explorations of Dust, which require him to travel to the northernmost reaches of the globe. All of this greatly excites Lyra's curiosity about Dust..."
- Barnes & Noble: The Golden Compass Plot Summary
  - "The action follows 11-year-old protagonist Lyra Belacqua, accompanied by her daemon, from her home at Oxford University to the frozen wastes of the North, on a quest..."
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Golden Compass Summary Questions

What is compassion? 2 Answers

Compassion is a profound human emotion prompted by the pain of others.Its a desire to free others from their suffering. Compassion can be cultivated by formal m... read more

Is compassion only a feeling, or does compassion require you act upon the feeling in some way? 4 Answers

http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/h/hd/hdabed/1176741_homeless.jpg The emotion that qualifies you as a compassionate person will naturally strive to find outlets in your ... read more

At what point do you reach your compassion limit? 11 Answers

As a limited, flawed human being, I occasionally feel drained of energy and contemplate my own shortcomings with disappointment but never sense an end to my cap... read more

Is a golden retriever a good starting dog? 4 Answers

We just got a Black Lab/Bulldog (don't ask) puppy. In doing research AFTER the fact, this is a good dog to have, but it takes LOTS of work to be a good pack le... read more

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The Golden Compass Movie Summary
- Official Film Site: The Golden Compass Story: Lyra's World
  - "There is a world where witches rule the northern skies, where ice bears are the bravest of warriors, and where every human is joined with an animal spirit who is as close to them as their own heart. But this world is dominated by the Magisterium, which seeks to control all of humanity, and whose greatest threat is the last remaining Golden Compass and the one child destined to possess it..."
- IMDb: The Golden Compass Summary
  - "It was no ordinary life for a young girl: living among scholars in the hallowed halls of Jordan College and tearing unsupervised through Oxford's motley streets on mad quests for adventure. But Lyra's greatest adventure would begin closer to home, the day she heard hushed talk of an extraordinary particle..."
- Yahoo! Movies: The Golden Compass Plot Summary
  - "Based on author Philip Pullman's novel, 'The Golden Compass' is an exciting fantasy adventure, set in an alternative world where people's souls manifest themselves as animals, talking bears fight wars, and Gyptians and witches co-exist..."