Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of Journey to the Center of the Earth. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Professor Otto Lidenbrock, his nephew Axel and their guide Hans descend into an Icelandic volcano and discover a vast underground world with a sea, prehistoric creatures and giant humans. When a blocked passage stops them, they use explosives, are carried up a volcanic chimney on a raft and are thrown out of the volcano Stromboli in Italy, returning home as celebrated heroes.
Quick facts
– Book: Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
– First published: 1864
– Type: A science fiction adventure novel
– Tone of the ending: Exciting
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Lidenbrock decodes a runic message by the alchemist Arne Saknussemm describing a path to the earth's centre through the crater of Snæfellsjökull. Axel reluctantly joins him. With Hans, they descend.
What Happens at the End of Journey to the Center of the Earth
Deep underground, the explorers nearly die of thirst before Hans finds a hot spring. Axel gets lost and is found again by echoes in the rock. They reach a vast underground sea lit by electric clouds, which Lidenbrock names after himself, and cross it on a raft, watching two prehistoric sea reptiles fight. On the far shore, they find a forest of giant mushrooms, ancient bones and a human skull, then glimpse a giant herding mastodons. They also find Saknussemm's initials carved in the rock. A huge boulder blocks the passage, so they blast it with gunpowder, but the explosion opens a chasm, and water drains away, sweeping their raft down and then up a volcanic shaft on rising lava and water. They are thrown out onto the slopes of Stromboli in Sicily. Back in Hamburg, Lidenbrock is celebrated, and Axel marries his fiancée, Gräuben.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- They escape through Stromboli.
- They see prehistoric life.
- They never reach the centre.
- Axel marries Gräuben.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Otto Lidenbrock | Becomes famous |
| Axel | Marries Gräuben |
| Hans | Returns to Iceland |
What the Ending Means
The ending celebrates adventure and discovery.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Readers enjoy the imaginative science, even though modern geology has shown the earth's interior is nothing like Verne's. The book helped invent the 'lost world' adventure story.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Discovery. Exploring the unknown.
Courage. Facing danger.
Science. Scientific curiosity.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of Journey to the Center of the Earth as exciting. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Jules Verne to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are exciting will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Jules Verne closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Book Versus Adaptation
The 1959 film with James Mason adds new characters.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading Journey to the Center of the Earth with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about discovery, and do you agree with Jules Verne's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as exciting, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces discovery and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Jules Verne leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in Journey to the Center of the Earth often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of Journey to the Center of the Earth earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
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Books to Read After Journey to the Center of the Earth
- Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas by Jules Verne
- The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle
Related: Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne: Summary and Key Takeaways · Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of Journey to the Center of the Earth?
Professor Otto Lidenbrock, his nephew Axel and their guide Hans descend into an Icelandic volcano and discover a vast underground world with a sea, prehistoric creatures and giant humans. When a blocked passage stops them, they use explosives, are carried up a volcanic chimney on a raft and are thrown out of the volcano Stromboli in Italy, returning home as celebrated heroes.
Is the ending of Journey to the Center of the Earth happy or sad?
Most readers call it exciting.
What does the ending of Journey to the Center of the Earth mean?
The ending celebrates adventure and discovery.
Is the ending of Journey to the Center of the Earth the same in the adaptation?
The 1959 film with James Mason adds new characters.
Who wrote Journey to the Center of the Earth and when was it published?
Journey to the Center of the Earth was written by Jules Verne and first published in 1864.
Is Journey to the Center of the Earth worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy science fiction adventure novels. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Jules Verne prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read Journey to the Center of the Earth before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.