Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of The Last Unicorn. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: The unicorn, who had been turned into a human woman, Lady Amalthea, to escape the Red Bull, is changed back. She drives the Red Bull into the sea, freeing all the unicorns it trapped, and King Haggard's castle collapses. She leaves Prince Lír, whom she loved as a human, and she is the only unicorn who knows regret.
Quick facts
– Book: The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
– First published: 1968
– Type: A fantasy novel
– Tone of the ending: Bittersweet
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
A unicorn learns she may be the last of her kind and sets out to find the others. She meets the bumbling magician Schmendrick and the cook Molly Grue. They learn King Haggard's Red Bull has driven the unicorns into the sea. Schmendrick turns her into a woman to protect her, and she falls in love with Prince Lír.
What Happens at the End of The Last Unicorn
In Haggard's castle, Amalthea begins forgetting she was ever a unicorn, and she and Lír fall in love. She asks Schmendrick to leave her human, but they must face the Red Bull. Lír throws himself between Amalthea and the Bull and is killed. Schmendrick turns her back into a unicorn, and her grief drives her to fight the Bull, pushing it into the sea. The waves become the freed unicorns, who rush ashore and bring down Haggard's castle; Haggard falls to his death. The unicorn touches Lír with her horn and brings him back to life, then leaves for her forest. Lír becomes king and sets out to do heroic deeds, and the unicorn is left the only one of her kind who has known love and regret.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- The unicorns are freed.
- Lír dies and is revived.
- She knows regret.
- Lír becomes king.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| The unicorn | Restored, with regret |
| Prince Lír | Becomes king |
| Schmendrick | Becomes a true magician |
| Molly Grue | Travels with Schmendrick |
| King Haggard | Dies |
What the Ending Means
The ending shows love and loss.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Readers love the melancholy tone and the idea that the unicorn is changed forever by having been human. Schmendrick's growth into a true magician is another favourite thread.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Love. The unicorn loves Lír.
Mortality. She feels human emotions.
Freedom. The unicorns are freed.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of The Last Unicorn as bittersweet. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Peter S. Beagle 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 bittersweet will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Peter S. Beagle 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 1982 animated film follows the novel closely.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading The Last Unicorn 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 love, and do you agree with Peter S. Beagle'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 bittersweet, 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 love 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 Peter S. Beagle 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 The Last Unicorn often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of The Last Unicorn 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?
Check price of The Last Unicorn on Amazon
Books to Read After The Last Unicorn
- The Princess Bride by William Goldman
- The NeverEnding Story by Michael Ende
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of The Last Unicorn?
The unicorn, who had been turned into a human woman, Lady Amalthea, to escape the Red Bull, is changed back. She drives the Red Bull into the sea, freeing all the unicorns it trapped, and King Haggard's castle collapses. She leaves Prince Lír, whom she loved as a human, and she is the only unicorn who knows regret.
Is the ending of The Last Unicorn happy or sad?
Most readers call it bittersweet.
What does the ending of The Last Unicorn mean?
The ending shows love and loss.
Is the ending of The Last Unicorn the same in the adaptation?
The 1982 animated film follows the novel closely.
Who wrote The Last Unicorn and when was it published?
The Last Unicorn was written by Peter S. Beagle and first published in 1968.
Is The Last Unicorn worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy fantasy novels. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Peter S. Beagle prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read The Last Unicorn before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.