Written Presentation on Goblin Market (Part 1 of Presentation Package)
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Course
Drama and poetry pre-1900 (H47201)
Institution
OCR
Book
Goblin Market and Other Poems
A written presentation on Rossetti's Goblin Market based on the OCR Spec., covering context, themes and a summary. Suitable as a revision aid or asset to a class assignment.
Goblin Market Presentation (Part 2 of Presentation Package)
Quotes from literary critics about the collection of poems by Christina Rossetti
Quotes from poems by Christina Rossetti
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OCR
English Literature
Drama and poetry pre-1900 (H47201)
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GOBLIN MARKET PRESENTATION
Summary
Goblin Market recounts the tale of sisters Lizzie and Laura and their encounter with a group of goblin-men
merchants. The poem begins with a vivid description of the goblin’s fruits before beginning to narrate Laura
and Lizzie’s tale.
Laura succumbs to the goblin’s goading and samples the fruit. Afterwards she then becomes seriously ill and
claims that the fruit is the only thing that can cure her. Lizzie, overcome with concern for her sister decides to
face the goblin men, and to buy some fruit for her. After finding the goblin lair, Lizzie is invited to eat a meal
with the goblins which she declines. After this, the goblins become aggressive towards her and attack her,
before fleeing themselves. Lizzie gathers the remaining fruit and returns home to Laura, whom she gifts it to.
After eating it, Laura’s sickness subsides and she praises Lizzie. Time passes, and the scene changes to the
future, where Laura and Lizzie have children of their own. The poem concludes with Laura recounting the story
of the goblin encounter to their children and iterating a moral message.
Key Theme 1 - Temptation
This theme is explored through the fruit’s symbolism as the forbidden fruit from the Garden of Eden. This
religious allegory is particularly effective since it alludes to original sin (Eve eating the apple from the Tree of
Life), which creates a sense of concern in the reader, ultimately foreshadowing what happens later in the
poem.
The underlying moral message of the poem to resist temptation is also clearly evident through Laura’s
sickness, which arguably symbolises the consequence of immorality and sin. This carries a warning message to
the reader of the dangers of succumbing to temptation and emphasises the idea that the poem is a parable.
Key Theme 2 – Roles of Women
The role of women in literature is extensively explored through Goblin Market.
Lizzie is portrayed as a feminist character through her heroism and bravery. This could be argued to contradict
Laura’s role, perhaps characterised through her naivety and temptation. This antithesis is effective in exploring
the role of women at the time and perhaps contrasting traditional gender roles with contemporary feminist
roles such as that outlined in Friedan’s ‘Feminine Mystique’.
Surprisingly, the women are developed as individual people with personality and lives of their own,
independent of any male figure in their lives. This would have been surprising of the time since it refutes the
idea that women were only accepted into society through their husbands.
Key Theme 3 - Love
Love is explored through Rosetti’s ‘The Goblin Market’ predominantly through sisterly love.
Lizzie’s love for Laura is what ultimately drives her to risk meeting the goblins. This provides another moral
message about the importance of family life and also the role of women as sisters.
At the end of the poem, the sisters are portrayed sharing the tale with their own children as a cautionary tale
about sisterly love.
Context
‘Goblin Market’ was written during April 1859. Goblin Market was inspired by fairytales, fables and nursery
rhymes as well as the Bible. Goblin Market was written during the construct of the PRB(Pre-Raphaelite
Brotherhood). Rossetti, who was informally a member of this organisation, was delighted when they enjoyed
Goblin Market, the first literary success they were enthusiastic about.
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