Rossetti makes use of several literary devices in ‘Goblin Market.’ These include but are not limited to alliteration, imagery, anaphora, and enjambment.
Plus, given the symbolism in the poem, one could argue that it is a metaphor for drug addiction, or losing one’s virginity, neither of which are nursery rhyme subject matter. In moments, the poem has a nursery rhyme-like feel but it can be quite sinister in places. The lines follow a loose rhyme scheme that’s used for sections of the poem. ‘Goblin Market’ is a twenty-nine-line poem that is separated into stanzas of different lengths. This is what’s solidified it as Rossetti’s masterpiece, one that’s read in schools worldwide. There is no clear allegorical reading of this poem, but instead several possible interpretations. They try to protect one another, but in the end, Laura falls victim to temptation, and Lizzie has to make a sacrifice to save her. The bond the two sisters have is also quite important. The temptation of the fruit, the kiss, and the men tempting the women, all seem to relate to sexuality and perhaps the loss of virginity. Although Rossetti claimed the poem was meant for children, there is a great deal of erotic imagery scattered throughout the lines. Sex as a theme is almost inescapable though. Due to the length and complexity of this piece, any one of these themes, and more, could be said to be the most important in this poem. The latter also connects to sisterhood and companionship. The primary themes at work in ‘Goblin Market’ are sex, temptation/sin, and women/femininity. They learned their lesson from the Goblin Market. The poem concludes with the poet informing the readers that the two sisters each got married and had children. Lizzie’s sacrificial nature is often compared to Christ in these last lines. Lizzie shows far more strength than Laura and finds a way to return her to her youth and beauty. Laura wastes away pining after the fruit. She demands more but the goblin refuses to give it to her. Once she eats it, Laura becomes immediately addicted to the taste. But, Laura ignores this warning and pays for one fruit with a lock of her hair. These fruits are inherently magical, something that Lizzie, the wiser sister, knows they should stay away from. In the first lines of ‘Goblin Market,’ the poet describes the calls and cries of the goblin men as they try to attract customers to buy their fruits. ‘ Goblin Market’ by Christina Rossetti describes the adventures of two sisters, Laura and Lizzie, and their encounter with goblin merchants.
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