Study Guide by Arpita Karwa

Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti

from the brook so she could meet the goblins but in

vain. She doesn’t hear their sound. Laura feels sad as she
thinks she’d never be able to meet goblins again and eat
their delicious fruit, which she is craving. Laura is
disheartened as she reaches home. She grinds her teeth
and weeps as she craves for the lost fruit. The sisters go
to sleep.

In the next part, it is described how after many days,

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Laura still craves the fruit. She hopes to meet to the
Goblin Market is a narrative poem by Christina Rossetti. goblins. Gradually, Laura starts ageing, prematurely.
The poem is about Laura and Lizzie who are tempted with Her hair turns grey. Then, she is reminded of the fruit
the fruit offered by the goblin merchants. pit she brought back along after her first meeting with

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the goblins. She planted it in a sunny area and also
The poem begins on an evening when Laura and Lizzie are watered it with her tears. However, that fruit pit didn’t
going to a brook to fetch water and on their way, they hear grow. Laura becomes lifeless; she takes no interest in the
the goblin merchants calling out women to buy their fruit. daily activities and household chores; she even refuses to
The two ladies become frightened and hide. Lizzie covers eat. Laura was full of life but now she is just seen sitting

look but Laura doesn't seem to obey. She looks at the

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her own eyes for protection and also warns Laura to not at one spot beside the chimney nook.

goblins as she is curious. She begins to describe the move- In the next part, Lizzie is afraid that Laura will die in
ment of the goblins and wonders the origin of the fruit distress so she makes up her mind to locate the goblins
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they are selling. Lizzie is still adamant to not look and and get Laura some fruit. Aware of the danger she is
warns Laura that goblins may cause them harm. Lizzie putting herself in, Lizzie leaves the house at twilight and
can’t resist; she blocks her ears with her fingers so she heads to the brook with a silver coin in her purse. She
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doesn’t hear the sound of the goblins and runs away. proactively looks out for the goblins.
Laura is left behind alone.
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In the next part, the goblins are glad to see that Lizzie
In the next part, Laura is watching the goblins and while has been trying to find them. They show their affection
she is at it, she observes that the goblins’s body resembles by hugging, kissing and caressing her. They tempt her to
that of the animals like rats, doves, cats and wombats. She consume their fruit. Lizzie gives them the coin. The
also observes that they have nice and kind voices. goblins urge her to eat the fruit in front of them. She
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rebuffs their request and says she must go back home to

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Laura is intrigued so she advances her neck. The goblins her sister. She adds that if they are unwilling to sell their
find her alone and feel pleased. Laura wishes to buy their fruit, they can return the coin. The goblins go in a rage
fruit but has no money. The goblins take Laura’s lock of and call her uncivilized and proud. They step on her
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hair instead of money. Laura begins to eat the fruit. feet, scratch her and pluck her tresses. They also squeeze
the fruit against her mouth so the fruit could enter her
Laura feasts on the fruit and she returns home in a body. Lizzie stays strong and doesn’t give in. The
confused state. Lizzie is waiting for her. She scolds her for goblins realise that they are wasting their time, they
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staying out till late. She reminds her of Jeanie, a young return the coin back and leave. Lizzie is left alone with
woman who met with ill fate after eating the goblins’ fruit. the fruit juice trickling down her face. Distraught, Lizzie
The goblins abandoned Jeanie after she ate their fruit and runs to quickly reach home. She asks Laura to drink the
she died and on her grave, there are no flowers growing. juice from her face. Laura fears that Lizzie has eaten the
Laura tells Lizzie that she will definitely get the fruit for fruit but starts licking the juice which is now bitter. She
her to try. She describes how unreal and unearthly the starts behaving as if she is possessed; she begins singing
fruit tasted. The sister duo goes to sleep. and tearing her robe, beating her breasts, leaping and
wetting her hands. She becomes unconscious and falls
In the next part, Laura and Lizzie go to fetch water again down.
the next evening. Laura tries to postpone their departure

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 Study Guide by Arpita Karwa

In the last part, Lizzie takes care of Laura by constantly

checking her breathing and pulse, making her drink water
and fanning her so her body remains cool. Laura wakes up
at dawn and finds herself in her youthful state again. She
hugs her sister. After many years when Lizzie and Laura
become wives and mothers, Laura shares with their
children how Lizzie mustered up the courage to face the
goblins to save her. She also warns their children about the
goblins and their deadly fruit.

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