Paper Summary:

This paper explains that a close reading is a subtle and complex process, which entails reading and understanding the meaning of the literary piece and looking at its linguistic nuances and connotations. A close reading of the poem "Goblin Market" by Christina Georgina Rossetti shows how the author was emotionally torn between a sacred and pious life or a sensual and carnal one--or, in terms of the poem, whether to live a fruitful or fruitless existence. The author looks at Rossetti's life to shed light on the underlying meaning of this poem. The paper illustrates the many different poetic devices, which Rossetti used to convey her extremely corporeal poem that includes all the human senses.

From the Paper:

"Symbolically, the poem is a remembrance of what took place at the Garden of Eden. Here was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that God had warned Adam and Eve not to touch. They disregard his heed, eat from the forbidden fruit and, as a result, lose their innocence. In "Goblin Market," Laura has tasted this succulent morsel and Lizzie wishes to know the flavor, but refrains. She is caught in an approach/avoidance situation.
"Thus, going deeper into this poem based on Rossetti's background is her own similar approach/avoidance with the opposite sex."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "Goblin Market" Christina Georgina Rossetti. 2005. Ian Lancashire for the Department of English, University of Toronto. 28 May, 2007. http://rpo.library.utoronto.ca/poem/1753.html
• Victorian Web. Christina Rossetti. 27 May 2007. http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/crossetti/rossettibio.html

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