Nichole's Bibliography
From English 194 Wiki
Nichole's Bibliography
1. Evans, B. Ifor. The Sources of Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market”. The Modern Language Review, Vol. 28, No. 2. Apr, 1933 pp. 156-165. May 13, 2007.
<http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0026-7937%28193304%2928%3A2%3C156%3ATSOCR%22%3E2.0.CO%3B2-9>
This article looks into things that influenced Rossetti’s “Goblin Market,” particularly literary influences. It seems as though there were several literary influences which helped Rossetti create this poem, ranging from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Nights Dream to other fairytale-like and mythological stories such as Arabian Nights. Evans states that the “Goblin Market” was produced out of memories from Rossetti’s childhood readings. Evans also notes that biographical evidence suggest the two sisters in the poem could be a possible parallel in Rossetti’s real life. Rossetti was “an impetuous, willful child” and her sister, Maria, “attempted to discipline her impulses.” Evans then itemises creative influences on each main part of the “Goblin Market.” He speculates on the naming of the fruit, the goblin men, etc., and narrows down each to an influence from a certain aspect of Rossetti’s childhood. Some of the influences come from literary works, and some from her childhood experiences on Charlotte Street. One thing that remains consistent in Grass’ article is the characteristics of the goblin men. Evans and Sean C. Grass state that Rossetti often visited the zoological gardens, one of the main influences on the goblin men with their animal characteristics. The main evidence is a letter Rossetti wrote describing the animals she saw. She also sketched animals as a child, which supports Evans’ point in saying that a lot of the influence behind this poem came from her childhood.
2. Grass, Sean C. Natures Perilous Variety in Rossetti’s “Goblin Market”. Nineteenth-Century Literature, Vol. 51, No. 3. Dec., 1996, pp. 356-376. May 13, 2007.<http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0891-9356%28199612%2951%3A3%3C356%3ANPVIR%22%3E2.0.CO%3B2-0>
This article deals with ideas and circumstances in Rossetti’s life that may have influenced her writing of the “Goblin Market.” She loved nature and animals, and visited the zoological gardens often, facts that may have provoked her writing the goblin men with animal characteristics. During the time of this poem it was thought that “the signs of the Creator” were seen in nature, so Rossetti felt the need to incorporate an underlying religious reference in nature due to the religious movement at that time. Grass also provides an analysis of the poem that emphasizes nature and religion. He also discusses all the different lists in the poem, ranging from the list of fruits, to the list describing the girls, to the list describing their duties, and so on. In addition, Grass gives a little background information on Rossetti, which is useful because it helps to make clear why she wrote what she did. Her personal experiences seemed to greatly affect this poem from her love of nature, to the religious context, and perhaps even the sisterly bond. One observation stands out because it applies both to the poem and to Rossetti’s life at the time, “We should not be surprised then, to see Rossetti struggling with the same sort of conflict – between a life of self-indulgent excitement and one of ascetic simplicity – within the verse of “Goblin Market.” Another interesting issue Grass brings up is homoeroticism. Because of Rossetti’s religious beliefs at the time, Grass notes, the poem is less likely to be a scene of homoeroticism and more likely a form of communion where Lizzie is a sort of body of Christ and Laura is taking communion in order to be forgiven of her sins and be cured. There is also a sign of resurrection. Laura was near death and returned to her normal state after her “communion.”
3. Packer, Lona Mosk. Symbol and Reality in Christina Rossetti’s Goblin Market. PMLA, Vol. 73, No. 4. Sep, 1958, pp 375-385. May 13, 2007<http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0030-8129%28195809%2973%3A4%3C375%3ASARICR%3E2.0.CO%3B2-K>
In this article Packer argues that temptation is the main theme of Rossetti’s “Goblin Market.” Packer takes the poem and relates it to religion and the idea of Eve and the forbidden fruit. Packer also brings up other works that deal with temptation and fruit such as St. Augustine’s Confessions, which she says was one of Rossetti’s “early favorites.” Packer brings up childhood memories and literary readings as influences on Rossetti’s “Goblin Market.” She quotes something Rossetti once said to Edmund Grosse: “If any one thing schooled me in the direction of poetry it was perhaps the delightful idle liberty to prowl all alone about my grandfather’s cottage-grounds some thirty miles from London…” Rossetti always “remembered and described the effect that Holmer Green had had upon her ‘youthful imagination,’" Packer adds. This statement leads to the idea that the fruit and animal characteristics of the goblin men could have originated at her grandfather’s cottage. Packer argues ultimately that the “Goblin Market” is about self control, that “man is his own destroyer.” She then takes a look at the sexual connotations of the poem in respect to the goblin men and the fruit. She describes the “feasting” of the fruit as a sort of allegory for sexual conduct, and relates Laura's actions to what a person goes through when they are in love, or lust.
4. Sloper, Tom. Lesson # 20 Board Game Design. October 2002, May 13,2007 <http://www.sloperama.com/advice/lesson20.html>
This website was created by a man who has created an actual board game. Through his own experience Tom Sloper gives step by step advice on how to create a game. Sloper lists easily obtained resources here and there that a game creator can use to get to as close to a finished product as possible. Aside from just discussing the game making, Sloper also gives information on the legal aspect of the game industry, how to get a game licensed, manufactured, and so on. At the end of the site, Sloper lists resources for the potential game maker. This site gives good first steps to building a board game and then continues to show what can be expected in the game world, for example, conferences.
5. "Christina Rossetti," The Victorian Web May 13, 2007 <http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/crossetti/crov.html>
This site is full of information on Victorian writers including biographies, works they have written, and also information on what the times were like during the Victorian era, the political and social history and so on. There are links to many essays about Rossetti and her literary works. This site gives basic biographical information on her as well as analytical essays that help the reader understand Rossetti and the influences that might have provoked her writing. In addition, this site is a good source for the actual literary text itself, including illustrations created by her brother. The articles that would be most useful would be “The Life of Christina Rossetti” by Glenn Everett, “Christina Rossetti: A Chronology”, “Theme in Christina Rossetti’s ‘Goblin Market’ by W. Glasgow Phillips, and “Fallen or Forbidden: Rossetti’s ‘Goblin Market’” by Lesa Scholl. The first two articles are obviously good for background information on Rossetti, while the last two articles provide interpretations of “Goblin Market.” The “Fallen or Forbidden” article takes the idea of temptation and sexuality and narrows it even more to female temptation and sexuality, but still maintains the link to Eden and The Fall.
