In Monday’s lecture professor Greeson began to point out the use of cataloguing in Whitman’s poetry. This was the first thing that I noticed when reading “Goblin Market” by Christina Rossetti. This listing is then transformed into an anaphora in the repeating of the structure of cataloguing creating a new kind of list. I found this form fitting for the poem due to the capitalist over-tones…a listing of products and of desirable things. I found the image of golden-hair being used as gold very vivid and rumpelstiltskin-ian. I felt this image was key in moving back and forth between the relationship of the sisters and the virtues associated with their love for each other as well as the desire-driven, masculine dominated, Goblin Market. Overall I thought that this poem was interesting though long but I think it plays well into the topic of narration and the double (2 sisters “two blossoms on one stem” twin-ness). This poem serves as a short narrative about two sisters who are tempted and where one fails the other succeeds.
Cataloguing
Apr 25th, 2011 by cpm2d
“For
there
is
no
friend
like
a
sister…To
fetch
one
if
one
goes
astray, To
lift
one
if
one
totters
down, To
strengthen
whilst
one
stands.”
Great post. I liked that you combined Greeson’s lecture with your own understanding of the text.
I agree. Good observations!
These are really good observations and connections.
I thought the same thing!
Good close reading observations. I loved and hated this poem.