Goblin Market

In this activity, students analyze the themes of “Goblin Market” as a response to historical or social context; students will then make connections to the present and reimagine “Goblin Market” as a 21st-century creation.

Pieces of literature are often informed by the time period in which they were created, and in some ways respond to concerns or trends of that time. Consider the time period in which “Goblin Market” was written and connect the poem’s themes to the era’s relevant issues like industrialization, xenophobia, treatment of women, or didacticism and the Victorian concept of childhood. With a partner or small group, discuss how “Goblin Market” might respond to these topics.After your discussion, further discuss how these topics relate to the present day. How is our present society similar to or different from the Victorian England you learned about?

Using the connections you make to the present day, imagine what “Goblin Market” would look like if it were written today. How would that change the way in which the poem approaches its themes of temptation, redemption, choice, and sisterhood? What things do we in the 21st century associate with the fantastical and temptation? Could these things also symbolize what the goblins and their fruit represent in the poem?

Answer these questions by creating a re-imagining of “Goblin Market” that takes place in the 21st century. You may present your fairy tale as a prose narrative, a narrative poem, a painting or drawing, a musical performance, a dramatic work, or another format as approved by your teacher.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students who struggle with multi-step projects or synthesis of ideas, breaking this activity down into individual research and preparatory steps might be helpful. Graphic organizers can help students organize their thoughts on themes and important context that may have influenced “Goblin Market,” such as Rossetti’s religion or the social context of sex and gender or industrialization during 19th-century England.

Activities to brainstorm how present-day society compares to Victorian England may be helpful in the second part of this activity, as well as graphic organizers such as idea webs to help students plan which elements of “Goblin Market” they might like to adapt to reflect a modern setting.

Approaching this as group or partner work may also help students manage its requirements, though reducing requirements may be necessary if it still seems overwhelming to some students. For example, students might merely be asked to re-imagine the fairy tale in the 21st century without the preliminary discussions or research, and afterward to participate in a guided discussion in which they reflect on their rationale for changing or retaining elements in their adaptation. They then might also analyze through guided or teacher-led discussion how their choices reflect similarities and differences between 19th-century Victorian England and their present day.