Goblin Market

Goblin Market Summary | Goblin Market Summary

Goblin Market is a narrative poem that tells the story of two sisters. The poem begins with goblins tempting the young women to try their juicy and luscious fruits. The sisters hear the goblins every day and night, calling out to them and describing their fruit.

The sisters know that they must resist the cries of the goblins, for the goblins are magical creatures and their fruit is enchanted. If the sisters listen to the goblins and give into them they would be under the goblins' spell. The cries of the goblins cannot be ignored completely but the sisters react to the goblins in different ways. Lizzie bows her head and tries to block the cries out, whereas Laura is fascinated by them. She spies on them, intrigued by their cries and the fruit they have to offer. Laura describes the goblins to Lizzie but she refuses to listen and runs away. Laura remains to watch the goblins, mesmerized by their appearance and seductive fruits.

The goblins make their way to where Laura is hiding. They reach her hiding place and coax her to come out, tempting her with their fruit. Laura protests feebly that she has no money. The goblins weave a crown from twigs and leaves for her head and dismiss the fact that she has no money. They will let her taste their fruit in return for a lock of her hair. Laura gives them a lock of her hair and gives in to temptation. She samples their fruit. The goblins' fruit is unbelievably juicy and tasty. Laura has never tasted such incredible fruit before; she sucks an endless amount of fruit dry but still craves more. Reluctantly she eventually makes her way home with only a fruit kernel to remind her of her experience.

Lizzie meets Laura when she returns home. Lizzie has been worried about Laura and tells her sister the story of Jeanie, who succumbed to the goblins last year. Jeanie was a friend of Lizzie's. She sampled the goblins' fruit and died as a result. Lizzie is worried that the same will now happen to Laura. Laura reassures her that she is well and describes the delights of the goblins' fruits. Laura wants Lizzie to taste the fruit as well, vowing to return to the goblins to get some fruit for Lizzie.

The next day the girls carry out their daily tasks. They milk the cows, make cakes, feed the chickens and sew, just as they did previously. Laura's thoughts are preoccupied with the goblins and the desire to taste their fruit again and she is unable to concentrate fully on her tasks. Laura becomes more excited as the evening approaches in the hope that she will see the goblins again. The sisters return to the place they saw the goblins. Laura doesn't hear the goblins and is unwilling to return home. Lizzie tells her that she can hear the goblins but isn't going to give in to their calls. Laura is shocked and chilled by the realisation that she can't hear the goblins' cries.

The sisters return to their home without encountering the goblins. The thought of never tasting their fruit again makes her miserable yet fills her with an intense and passionate yearning that begins to consume her. Laura becomes ill with longing and desire for the fruit. She remembers the kernel she kept after tasting the fruit and tries to grow her own fruit from it. Laura realises that she will never taste the fruit again, and her health begins to deteriorate. She goes to bed and remains there until her death seems imminent.

Lizzie watches her sister deteriorate before her eyes. She is worried about her sister and doesn't want her to die in the same way that Jeanie did. Lizzie resolves to save Laura and sets out to find the goblins.

The goblins are excited to see Lizzie. They try to tempt her with their fruit. They won't accept her money and are only interested in seducing her. Lizzie doesn't give in and the goblins become angry. The goblins taunt Lizzie and pull her hair, trying to beat her into submission. They force the fruit on her mouth in an attempt to make her eat the fruit, but she still refuses to give in. Eventually the goblins realise that they can't win and so they leave. Lizzie returns to Laura with the juice from the fruits covering her face.

Lizzie urges Laura to suck the juices from her face, hoping that this will be enough to save Laura. Laura sucks the juices; they taste bitter to her and are poisonous. Laura is consumed by fever and returns to her bed. Lizzie watches over her, worrying about her sister's health and hoping that she will recover.

Laura wakes up in the morning to find Lizzie's attempt to save her sister has worked. The fever has subsided and Laura is rejuvenated. Laura and Lizzie grow old together. As old women and mothers they tell their children cautionary tales about the goblins and warn them what will happen if they eat their tempting fruit.