Composed in 1859, Rosetti's poem is a continual source of discussion and controversy. "Critics" and "experts" like to analyze after the fact and find things which may or may not be there, sometimes mixing innocence and salaciousness because they view it throught he frame of their own times and beliefs. The result often creates controversy and the hint of scandal which might be a little off context. Proto-Feminism? Bisexuality? Who the heck knows? None of us were there. No matter how learned, we won't ever really know. i=It is possible Rosetti did not know herself. Isn't the point of timeless literature that it speaks to people over generations? It's an interesting conundrum, though. It is noted nicely on
Wikipedia with some interesting links.
What I do know is, it is a bloody tough poem in any number of ways. The meter and the rhyme might sometimes be described as "erratic," making it very hard to read out loud sensibly. Plus, as I discovered recording, it is full of multitudes of deadly, complex plosives! Still, the internal rhythms are compelling and a real delight to read.
Looks like this will come out in three or four parts. Check in tomorrow for the next section.
The Goblin Market - Part 1 by Christina Rosetti
Recording (c) by Judith Cullen 2012
NOT for Commerical Use
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