1. Is Goblin Market merely a straightforward story, as Christina Rossetti once implied, or does it possess deeper layers of meaning? Can the poem's components be interpreted purely literally? If not, what alternative ideas might they represent? Do critics overreach when they discern deeper meanings and themes in the poem?

2. The goblin fruit produces unusual effects on Laura and Jeanie. What are these effects? What symbolic significance might each effect hold?

3. Goblin Market is frequently regarded as a type of fairy tale. Which fairy tale elements are evident in the poem? How do these elements contribute to the poem's message and impact?

4. Goblin Market has long been popular as a children's poem. To what extent is it suitable for young children? Are there aspects of the poem that might only be understood by older, more experienced readers?

5. Several critics believe that Goblin Market reflects Rossetti's views on relationships between men and women. Which elements in the poem suggest this? In this interpretation, what might the goblin men symbolize? What about their fruit?

6. Christina Rossetti was a devout and practicing Christian. Some critics see in Lizzie's innocent, self-sacrificing actions a parallel to Jesus' redeeming sacrifice for sinners who have indulged in forbidden pleasures. What evidence do you find in the poem to support or refute this interpretation?