Christina Rossetti’s poem “Goblin Market,” first published in 1862, takes the form of a cautionary tale for children. Two girls are tempted by the otherworldly fruits of goblin merchants and one succumbs, necessitating a daring rescue by her sister. The poem’s explicit moral—“there is no friend like a sister”—supports its reading as a didactic text; however, its sensual imagery and theme of innocence overcome by temptation invite more mature interpretations. Rossetti’s use of metaphorical language intimates the deeper meanings to be gleaned from this fairy-tale parable about a walk in the woods that takes an uncanny turn.

Skills: analysis, drawing inferences from text, close reading, identifying the relationship between words

About This Document

The Owl Eyes Analyzing Metaphor worksheet gives students an opportunity to practice examining and analyzing metaphors. Students will engage with specific selections of the text and work collaboratively to identify the vehicle, tenor, and implications of each metaphor. The main components include the following:

• A brief introduction to the text
• A detailed handout on metaphor types
• A step-by-step guide to activity procedure
• A detailed answer key for teachers

In completing this worksheet, students will learn to classify and analyze different kinds of metaphors in order to develop close reading skills and draw deeper inferences from the text.