Point of View: This poem is written in third-person-omniscient point of view, allowing the narrator to relate events from all perspectives as she sees fit, including commenting on the actions of the characters in order to provide instruction for the readers.
Diction and Imagery: Rossetti's word choices throughout the tale emphasize the presence of the supernatural events, creatures, and foods. The gustatory imagery renders the goblins' fruit as an otherworldly, and therefore suspicious, indulgence that can only bring about harm.
"Grunting and snarling...."See in text(Goblin Market )
The diction here—“grunting and snarling”—serves to underscore the animal brutality of the goblins. The goblins represent the animal side of human nature, which is generally controlled and suppressed in civilized society. Rossetti wants us to understand that a great deal of violence and sexuality can be found in that animal side.
"(Men sell not such in any town);..."See in text(Goblin Market )
These fruits cannot be found in a typical market. This gives a supernatural undertone to the goblins and their merchandise; while they seem to sell familiar fruits, they are actually peddling malevolent magic.
After presenting the audience with a long catalogue of exotic fruit, the narrator says that all the fruit are “ripe together.” Since fruits have different seasons that in this time would have made them each unavailable during certain times of the year, the notion that the fruit would be “all ripe together” gives the fruit supernatural characteristics.
