English 377 Web Assignment #3

Visit the section of Norton Topics Online devoted to The Victorian Period. Go to the topic on "The Painterly Image in Poetry" and follow the links to Dante Rossetti's illustrations for Christina's "Goblin Market" and to his portraits of women. The editors characterize Dante's "Goblin Market" illustrations as "interesting" for their depiction of female sexuality. How so? How do his illustrations of Laura and Lizzie compare to the mythological figures (Sibylla Palmifera, Lady Lilith, Astarte Syriaca) in his paintings? Compare Dante's illustrations with the specific passages they illustrate from the poem. Does Dante strictly follow the text of "Goblin Market"? Do Dante's illustrations suggest that he is reading the poem in a particular way? Be sure to discuss both illustrations.