Eve Of St Agnes Flashcards
what is the context of Eve of St Agnes
the poem was written in 1819 and published in 1820
the poem is written in Spenserian stanza. each stanza consists of eight lines of iambic pentameter (10 syllables) plus a final line of iambic hexameter (12 syllables)
the rhyme scheme is maintained as abab bcb c (the first eight lines have 5 beats per lines while the last has 6)
Who was St Agnes
St Agnes is one of the first women recognised in the Roman Catholic Church’s hierarchy of saints (a person who is holy/virtuous)
she was believed to have been martyred (killed because of religious beliefs) at the age of 13 she was because she refused to marry the son of a Roman official instead declaring herself committed to Christ during n era when Christianity was still an underground religion.
St Agnes is widely known is a patron saint ( a person who devotes their lives to God) young girls.
She us also the patron saint of chastity, rape survivors and the Children of Mary.
the plot summary
A Beadsman (man of prayer) is freezing is in his church
he hears music from the house near the church as guests arrive for celebrations
Madeline’s told that after following certain ritual, she might see her true love
distracted she cannot enjoy he dance
Porphyro enters Madeine’s house ad gets Angela ( Madeline’s maid) to let him to go Madeline’s bed chambers so he can show her that they are meant to be
Madeline enters her room, undresses and goes to sleep.
Porphyro - watches her sleep and wakes her by playing the flute.
Madeline wakes - she dreams of Porphyro however he looed better in her dream
Porphyro suggests that they should run away together as they are true lovers
they escape
Angela and the Beadman both die.
Quotes:
His prayer he saith, this patient holy man - shows the Beadsman devotion to God. However Keats doesn’t approve of organised religion. Are the rich taking advantage?
Supperless to bed they must retire- Keats is calling out the tradition. It seems ridiculous. Patriarchy.
‘Anxious her lips, her breathing quick and short’ -nervous and scared. Emphasises Madeline’s innocence
Gaze and worship all unseen - Porphyro wants to look at everything, even the unknown. Is this sweet or creepy/voyeurism
Speak, kneel ,touch, kiss - listing. Emphasises everything he wants to do to Madeline. Patriarchy, he thinks that he has the right
Hyena foeman and hot blooded lords - refering to Madeline’s family. he is not wanted. Is he a victim of society?
so free from mortal taint - highlights Madeline’s innocence
how chang’d thou art, how pallid, chill and drear -theme of reality vs dream. He looked better than fiction.
Ethereal, flush’s and like a throbbing star - metaphor. is it sexual or is his love for Madeline so overpowering?
Into her dream he melted - Vision of him and real life merging into one. ‘melted’ - 2 becoming one through sex, is it beautiful or is it rape?
St Agnes moon hath set - Dream is over highlights finality. Madeline can no longer pretend. foreshadows their ruin. Madeline and Porphyro have a great love. the outside world is awful
There are no ears to hear or eyes to see - they can be themselves. No one has to conform?. Are Madeline and Porphyro victims of society.
O’er the southern moors i have a home for thee- why is this home so far away. Are his intentions pure. Pathos for Madeline.
the key turns and the door upon its hinges groan. Motif of doors, breaking down the boundary of not being together. Freedom from confinement
Barons dreamt of many a woe - Even those in higher power wept. shows the loss of identity.
For slept among his ashes cold. -furthers the idea of M and P’s death - shows inevitability, ends on image of death and coldness
Aspects of Tragedy: loss of identity
Madeline’s fantasies could be saod to remove her from the safety of her family and leave her exposed to Porphyro’s advances whilst the manner in which he lterally forces her out of the castle implies intrinsic loss of self and even humanity
Aspects of Tragedy: Tragic inevitability
the cyclical structure of the Beadsman praying for those dead souls only to end up dying at the end. Foreshadows his death.
Aspects of Tragedy: tragic victims and villians
Porphyro - tragic villain - he forces himself onto Madeline. He potentially rapes her. He watches her (voyeuristic). He forces her to leave everything that she has ever known
Madeline - tragic villain- believing in the tradition of Eve of St Agnes has lead her to be distorted and leading Porphyro on.
Porphyro victim - he is a victim of society as no one wants him.
Madeline victim - victim of Porphyro, society, expectations of women and family
