The Eve of St Agnes Flashcards
(19 cards)
“Bitter chill it was”
Line 1
-Set up with a bleak atmosphere
-Trapping, foreshadowing Madeline’s relationship
“Plume, tiara, and all rich array”
Line 41
-Importance of the event
-Ease to victimise Madeline because of her beliefs of the evening
“Young virgins might have visions of delight”
Line 49
-Significance of evening > girls aim to find a husband
-Porphyro can take advantage of Madeline for this and give her what she wasn’t dreaming of
“She danced along with vague, regardless eyes”
Line 67
-Physically present but mentally absent
-Lost in thoughts of what she could gain tonight
“Porphyro, with heart on fire”
Line 78
-Porphyro is introduced as passionate
-“fire” could foreshadow his dangerous nature
“Flit like a ghost away”
Line 109
-Supernatural
-Fleeing > sense of urgency
“Hold water in a witch’s sieve”
Line 124
-Sieves can’t hold water > his plan is impossible and foolish
-“Witch” implies ideas about the supernatural
“A cruel man and impious thou art”
Line 144
-Sinful
-Immoral and dangerous
-Foreshadowing
“‘I will not harm, her, by all saints I swear”
Line 149
-Ironic claim
-Vowing not to harm her
-Religious imagery used to swear not to sin
“Even to Madeline’s chamber, and there hide him in a closet, of such privacy”
Lines 168 and 169
-Building of his plan
-Her room is secluded, but he is exploiting her privacy anyway
“Porphyro took covert”
Line 193
-Violating her privacy
-Fully hiding himself > is aware of the consequences of his acts and the harm it has to her
“Loosens her fragrant bodice”
Line 236
-Physical relaxation? > ironic as she isn’t feeling relaxed with his manipulation
-Transgressing boundaries
“Trembling in her soft and chilly nest”
Line 242
-Cold and nervous
-Warmth of her dream vs vulnerability in Prophryo’s presence
“Awaking up, he took her hollow lute”
Line 297
-Gains conscience of what is happening
-Emptiness
“Her eyes were open, but she still beheld”
Line 307
-Awake and aware but still sees dreamlike him
-Perception vs reality
“Like a throbbing star”
Line 327
-Guidance and destiny
-Bursting love for her
-Leads to further manipulation
“O’er the southern moors I have a home for thee”
Line 360
-Taking her somewhere isolated in hope he won’t get exposed
-Doesn’t offer her a choice
-Love and a new beginning
“She hurried at his words, beset with fears”
Line 361
-Finally acts
-Terrified but follows him anyway
“Fled away into the storm”
Line 380
-Their escape
-Private life
