The Eve of St Agnes Flashcards
(25 cards)
What style is the poem?
Spenserian
What does a Spenserian poem suggest?
Initiates thoughts of romance - 16th century
Quote to show Porphyro’s villainy?
“stratagem”
Quote to show Madeline’s vulnerability?
“regardless eye”
“faery fancy”
Quotes which foreshadow the events to come?
“frosted grass” - beginning
“storm” - end
What does the pathetic fallacy of “frosted grass” infer?
That reality is cold and harsh, there love cannot exist within this current society
What quote demonstrates Porphyros exploitation?
“he might gaze”
What does “he might gaze” suggest?
Through a feminist lens, the male gaze is a theory which illustrates women as sexual objects for the pleasure of the male viewer
Quote to show the patriarchy of society?
“And win perhaps that night a peerless bride,”
What does the quote “and win perhaps that night a peerless bride” suggest?
The verb “wins” indicates that Porphyro is a symbol of the patriarchy, entrapping Madeline as his wife to be “won”
What does “peerless bride” suggest?
Porphyro’s superficial reasoning for his admiration of Madeline based wholly on her beauty
Quote to demonstrate an eerie setting?
“Out went the taper as she hurried in”
What quote further objectifies Madeline?
“so pure a thing”
How does the quote “so pure a thing” objectify Madeline?
Through the noun “thing”
What is the Madonna Whore dichotomy?
Denotes polarised perceptions of women as either good, chaste and pure or as bad, promiscuous whores
What do feminist suggest about the Madonna Whore dichotomy?
That is stems from a desire to reinforce patriarchy
What is important about the quote “so pure”?
Porphyro is centrally concerned with Madeline being “pure”, through the Madonna Whore dichotomy, this suggests he can respect Madeline because of her innocence - shows the patriarchy of society
Quote which reinforces the sense of a dream state being unlike the real world?
“my Porphyro”
What is important about the quote “my Porphyro”?
It indicates that in the dreamworld patriarchy is non-non-existant
What are the main themes in The Eve of St Agnes?
Innocence Gender Exploitation Love/lust Dreams vs reality
Quotes to show innocence
“so pure”
Quotes to show gender
“Now tell me where is Madeline”
Quotes to show exploitation
“he might gaze”
Quotes to show love/lust
“he might gaze and worship all unseen”
