Eve Of saint agnes

Question 1

what is the overall theme for Eve of Saint Agnes?

Answer 1

contrast of cold hatred and concern for family honour with the warmth and passion of young love

Question 2

St Agnes eve -

Answer 2

Ah , bitter chill it was!

opening sentence

Question 3

the owl for all

Answer 3

his feathers, was a cold

Question 4

the hare limped

Answer 4

through the frozen grass

Question 5

numb were the Beadsman’s

Answer 5

fingers while he told his rosary

Question 6

what is saint Agnes’ Eve?

Answer 6

St. Agnes, the patron saint of virgins and rape survivors, died a martyr in 4th century Rome. The eve falls on January 20; the feast day on the 21st.

According to the popular superstition connected with St. Agnes’ Eve, a young maiden who fasts and neither speaks nor looks about before she goes to be may get sight of her her future husband in a dream.

Question 7

his prayer he saith,

Answer 7

this patient, holy man

Question 8

meagre,

Answer 8

barefoot, wan

Question 9

give words and phrases used to highlight the cold of the evening

Answer 9

'frozen'
'frosted'
'chill'
'cold'
'slow degrees'
'ice hoods'

Question 10

already had his

the joys of his life

Answer 10

death bell rung

were said and sung

Question 11

at length burst in the

Answer 11

argent revelry

Question 12

with plume, tiara, and

Answer 12

all rich array

Question 13

the brain, new stuffed in youth

Answer 13

with triumphs gay of old romance

Question 14

the silver snarling

the level chambers

Answer 14

trumpets ‘gan to chide;

ready with their pride

Question 15

glowing to recieve

Answer 15

a thousand guests

Question 16

what quote summarises the premise of the eve of saint Agnes?

Answer 16

young virgins might have visions of delight

Question 17

nor look behind, nor sideways, but require

Answer 17

of heaven with upward eyes for all that they desire

Question 18

young Porphyro,

Answer 18

with a heart on fire for Madeline

Question 19

her maiden eyes divine,

Answer 19

fixed on the floor

Question 20

she sighed for Agnes’ dreams,

Answer 20

the sweetest of the year

Question 21

anxious her lips,

Answer 21

her breathing quick and short

Question 22

buttressed from the moonlight, stands he,

Answer 22

and implores all saints to give him sight of madeline

Question 23

that he might gaze and

Answer 23

worship all unseen

Question 24

Get hence! Get hence!

Answer 24

there’s a dwarfish Hildebrand

Question 25

she knelt, so pure a thing

Answer 25

so free from mortal taint

Question 26

a cruel man and

Answer 26

impious thou art

- angela after finding out about Porphyro’s intentions

Question 27

what are the main aspects of tragedy in EOSA?

Answer 27

• peripeteia (reversal of fortune)
• blindness
• appearance vs reality
• suffering
• treatment of women
• isolation
• inevitability
• pride

Question 28

stanza 5

significance

Answer 28

sudden injection of pace and energy:
arrival of guests (‘rich array’)

tone has changed to the present by use of verbs

‘burst’ and ‘haunting’

• provides energy and immediacy, highlight the passion of young love and how this will distract Angela and Madeline from the reality of the evening (heightens inevitability)

Question 29

stanza 6

‘the music

Answer 29

she scarcely heard’

Question 30

S6
‘amorous
‘not cool’d

Answer 30

cavaliers’
by high disdain’

Although Madeline eyes to not observe above the ‘trains’ of guests’ dresses, she attracts the attention of many suitors. (‘amorous cavaliers)
she rejects them in disdain but they are not ‘cool’d’ by this, = reflects the heat and passion of young love (amorous = sexual desire) impulsive, uncontrolled

Question 31

she sigh;d for Agnes’ DREAMS,

Answer 31

the sweetest of the year’
- alexandrine, major stress on the sixth syllable (‘DREAM’) illustrates how Madeline’s ‘dreams’ are completely taking up her attention

• consumed by ritual, introduces the theme of Dreams vs reality

Question 32

‘defiance, hate

Answer 32

and scorn’
negative, tragic villainy
- description of the inhabitants
- cold opposition that awaits Porphyro

Question 33

Hoodwinked by

Answer 33

faery fancy

• deceived by the magical forces of the ritual
• elevates her blindness + tragic victim status as she has committed herself to a ritual that will leave her vulnerable to the reality (to P’s stratagem)

Question 34

that he might gaze and

speak, kneel,

Answer 34

worship all things unseen
touch, kiss
r

Question 35

Guests at the party from the perspective of Porphyro:
‘barbarian
‘hyena
‘hot

Answer 35

hordes’
foeman’
blooded lords

Question 36

what would happen if Porphyro was found in the castle? quote

Answer 36

‘storm his heart’ with ‘a hundred swords’

Question 37

angela

Answer 37

‘palsied hand’

‘poor, weak, palsy stricken’

Question 38

madeline’s room + virginity

Answer 38

‘silken, hush’d and chaste’

Question 39

by all saints

Answer 39

I swear’

Porphyro swears to Angela he won’t hurt Madeline

Question 40

slient as

brushing the

Answer 40

a tomb
cobwebs
- gothic setting (as they discuss whether P can meet Madeline)
- elevates theme of inevitability