Eve Of St Agnes Flashcards
Context:
What is the context of Eve of St Agnes?
On the actual night of St. Agnes’ feast, young women believed they could see their future husbands if they followed certain rituals e.g. fasting and going to bed with their hair not being tied.
St Agnes:
Who was St Agnes?
St. Agnes was a young Christian martyr who is revered for her purity and unwavering faith.
Her feast day, celebrated on January 21st, symbolises innocence and devotion both to God and future husbands.
Plot summary:
What is the plot summary?
In the poem, Madeline, a young woman, follows a ritual on St. Agnes’ Eve to see her future husband, while Porphyro, her lover, sneaks into her room to be with her.
Despite the obstacles and her family’s disapproval, they escape together, symbolizing a passionate and defiant love.
Quotes:
What are the important quotes? (There are 5)
His prayer he saith, this patient holy man (…) for slept among his ashes cold- (FIRST PART IS THE FIRST LINE OF THE POEM AND SECOND IS LAST LINE) shows the Beadsman devotion to God. However Keats doesn’t approve of organised religion. Are the rich taking advantage? furthers the idea of M and P’s death - shows inevitability, cyclical setting structure, starts and ends on image of death and coldness
Gaze and worship all unseen (…) Speak, kneel, touch kiss - Porphyro wants to look at everything, even the unknown. Is this sweet or creepy/voyeurism. listing. Emphasises everything he wants to do to Madeline. Patriarchy, he thinks that he has the right
How chang’s though art (…) Into her dream he melted - theme of reality vs fiction. He looked better than fiction. 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.
Aspects of Tragedy: loss of identity
How can loss of identity be seen through the poem?
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
How can tragic inevitability be seen through the poem?
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 villains
How can tragic victims and villains seen?
Tragic villain:
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.
Tragic victim:
Porphyro victim - he is a victim of society as no one wants him.
Madeline victim - victim of Porphyro, society, expectations of women and family
