The Eve of St Agnes Flashcards
John Keats
Who says this;
What does it show?
“Whose heart had brooded”
Madeline:
She is focussed on finding a love, she is prepared, for the Eve of St Agnes, “brooding” implies a melancholic tone
Who says this;
What does it show?
“But she saw not: her heart was otherwhere”
Madeline:
She is detached from the real world, striving to be in a land of dreams, this later allows Porphyro to take advantage of her in the guise of a dream
Who says this;
What does it show?
“A shielded scutcheon blushed with blood of queens and kings”
Madeline:
Reference to the violent feud between their families, has links to Romeo and Juliet
Who says this;
What does it show?
“Like a missioned spirit, unaware: with silver taper’s light”
Madeline:
Megalopsychia - implies danger and alludes to the idea that she is being hunted. She contrasts with her dark surroundings, her youthfulness that she omits lights her surroundings
Who says this;
What does it show?
“Seraph fair, awake! Thou art my heart”
Madeline:
She’s described as all things heavenly/angelic, however, this doesn’t stop Porphyro from deflowering her - sex before marriage would have been something that Elizabethans were shocked by
Who says this;
What does it show?
“The maidens chamber, silken, hushed and chaste”
Madeline:
Her bedroom holds a sense of purity which is the complete opposite of Porphyro’s predatory nature - juxtaposition of characters
Who says this;
What does it show?
“As knelt for heaven’s grace and boon”
Madeline:
She is praying for mercy/pity/forgiveness, it highlights her worship of the ritual and Porphyro’s worship of her. She is submissive
Who says this;
What does it show?
“As though a rose should shut, and be a bud again”
Madeline:
A reversal of time, undoing what has already been done - this is a reference to her imminent loss of virginity, something that cannot be undone
Who says this;
What does it show?
“There was a painful change”
Madeline:
Suggests she may have been raped by Porphyro, she’ lost her innocence to a man she didn’t even dream of
Who says this;
What does it show?
“How changed thou art”
Madeline:
The exclamatory reiterates how their love is based on idealism and dreams rather than reality
Who says this;
What does it show?
“Of witch, and demon, and large coffin-worm”
Madeline:
Castle owners and guests are dreaming of death/terrible fears, adds to the uncertainty of the couples fate
Who says this;
What does it show?
“‘Ah, Porphyro!’ she said”
Madeline:
She isn’t given a voice until stanza 35, showing the Elizabethan view on women and how they didn’t have voices until their husbands
Who says this;
What does it show?
“My bride, my Madeline”
Porphyro:
She now belongs to him as his bride as they have consummated their relationship with sex, though not before God
Who says this;
What does it show?
“Awakening up, her took her hollow flute, tumultuous, and, in chords that tenderest be”
Porphyro:
He wakes her with tender music, yet the gentleness is interrupted with the description of “tumultuous”, implying there will be noise and violence
Who says this;
What does it show?
“How placid, chill, and drear”
Porphyro:
This description contrasts the fiery, vibrant meaning of his name, his sadness could be an expression of guilt/regret..?
Who says this;
What does it show?
“Seemed he never, never could redeem from such a steadfast spell his lady’s eyes”
Porphyro:
Pivotal and dramatic climax, he wants to favour it as her innocence cannot be retrieved
Who says this;
What does it show?
“And there hide him in a closet”
Porphyro:
Attributes romantic thoughts. Chivalric romance places the female in the highest light, he always idolises Madeline, yet is proposing a sexually questionable act?
Who says this;
What does it show?
“Full-blown rose (…) made purple”
Porphyro:
Symbolises his entrapment in his own passion
Who says this;
What does it show?
“We’re safe enough; here in this arm-chair sit”
Porphyro:
Hubris - his complement contributes to the following tragic events
Who says this;
What does it show?
“Implores all saints to give him sight of Madeline (…) perchance speak, kneel, tough, kiss”
Porphyro:
Predatorial, highlights her beauty/attractiveness. Foreshadows him spying on her and her lack of consent
Who says this;
What does it show?
“Open thine-eyes, for meek St Agnes sake”
Porphyro:
He makes reference to St Agnes, patron saint of virgins, moments before he rape’s Madeline
