The Eve Of St Agnes

Question 1

Summary of events

Answer 1

The Eve of St. Agnes is a narrative poem that tells a romantic, dreamlike story set on the night of St. Agnes’ Eve, a night associated with a superstition that young women can dream of their future husbands.

• The poem begins with an old Beadsman (priest) praying in a cold chapel while a lively party is happening in the nearby castle.
• Madeline, a young maiden, hopes to follow the Eve of St. Agnes’ ritual, which promises that she will see her future husband in a dream.
• Madeline’s secret admirer, Porphyro, sneaks into the castle to see her, despite their families being enemies.
• With the help of Angela, an old servant, Porphyro hides in Madeline’s room, intending to watch over her and not disturb her dreams.
• Madeline performs the ritual and, in a trance-like state, dreams of Porphyro as her future husband.
• When she awakens, she sees Porphyro standing by her bedside and believes her dream has come true.
• Porphyro convinces Madeline to escape with him, and they leave the castle together, fleeing into the stormy night.
• The poem ends with the fates of the Beadsman and Angela—both die quietly, suggesting the fading of old traditions and the inevitability of change.

Themes include the contrast between dream and reality, love and danger, religious rituals, and the tension between youthful passion and the darker forces of life.