The Eve of St. Agnes ⛈️

St. Agnes' Eve

St. Agnes was a roman Christian who was thrown into a brothel for refusing a roman's hand in marriage. The men who tried to use her were struck down because of her purity, making her become a martyr as she was burned and beheaded.

Since Madeline accepts Porphyro's hand, she will ultimately be forgotten, unlike St. Agnes.

Ah, __ chill it was! [...]

The hare limp'd __ through the __ grass

Ah, bitter chill it was! [...]

The hare limp'd tembling through the frozen grass

Pathetic fallacy of ice and frigid, cold, harsh weather foreshadows tragedy.

__ were the beadsmans fingers, while he told

his __, and while his __ breath,

like pious __ from a censer old

Seemed taking flight for __

Numb were the beadsmans fingers, while he told

his rosary, and while his frosted breath,

like pious incense from a censer old

Seemed taking flight for heaven

Gothic imagery of catholicism paired with the beadsman's impending death foreshadows the death that will soon follow.

The sculptur'd __, on each side, seem to __

Emprison'd in __, purgatorial rails

Carved __

The sculptur'd dead, on each side, seem to freeze

Emprison'd in black, purgatorial rails

Carved angels

The setting is entrapped in fate, their deaths are inescapable.

And scarece three __, ere Music's __ tongue

And scarece three steps, ere Music's golden tongue

Music can be heard from above. Music and festivity is built upon the foundations of death.

already had his __ rung;

The __ of all his life were said and __

already had his deathbell rung;

The joys of all his life were said and sung

Nothing joyous is left in this story, the only possible outcome is tragedy.

The silver, __ trumpets [...]

At length __ in the argent revelry

With __, __, and all rich array

Numerous as __ haunting fairily.

The silver, snarling trumpets [...]

At length burst in the argent revelry

With plume, tiara, and all rich array

Numerous as shadows haunting fairily.

The guests are introduced. Sibilance of 'silver, snarling' establishes them as potentially antagonistic.

Verb 'burst' increases pacing, contrasting the start of the poem and contrasting the Beadsman's death, implying the guests see themselves as immortal.

Since they are 'haunting' and all look the same they have no individualism. (Could link to the 'angular' shapes surrounding the Loman's home)

These let us __ away,

And turn, sole-__, to one lady there

These let us wish away,

And turn, sole-thoughted, to one lady there

Keats instructs us to forget about the other guests and focus solely on Madeline, allowing us to join Prophyro's mind as she is his sole focus.

Upon St Agnes Eve,

young __ have __ of delight

[...]

Upon the __ middle of the night

Upon St Agnes Eve,

young virgins have visions of delight

[...]

Upon the honey middle of the night

'Visions' show they are intangible and false and paired with 'honey' any sensual emotions will not be true.

And couch __ their beauties, __ white;

Nor look behind, nor sideways, but require

Of __ with __ eyes for all that they desire.

And couch supine their beauties, lily white;

Nor look behind, nor sideways, but require

Of Heaven with upward eyes for all that they desire.

Keats informs us that for the ritual to be successful the girls must lie down looking upwards, evoking corpse like imagery.

She sigh's for Agnes' __, the __ of the year.

She sigh's for Agnes' dreams, the sweetest of the year.

She has lust for things that are false, not reality.

__wink'd with __ fancy

Hoodwink'd with faery fancy

Madeline believes in this myth so will only see what she wants to see. Dreams v Reality.

Meanwhile, across the __

Had come __ Porphyro, with heart on __

For Madeline

Meanwhile, across the moors

Had come young Porphyro, with heart on fire

For Madeline

Heat implies both youth and lust, paired with 'young' a sense of megalopsychia is introduced. However, fire is also destructive.

That he might gaze and worship all __;

Perchance speak, __, touch, __

That he might gaze and worship all unseen;

Perchance speak, kneel, touch, kiss

He is desperate to experience something 'unseen' - false. The language quickly becomes more and more physical.

Madeline wants to see a vision of Porphyro, whereas he wants to see her physical body. Porphyro could represent the 'cold philosophy' Keats warns against.

For him, these chambers held __ hordes,

__ foemen, and hot __ lords,

[...]

Not one breast affords him any __

Save one old __, weak in body and in __.

For him, these chambers held barbarian hordes,

Hyena foemen, and hot blooded lords,

[...]

Not one breast affords him any mercy

Save one old beldame, weak in body and in soul.

Setting of conflict is exacerbated through the threat that upon Porphyro's capture he will be executed by 'hyenas'. Angela the 'beldame' is introduced. mimicing the old nurse from Shakespeare.

''__ Porphyro! Hie thee from this place,

they are all here tonight, the whole __ race!'' -Angela

''Mercy Porphyro! Hie thee from this place,

they are all here tonight, the whole bloodthirsty race!'' -Angela

Keats uses Angela's direct adress to act as the reader's mouthpiece, we know the inevitably tragedy and want to leave Madeline in her dreamlike state instead of bringing her to reality.

''Thou must hold __ in a witch's sieve

and be liege __ of all the elves and __

to venture so'' - Angela

''Thou must hold water in a witch's sieve

and be liege lord of all the elves and fays

to venture so'' - Angela

Angela tells Porphyro that he must have magical abilities to be able to sneak through the mansion to see Madeline. This further highlights the opposition between Madeline and Porphyro - the enchanter and the enchanted.

Sudden a thought came like a full blown __,

__ his brow, and in his pained __

made __ riot

Sudden a thought came like a full blown rose,

Flushing his brow, and in his pained heart

made purple riot

Sensual, erotic language highlights difference between love and lust.

''Let her __, and sleep and dream

Alone with her good __, far apart

from __ men like thee. Go-go, I deem,

thou canst not surely be the __ that thou didst __.'' - Angela

''Let her pray, and sleep and dream

Alone with her good angels, far apart

from wicked men like thee. Go-go, I deem,

thou canst not surely be the same that thou didst seem.'' - Angela

Angela directly addresses the concept of negative capability; Keats has her demand that Porphyro let Madeline stay in her dreamlike state and that Porphyro is not the same as people think of him as, demonstrating the battle between dreams and reality.

''O may I ne'er find __

when my __ voice shall whisper its last __

if one of her soft __ I displace'' - Porphyro

''O may I ne'er find grace

when my weak voice shall whisper its last prayer

if one of her soft ringlets I displace'' - Porphyro

Porphyro tells us that he will be punished if he even moves one of her hairs, however he ends up helping her escape which he will be punished for.

''All caits and __ shall be stored there

quickly on this __ night'' - Angela

''All caits and dainties shall be stored there

quickly on this feast night'' - Angela

After agreeing to help Porphyro with his plan, she tells him that food is being stored in Madelines room, subtly highlighting Porphyro's indulgence in lust.

Through many a __ chamber they gain

the maiden's chamber, __, hush'd and __

Through many a dusky chamber they gain

the maiden's chamber, silken, hush'd and chaste

Mandeline's chamber is 'silken', 'hushed' and 'chaste', demonstrating her peace in her dreamlike state and her virginity. When this is disrupted by Porphyro only tragedy can follow.

Out went the __ as she hurried in;

Its little __, in pallid moonshine, died

[...]

But to her __, her __ was voluble

[...] as though a tonguless __ should swell

her throat in vain, and __

Out went the taper as she hurried in;

Its little smoke, in pallid moonshine, died

[...]

But to her heart, her heart was voluble

[...] as though a tonguless nightingale should swell

her throat in vain, and die

The taper going out as she entered acts as a subtle allusion to the beadsman at the beginning of the poem, who knew death was coming, implying the same is true for Madeline.

Repetition of 'her heart' acts to increase the pacing of the poem, allowing Madeline's excitement to be heard and read along with her.

Nightingales are known for their birdsong, so a tongueless bird song highlights Madelines vulnerability and what will be taken from her.

A shielded scutcheon blush'd with __ of queens and __.

A shielded scutcheon blush'd with blood of queens and kings.

Scutcheon= coat of arms.

In the description of Madeline's room, Keats subtly perpetuates the idea that nobody is immune to tragedy

she knelt for Heaven's __ and boon [...] __ bloom fell on her hands, together prest [...] and on her __ a glory, like a __ [...]

She knelt, so __ a thing, so free from mortal __.

she knelt for Heaven's grace and boon [...] Rose bloom fell on her hands, together prest [...] and on her hair a glory, like a saint[...]

She knelt, so pure a thing, so free from mortal taint.

Madeline is described both sexually and religiously, foreshadowing Porphyro's destruction of her purity.

Pensive awhile she __ awake, and sees,

in fancy, fair St. Agnes in her __,

but dares not look behind, or all the __ is fled.

Pensive awhile she dreams awake, and sees,

in fancy, fair St. Agnes in her bed,

but dares not look behind, or all the dream is fled.

Allusion to cold philosophy and negative capability in the idea that if she looks behind (sees Porphyro) tragedy will follow.

O for some __ Morphean amulet!

[...]

though but in __ tone, the hall __ shut again, and all the __ is gone.

O for some drowsy Morphean amulet!

[...]

though but in dying tone, the hall doors shut again, and all the noise is gone.

Porphyro wants something to make him sleepy so he can join her in the dream world. He is increasingly invading her space: first the mansion, then her chamber and now her dreams.

The music is now over, slowly bringing about reality. In Lamia, it was music that held the roof of the wedding up.

He play'd an ancient __, long since mute,

In __call'd 'La Belle __ sans __'

Wherewith disturb'd she uttered a soft __.

He play'd an ancient ditty, long since mute,

In Provence call'd 'La Belle Dame sans Mercy'

Wherewith disturb'd she uttered a soft moan.

Keats' poem was written AFTER this. Porphyro believes he has been lured by Madeline and is in danger of enthrallment.

Madeline has been disturbed from her dreams and is now waking up, acting as a volta.

Mad

There was a __ change, [...]

at which fair Madeline began to __,

and __ forth __ words with many a __.

There was a painful change, [...]

at which fair Madeline began to weep,

and moan forth witless words with many a sigh.

Reality has upset Madeline as they don't conform to her dreams. The voicelessness madeline is given (like the 'tongueless nightingale') acts to delineate their relationship as they fall into a dreamlike state.

''And those sad eyes were __ and clear:

How chang'd thou art! how pallid, __ and __!'' - Madeline

''And those sad eyes were spiritual and clear:

How chang'd thou art! how pallid, chill and drear!'' - Madeline

Cold reality is revealed to Madeline in contrast to dreams

meantime the __-wind blows

Like Love's alarum pattering the __ sleet

Against the window panes; St Agnes' __ hath set

meantime the frost-wind blows

Like Love's alarum pattering the sharp sleet

Against the window panes; St Agnes' moon hath set

Reality and dreams have fused. The charm is over and reality is here.

''This is no __, my bride, my Madeline!

Tis dark: the iced __ still rave and beat:

No __, alas! alas! woe is mine'' -Porphyro

''This is no dream, my bride, my Madeline!

Tis dark: the iced gusts still rave and beat:

No dream, alas! alas! woe is mine'' -Porphyro

Soon they will have to leave the chamber and face reality, along with the consequences. The dream is completely over.

''Tis an __ storm from __ land'' - Porphyro

''Tis an elfin storm from faery land'' - Porphyro

First time the storm is adressed by the lovers, however they describe it in a dreamlike state despite reality being here. This demonstrates their tragic myopia.

There were sleeping __ all around

There were sleeping dragons all around

The guests are described as 'sleeping dragons', not only demonstrating the threat they pose to the couple (as they represent reality) but also highlight the couple's dreamlike perception of reality, reminding us of their tragic myopia.

They glide, like __, into the wide hall;

Like __, to the iron porch, they __

They glide, like phantoms, into the wide hall;

Like phantoms, to the iron porch, they glide

The repetition of 'phantoms' and 'glide' prepares them for their fate, they will die (not necessarily now, maybe after a life of reality) and be forgotten.

The key turns, and the __ upon its hinges __

The key turns, and the door upon its hinges groan

And they are gone: ay, __ long ago

These __ fled away into the __

And they are gone: ay, ages long ago

These lovers fled away into the storm

Some critics argue that they will die, others argue that the tragedy they face is a reality that life is not the dream they imagined

The Beadsman, after a __ aves told,

for aye unsought for slept among his ashes __

The Beadsman, after a thousand aves told,

for aye unsought for slept among his ashes cold

The beadsman (and Angela) died in peace as they stayed in their dreamlike realities.