The Eve of St Agnes: What is it all about?
Keats’ ‘The Eve of St Agnes’ has quite difficult archaic language, so it’s a good idea to read a summary of the plot and its events first, before reading through the poem itself - here’s a summary for you!
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The poem The Eve of St Agnes is a sensual story about two young lovers who are unfortunately from two warring families and is based on an old legend that St Agnes would grant visions of a person's true love if certain rituals are performed on the evening before her saint's day (the Eve of St Agnes). The principal characters are Madeline (the heroine), Porphyro (her suitor) and Angela (Madeline's nurse).
The story begins with an elderly beadsman (a usually elderly person who is paid to say prayers for specific people) saying his prayers in the chapel of Madeline's family home as a cold night sets in. Elsewhere in the house, a large and loud party is beginning.
Madeline, however, isn't interested in the party as she is pining for the love of a young man named Porphyro. He belongs to another family with which hers is feuding. She has heard rumours from "old dames" that she can receive sweet dreams of Porphyro if she goes to bed without supper on the eve of St Agnes. This she does.
Later on the same evening, we find out that Porphyro has himself snuck into the castle to attempt to see Madeline. He seeks out Angela (her nurse) and begs her to help him. She isn't easily pursuaded but after some time agrees to assist Porphyro in sneaking into her room so that he can at least see her.
Porphyro hides in her wardrobe and watches her get ready for bed and once she is asleep, he emerges to prepare a feast of delicious food for her to wake up to. She wakes up and discovers him there, however she believes this to be the dream of her lover and so she invites him to stay the night which he does.
When the morning arrives and her mistake is revealed Madeline doesn't get angry as she is so madly in love with Porphyro but she does tell him that if he abandons her now she will be devastated ("A dove folorn and lost"). Porphyro is so moved by this that he promises to run away with her to a new home to the south and they leave together, sneaking out through the sleeping partygoers and away.
The story ends with the Baron (Madeline's father) and his guests being cursed with terrible dreams and Angela's death, before finishing with a focus back on the beadsman as he finishes his prayers and finally goes to sleep.
Thanks for reading!
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