Annotated Bibliography and Prospectus: Keats' The Eve of St. Agnes

This assignment presents an annotated bibliography and prospectus focusing on John Keats' poem "The Eve of St. Agnes," specifically analyzing the character of Porphyro and his actions within the narrative. The annotated bibliography includes summaries and critical assessments of various books and articles that explore the poem's themes, composition, and characterizations, particularly focusing on Porphyro's motivations and whether his actions constitute questionable deceptions or violations. The prospectus argues that existing analyses often focus on the poem's structure and imagery, with varying interpretations of Porphyro ranging from a romantic hero to a morally ambiguous figure, highlighting the ambiguities that complicate a definitive judgment of his role.

Running Head: ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY AND PROSPECTUS
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY AND PROSPECTUS
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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The poem “The Eve of St. Agnes,” was written by John Keats, one of the most
beloved poets of the romantic era. In this poem, the poet portrayed all the happenings of a
clod quiet winter night with the images of sin, morality loneliness and death. The central
theme of this poem revolves round all the fantasies, romanticism, life giving passion,
religious quests as well as the predicaments related to the love relationship between Madeline
and Porphyro. The purpose of this critical study is to analyse the character of Porphyro, his
strategies, which are considered as questionable deceptions or an act of violation. Hence, the
thesis statement, for this study, is to provide a definite judgement on Porphyro’s role in this
episode and find out the ambiguities that may complicate this judgment. In this context, this
essay attempts to incorporate annotated bibliographies and prospectus representing the
findings in those critical research articles and books.
Annotated Bibliography
Keats, John. The Eve of St. Agnes. Musaicum Books, 2017.
According to this book, the poem aims to intermingle spirituality and dream with the
sensuality and reality. The next chapter of the book delves deep into the composition of the
poem and finds out that the poem consists of eight lines in iambic pentameter, which is again
followed by a line in iambic hexameter. Apart from the development of the plot the story also
focuses on the characters-Madeline and Porphyro. This book considers that Madeline had her
mind on “divine” things and used to experience divinity even in her dreams. On the other
hand, this book describes the character of Porphyro as “full of earthly passion”.
In order to give a judgement on Porphyro’s role and find out the ambiguities related to the
judgement, the books attempts to analyse the character of Porphyro critically. This book
states that Porphyro has no interests in spirituality and pointed out how Porphyro tries to
disconnect Madeline from the world of spirituality and divinity by making her surroundings
physically luxurious, to evoke sexual desires within her (Keats p: 37).

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Buesking, Renee. “The brain, new stuff'd… with triumphs gay/Of old romance”:
Re-Imagining Madeline and the Chamber of Maiden-Thought in Keats's The
Eve of St. Agnes. Lehigh University, 2014.
This study highlights that the poem bears the characteristics of a medieval era, as
there are the trace of religious quest in this poem. According to this article, the poem
represents the theme of love with a tone of spirituality. The initial section of this article
focuses on the use of metaphors and simile in the poem as well as the use of iambic
pentameter and hexameter. The next section attempts to analyse the setting of the plot by the
poet. This section focuses on the creation and assimilation of the theme of suspense with the
frigid and calm atmosphere of the night. Following section of the article focuses on the
essential elements of characterisation.
This article finds out piousness in Madeline’s desires of union with her secret love. Again,
this article has interpreted the activities of Porphyro as natural and real.
In order to provide a judgement on Porphyro’s role and find out the ambiguities in case of
the judgement, the article has looked at the character of Porphyro through the prism of reality
as well as heroism. According to this article the representation of the theme of spirituality and
romance and bravery of Porphyro has portrayed him as the hero of a medieval era, but the
hidden desires and unethical intentions, the amorous nature as well as ignorance to spiritual
love project break the ideal image of Porphyro. This also creates ambiguity in the proper
judgement of the character (Buesking p: 9).
Giovanelli, Marcello. Text World Theory and Keats' Poetry: The Cognitive
Poetics of Desire, Dreams and Nightmares. A&C Black, 2013.
The section 5.2 and 5.3 of the chapter 5 of this book attempts to give an overview of
the origin as well as the conception of this poem. The section 5.4 highlights the cinematic
beginning of the poem. The next sections focuses on the composition of the poem. The next

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section derives the theories of fantasy and romance from the pattern of the fantasy world that
is used to design the character of Madeline. Following sections focus on the characterisation
of the Porphyro.
In order to provide a definite judgement on Porphyro’s role and find out the
ambiguities related to this judgement that may complicate this book has conducted an
analysis of the character of Porphyro which reveals both his unethical activities like watching
Madeline as she undresses and his bravery to overcome all the predicaments to run away with
his lover (Giovanelli p: 23).
Peters, Cameron Luke, and Peter Anderson. "Making Love’: The Evocation of
Romantic Materialism in John Keats’s ‘The Eve of St. Agnes." (2015).
This article focuses on the theme of romance which has been reflected in the poet’s
proficiency in designing the plot where, Madeline, a virginal maiden expressed her ardent
desire to leave the party arranged by the family and go to bed as there was something special
in that night. It was the night of Eve of St. Agnes and if she would follow a set of rules, she
would be able to meet her beloved Porphyro, in her vision. The next section of this article
focuses on the aesthetic qualities of Porphyro by highlighting the Porphyro’s usage of
imageries in describing the beauty of the sleeping Madeline.
In order to provide a judgement on Porphyro’s role and find out the ambiguities in
case of the judgement this article attempts to highlight all the aspect of Porphyro’s nature.
This article compares how Porphyro’s act of kneeling by Madeline’s figure with a pilgrim
paying homage. Again, it has also consider the intentions of Porphyro, voyeuristic when he
watches Madeline undressed (Anderson Luke p: 29)

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.Gammelgaard, Lasse. "Two Trajectories of Reader Response in Narrative
Poetry: Roses and Risings in Keats's" The Eve of St. Agnes"." Narrative 22.2
(2014): 203-218.
This article has described how Keats has contributed to the theme of thrill and deaths,
in this poem by incorporating characters who inhabit in the world of tombs. Apart from
focusing on the composition and reception and literary ornaments, this article has also
focused on the factors that aid to the theme of romance. The way this article has depicted The
depiction of the character of Madeline is indicative of her secretive, compassionate nature.
Again this article has looked at the character of Porphyro through the prism of romance and
spirituality.
In order to provide a significant judgement on Porphyro’s role and find out the
ambiguities in case of judgement this article focuses on the predicaments of Porphyro, his
heroic nature, his bravery as well as chivalry, which is also indicative of the medieval setting
(Gammelgaard p: 22)
Prospectus
A critical prospectus argues that, most of the books and articles have focused on the
composition of the poem, the poet’s treatment of the imageries as well as ornamentation and
development of the plot. “Making Love’: The Evocation of Romantic Materialism in John
Keats’s ‘The Eve of St. Agnes” and “The brain, new stuff'd… with triumphs gay/Of old
romance”: “Re-Imagining Madeline and the Chamber of Maiden-Thought in Keats's The Eve
of St. Agnes” show how the author attempt to assimilate the theme of thrill and death with
romance as well as spirituality.
Questionable deceptions or an act of violation are addressed in the books “The Eve of
St. Agnes”, “Text World Theory and Keats' Poetry: The Cognitive Poetics of Desire, Dreams
and Nightmares” and also in the article-"Two Trajectories of Reader Response in Narrative

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Poetry: Roses and Risings in Keats's". These literary pieces analyse the character of Porphyro
through the prism of earthly passion and sexuality and unethical activities. According to these
critical reviews, the voyeuristic intentions of Porphyro is evident from his act of watching his
beloved undressed without letting her know and dragging her from the world of divinity and
spiritually, making attempts to excite her sexually and provoke her to flee with him. These
are considered as the act of violation. Again, some critics argue that the excessive influence
of the earthly passion, amorous mind, the disinterest in spirituality, provoke Porphyro to take
the ventures like spending a night in the castle of enemies, hiding inside closet of his beloved
and violate the basic ethics of life. The critics say that the activity of Porphyro seems
unethical as well as uncomfortable to the readers as readers perceive him as a violent person
who preys on her beloved while she is undressed. On the other hand, critics compare the
purity of Madeline with that of the “Virgin Mary”. They consider that Madeline has her mind
on “divine” things. Her mind is pious which reflects in her experience of divinity even in the
dreams. The innocence of Madeline reflects in the usage of the phrase-“silken, hushed and
chaste.” The phrase “tongueless nightingale”1 indicative of the delicate nature of Madeline.
They also argue that Porphyro takes the advantage of innocent, delicate and weak Madeline
being alone in her bedroom and her watches the uncontaminated beauty without letting her
know. Porphyro’s act of transforming the spiritual and dreamy atmosphere to an ambience of
sexual encounter with the intervention of fruits and flowers, garlands and physically
luxurious settings; proves his attempts of removing the pious and spiritual feelings from the
mind of Madeline, in order to fulfil his own interest. Some critic consider this as an act of
committing the sin of disgracing a woman. This curb the pride of the heroic nature of
Porphyro.
1 Gradesaver.com, "Keats’ Poems and Letters “The Eve of St. Agnes” Summary and Analysis",
Gradesaver.com, 2019, online, Internet, 15 Mar. 2019. , Available: https://www.gradesaver.com/keats-poems-
and-letters/study-guide/summary-the-eve-of-st-agnes.

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Finally, the critics make the judgement that the audacity of Porphyro and his act of
violating the ethics invite lot predicaments in his life. Again, some critics of the articles argue
that, through Porphyro the poet has tried to show the expression of desires of a real man not
an ideal man. According to them, the natural flow of the emotion are the reasons behind
Porphyro’s questionable activities. Such conflicting views of the critics create ambiguity in
the judgement of the character of Porphyro.
In the conclusion, it can be said that there are various views regarding the portrayal of
the love relationship in the poem “The Eve of St. Agnes”. Some consider the Porphyro’s act
of hiding in the closet of Madeline and watching her undressed without her consent, the
depiction of the evil side of masculinity. Soma critical view this as the domination of a
powerful, sexually excite man on a delicate and pious woman. Some critic consider Porphyro
a coward for his act of intervening in the castle of his enemies in disguise. Again, some
critics find the activities of Porphyro rational. According to them, Prophyro has made
mistakes, as he is driven by his uncontrollable passion and this is justified as he is in love
with Madeline.

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References
Keats, John. The Eve of St. Agnes. Musaicum Books, 2017.
Buesking, Renee. “The brain, new stuff'd… with triumphs gay/Of old romance”: Re-
Imagining Madeline and the Chamber of Maiden-Thought in Keats's The Eve of St. Agnes.
Lehigh University, 2014.
Giovanelli, Marcello. Text World Theory and Keats' Poetry: The Cognitive Poetics of Desire,
Dreams and Nightmares. A&C Black, 2013.
Peters, Cameron Luke, and Peter Anderson. "Making Love’: The Evocation of Romantic
Materialism in John Keats’s ‘The Eve of St. Agnes." (2015).
Gammelgaard, Lasse. "Two Trajectories of Reader Response in Narrative Poetry: Roses and
Risings in Keats's" The Eve of St. Agnes"." Narrative 22.2 (2014): 203-218.

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Bibliography
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Internet. 15 Mar. 2019. . Available: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44470/the-eve-
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Shmoop.com. "The Eve of St. Agnes: Stanza 1 Summary". Shmoop.com, 2019. Online.
Internet. 15 Mar. 2019. . Available: https://www.shmoop.com/the-eve-of-st-agnes/stanza-1-
summary.html.
English Language and Literature pages. "The Eve of St Agnes 1819". English Language and
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prezi.com. "Some readers view Porphyro as the poem’s hero; some see him". prezi.com,
2019. Online. Internet. 15 Mar. 2019. . Available: https://prezi.com/ehn6islbwlgc/some-
readers-view-porphyro-as-the-poems-hero-some-see-him/.
Gradesaver.com. "Keats’ Poems and Letters “The Eve of St. Agnes” Summary and
Analysis". Gradesaver.com, 2019. Online. Internet. 15 Mar. 2019. . Available:
https://www.gradesaver.com/keats-poems-and-letters/study-guide/summary-the-eve-of-st-
agnes.
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poems Study Guide from Crossref-it.info". Crossref-it.info, 2019. Online. Internet. 15 Mar.
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