LamiaLamia

Will H. Low: from an 1889 Will H. Low: from an 1889 edition of the poemedition of the poem

Anna Lea Merritt (1844 - 1930)Anna Lea Merritt (1844 - 1930)Lamia, The Serpent WomanLamia, The Serpent Woman

Herbert James Draper Herbert James Draper (1909): The Lamia(1909): The Lamia

John William Waterhouse: John William Waterhouse: Lamia [by the pond] - 1909Lamia [by the pond] - 1909

• Presides in ancient Greek mythologies, updated through the ages.

• (Grand-)daughter of Poseidon• Queen of Libya• Had an affair with Zeus, bore him children; enraged, Hera (Zeus’

wife) killed them out of jealousy.• Lamia went insane with grief. Envious of other mothers, she ate

their children.• Appearance unclear - shape-shifter? Removable eyes? Distorted

face? Serpent woman? • Seductress as of 9th century: a supernatural threat to marriage.• Later, story used as a threat to children - go to bed or the lamia

will come and eat you!

Lamia’s MythologyLamia’s Mythology

Key Themes in KeatsKey Themes in Keats

• The themes we’ve seen so far include:– Power of Women and/or/v Men– Old Age– Reality v Dreams/Imagination– Mystical (supernatural)– Religion– Ambiguity/Uncertainty

Symbolism Symbolism

• The use of physical things to represent ideas and emotions. It is the practice of representing things by means of symbols or of attributing symbolic meanings or significance to objects, events, or relationships.

Symbols - ‘Abstract ideas’ Symbols - ‘Abstract ideas’

What ‘abstract ideas’ might the following settings symbolise?

• The lake in La Belle• The chapel in Eve• The banqueting

chamber in Eve• The beldame’s room in

Eve• Madeline’s room in Eve• The ‘outside’ in Eve

What ‘abstract ideas’ might the following characters symbolise?

• The woman in La Belle• The knight in La Belle• The beadsman in Eve• The beldame in Eve• Madeline in Eve• Porphyro in Eve

Plot Prediction• What do we expect to see from a Keats plot

with the following characters:– Hermes: one of the Greek Gods who leaves

Olympus (the home of the Gods) in search of a beautiful nymph.

– Lamia: a sorceress who is transformed from a serpent into a beautiful woman.

– Lycius: a young and handsome Corinthian who is looking for love.

– Apollonius: a wise advisor and former tutor to Lycius

SettingSetting

• Where does Keats set the opening to his poem?

• How does Keats reveal the setting?• What are the key quotes/ evidence that

reveal the setting?• Evaluate the significance/ meaning of

the setting.

Keats’ WomenKeats’ Women

• What do we already know?– Victims?– Villains?– Naive?– Manipulative?– Romantic?

Lamia - lines 47-145Lamia - lines 47-145

• What does Keats reveal about Lamia?• How does Keats reveal the character?• What are the key quotes/ evidence that

reveal the character?• Evaluate the ways in which her

character might be interpreted.

Character AnalysisCharacter Analysis

• Lamia is depicted as a .... character.• Keats presents the character by….• This is shown when….• This could have the effect of….• Alternatively, it may have the effect

of….

Key QuestionKey Question

Are women presented as positive or negative figures in Keats’ poetry?

Positive Negative

“Eve of St Agnes”

“La Belle Dame”

“Lamia”

Recap on Imagery Recap on Imagery

How does Keats create imagery in his poetry?– Appeal to the senses– Pictorial imagery – intense visual imagery– Concrete imagery – the use of concrete images

to portray abstract ideas– Synaesthesia – the substitution of one sense for

another.

Imagery: 146-184Imagery: 146-184

• What examples of imagery does Keats use?

• What type of imagery is it?• Evaluate the ways in which

the images might be interpreted.

Type of imagery

Example Effect of the image

Allegory is...Allegory is...

• A story with two meanings: – 1) literal; 2)symbolic

• A form of extended metaphor• Objects, people, and actions represent

wider moral, social, religious or political meanings beyond the story itself

• Characters often = personifications of abstract ideas as charity, greed, or envy.

Allegory in “Lamia”Allegory in “Lamia”

• In most cases the allegorical readings focus on the ways in which the three main characters in the poem, Lamia, Lycius, and Apollonius may be said to represent something other than themselves.

• What do you think each of these characters may represent?

Lamia Lycius Apollonius

Allegorical Characters Allegorical Characters in “Lamia”in “Lamia”

Lamia Lycius Apollonius

Fanny Brawne Poetry

Poem Illusion/Dream Text

Keats

Poet Keats/Poet Dreamer

Ego

Charles Brown Philosopher Reviewers Reason/Reality

Public

In Part IIn Part I

• Find evidence for how the following are established the first two stanzas: – Settings– Atmosphere– Lamia– Colour and imagery– Tradition

LoveLove• Who falls in love in this poem?

• How does Keats position the concept of love in the opening?

• How does he present it as the poem progresses?

• What is the defining difference between these loves?

Section ASection A• First question: What ways does the

writer present...– AO2 language, form and structure

• Second question: ‘How far/To what extent’– AO1, AO3, AO4

Section BSection B• AO1, AO2, AO3

• Many narratives have one or more significant moments of crisis.

Write about the significance of crises in the work of the three writers you have studied.

• How do writers use repetition to create meanings in their texts?

In your answer, refer to the work of the three writers you have studied.

• Write about some of the ways characters are created in the three texts you have studied.

• Write about the ways authors use time to shape the order of events in the three texts you have studied.

• Writers often choose their titles carefully to allow for different potential meanings.

Write about some potential meanings of titles in the three texts you have studied.

• Write about the significance of one or two key events in each of the three texts you have studied.

Voices in LamiaVoices in Lamia• Identify the different voices in 1-84 (part

II).• Consider the similarities/ differences in

terms of the viewpoint.• Evaluate the interaction between the

different views/voices within the poem.

Points of ViewPoints of View

• The poem begins with Hermes’ point-of-view.

• Hermes’ point of view moves to Lamia’s point-of-view at line 146 as Hermes & the wood nymph fly away into the forest.

• Does this suggest that the ‘dreams of Gods’ (Hermes) can be fulfilled but not the dreams of mortals (Lycius)?

Recap on Recap on Narrative Voice and Narrative Voice and

ViewpointViewpoint

• Author’s voice/ viewpoint• Narrator’s direct voice/ viewpoint• Narrator’s indirect voice/ viewpoint• Character’s direct voice/ viewpoint• Character’s indirect voice/ viewpoint

Voices – Part 1Voices – Part 1• Lamia’s voice is heard first – line38 – lamenting her

imprisonment.• Hermes voice – line 83 – sounds desperate/ besotted by

the power of his attraction to the wood nymph.• At intervals the voice of the poet interrupts to provide his

point-of-view and question the reader – lines 171-2.• Line 200-201 – the poet directly addresses the reader to

ensure that they are aware of the dramatic tension at key moments.

• Line 395-397 – poet’s voice warns of the unhappiness to come.

Voices – Part 2Voices – Part 2• Part II lines 1-15 – the poet warns of the unhappiness

to follow – love cannot exist in an environment that is isolated from the ‘real’ world.

• Part II line 146 – poet chastises/ warns Lycius of his foolishness in not being satisfied with having Lamia to himself.

• Apollonious is shown to speak with the voice of reason as he sees through Lamia’s deception, contrasting to Lycius’ misguided ranting at the end.

How far do lines 1-84 support a reading of the

poem in which: Lamia symbolises the value of poetry and

its capacity to inspire dream & illusion? Lycius symbolises the role of the poet as a

dreamer? Apollonius symbolises the role of

philosopher and rationalist; a man of reason who is rooted in reality?

Lamia Part 11 1-84Lamia Part 11 1-84• How does the poet use different voices to

keep the reader’s interest in this section of the poem?