Character guide

Unknown

major

Also known as mine, Mine, thee, Myself, me, Thy

The pervasive narrator or focal character, often addressed in first and second person.

Saturn

major

Also known as old Saturn, ye, thee, O, Thy

The deposed Titan god, central to the Hyperion narrative and its cosmic struggle.

Endymion

major

Also known as glad Endymion, lone Endymion, giddy Endymion, Dearest Endymion, dear Endymion, young Endymion, mine, Thee, Himself

The shepherd-prince who embarks on a mystical quest for his ideal love.

Lamia

major

Also known as gentle Lamia, fair Lamia, Yourself, thou, your, thee

A serpent-woman transformed into a beautiful bride, central to the poem Lamia.

Lycius

major

Also known as blinded Lycius, Thou, your, yourself, thee, Thy

The young Corinthian who falls in love with Lamia, leading to tragedy.

Lorenzo

major

Also known as young Lorenzo, your, thee

The lover of Isabel, whose murder drives the plot of Isabella.

Isabel

major

Also known as sweet Isabel, thee

The grieving maiden who nurtures her murdered lover's basil pot.

Madeline

major

Also known as fair Madeline, mine, thee

The devout maiden in The Eve of St. Agnes, who dreams of her future husband.

Porphyro

major

Also known as Young Porphyro, young Porphyro, Quoth Porphyro, mine, thou, thee, Thy, thy

The daring lover who steals into Madeline's chamber on St. Agnes' Eve.

Hyperion

supporting

Also known as Blazing Hyperion, himself

The fallen Titan sun-god, struggling against the rise of Apollo.

Apollo

supporting

Also known as Eterne Apollo, the fair Apollo, Delphic Apollo, great Apollo, thee, thy

The god of poetry and light, who ascends to power in Hyperion.

Peona

supporting

Also known as Cynthia, Cynthia bright Peona, thou, thee, thy

Endymion's sister and confidante, who offers him comfort and counsel.

Hermes

supporting

Also known as Maia Mother of Hermes, youthful Maia, Too gentle Hermes, thou, Thee, thee, thy

The messenger god who appears in Lamia, seeking a nymph.

Glaucus

supporting

Also known as poor Glaucus, himself

An aged sea-god rescued by Endymion from a thousand-year enchantment.

Cynthia

supporting

Also known as Poor Cynthia, thou, thee, thy

The moon goddess, Endymion's beloved and guiding light.

Thea

supporting

Also known as thou, thee, thy

The Titaness who comforts Saturn in his desolation.

Moneta

supporting

Also known as sad Moneta, wan Moneta, thee, thy

The goddess of memory, who reveals visions of the Titans to the poet.

Oceanus

supporting

The wise Titan of the sea, who counsels acceptance of the new gods.

Apollonius

supporting

Also known as Sage, Apollonius sage, old Apollonius

The sage philosopher who exposes Lamia's true nature.

Angela

supporting

Also known as Good Angela, Old Angela

Madeline's old nurse, who aids Porphyro's plan.

The Beadsman

minor

Also known as ancient Beadsman

The ascetic figure who opens The Eve of St. Agnes, praying in the cold.

Eban

minor

Also known as your

A servant or attendant figure in the narrative.

The Latmian

minor

Also known as O Latmian, himself

Another epithet for Endymion, referring to his origin from Mount Latmus.

Hum

minor

Also known as gentle Hum, mine, your, you, I

A minor character, possibly a servant or comic figure.

Phoebus

minor

Also known as god Phœbus

Another name for Apollo, the sun god.

Bacchus

minor

Also known as God, the God, young Bacchus, The God, God Bacchus, The frozen God

The god of wine, appearing in revels and mythological contexts.

La Belle Dame Sans Mercy

minor

Also known as Mercy, Isabella, Dame, thou, thee

The mysterious fairy woman who lures knights to their doom.

Dian

minor

Also known as Great Dian

The goddess of the hunt, often identified with Cynthia.

Bertha

minor

Also known as Pearl, Bertha Pearl, The little Bertha, pretty little Bertha, Sweet Bertha, Bertha Blount of, Bertha Blount

A young girl, possibly a character in a lighter narrative.

Calidore

minor

Also known as young Calidore

A young knight from an early Keats poem, embodying chivalric ideals.

Elfinan

minor

Also known as Imperial Elfinan, Elfinan swift, Poor Elfinan, Emperor Elfinan, great Elfinan

An elfin emperor from a fantastical narrative.

Jove

minor

Also known as king Jove

The king of the gods, referenced as an authority figure.

Clymene

minor

A Titaness who laments the fall of the old order.

Venus

minor

Also known as Queen Venus, Thy

The goddess of love, appearing in mythological contexts.

Neptune

minor

The god of the sea, mentioned in the pantheon.

Bellanaine

minor

Also known as fair Bellanaine, Miss Bellanaine, cursed Bellanaine

A fairy princess from a comic narrative.

A venerable priest

minor

A priestly figure who appears in a ceremonial context.

Love

minor

The personified deity of love, often addressed in verse.

Amphion

minor

Also known as Theban Amphion

The mythical musician who built Thebes with his lyre.

Zephyr

minor

Also known as Sad Zephyr, the Zephyr, thy

The personified west wind, a gentle natural force.

Daisy

minor

Also known as Meg Merrilies Old Meg, Meg

A rustic or gypsy character from a ballad.

St. Agnes

minor

Also known as Agnes, meek St. Agnes

The saint whose eve is central to the poem's ritual.

Proserpine

minor

Also known as thy

The queen of the underworld, referenced in myth.

Crafticant

minor

Also known as wily Crafticant, Old Crafticant, Thus Crafticant, myself, Crafticanto

A wily or comic figure from a fantastical tale.

Asia

minor

A personified continent or mythological figure.

Child

minor

Also known as It, it, thee, Its, its

A generic child figure, possibly allegorical.

Goddess

minor

Also known as lonely Goddess, thee

An unnamed goddess, possibly Cynthia or another deity.

Poesy

minor

Also known as its

The personified spirit of poetry.

Niobe

minor

Also known as lonely Niobe, Poor, lonely Niobe

The grieving mother from Greek myth, turned to stone.

Titans

minor

Also known as your, their

The collective race of elder gods in Hyperion.

Princess

minor

A royal female figure, possibly from a narrative.

Pan

minor

Also known as Arcadian Pan

The rustic god of the wild, shepherds, and flocks.

Basil

minor

Also known as it, its

The pot of basil that Isabel nurtures, almost a character itself.

Mnemosyne

minor

The Titaness of memory, mother of the Muses.

Fanny

minor

Also known as Fanny Physician Nature, sweet Fanny, Nature, thou, your, Yourself—your, thee, thy

A beloved figure, possibly a real-life inspiration for Keats.

Echo

minor

Also known as lone Echo, O Echo

The nymph who pines for Narcissus, fading to a voice.

Cupid

minor

Also known as thee

The god of desire, often depicted as a mischievous boy.

The Carian

minor

Also known as Carian, gentle Carian, thou, thee, thy

A figure from Caria, possibly a shepherd or lover.

Ops

minor

A Titaness, wife of Saturn, associated with plenty.

Mercury

minor

Also known as young Mercury

The Roman messenger god, equivalent to Hermes.

Atlas

minor

Also known as Old Atlas, himself

The Titan condemned to hold up the sky.

Hyacinthus

minor

Also known as woodland Hyacinthus

A youth loved by Apollo, turned into the hyacinth flower.

Adonis

minor

A youth of remarkable beauty, loved by Venus.

Scylla

minor

Also known as poor Scylla, Fair Scylla

A sea nymph transformed into a monster, or a maiden in myth.

Aeolus

minor

Also known as Old Æolus, old Æolus

The keeper of the winds in Greek mythology.

Fortune's Fool

minor

Also known as Mr. Dwarfy, the Mule, himself

A comic or unfortunate character in a narrative.

Flora

minor

Also known as Florence

The Roman goddess of flowers and spring.

Muse

minor

Also known as the Muse

The inspirational goddess of poetry, often invoked.

Oberon

minor

Also known as King Oberon

The king of the fairies in folklore.

Cybele

minor

Also known as mother Cybele

The Phrygian mother goddess, associated with nature.

Pallas

minor

An epithet for Athena, goddess of wisdom.

Marian

minor

Also known as Maid Marian, Maid

A figure from Robin Hood legends, a bold outlaw woman.

Enceladus

minor

A giant who fought against the Olympian gods.

Aurora

minor

The Roman goddess of the dawn.

Morpheus

minor

The god of dreams, who shapes visions.

Ulysses

minor

Also known as old Ulysses

The cunning hero of Homer's Odyssey, referenced in allusions.

Charon

minor

Also known as old Charon

The ferryman of the dead across the river Styx.

Fancy

minor

Also known as sweet Fancy, the Fancy

The personified faculty of imagination and whimsy.

Hildebrand

minor

Also known as dwarfish Hildebrand

A dwarfish or comic character from a narrative.

Robin Hood

minor

Also known as Robin

The legendary outlaw of Sherwood Forest.

Panthea

minor

A Titaness, sister of Thea, appearing in Hyperion.