Final answer:
Comparing Keats's 'The Eve of St. Agnes' with Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', we see themes of star-crossed lovers, secret meetings, intense atmosphere, and tragic conclusions which show similarities between the two works.
Step-by-step explanation:
There are several specific examples from Keats's 'The Eve of St. Agnes' which make a valid comparison to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Firstly, both works feature young, star-crossed lovers who are driven by intense passion and desire. In The Eve of St. Agnes, Porphyro and Madeline confront family enmity and societal boundaries to be together, reminiscent of the obstacles faced by Romeo and Juliet.
Secondly, the theme of secret rendezvous plays a significant role as Porphyro hides in Madeline's room just as Romeo secretly enters Juliet's garden. Thirdly, a depiction of a tense and dramatic atmosphere is present in both works, where characters are fraught with dread of discovery and the uncertainty of their love. Lastly, both tales end tragically, a signature theme of forbidden love and fate, where in Romeo and Juliet both lovers die, and in The Eve of St. Agnes the conclusion implies that the couple's escape might lead to a similar fate.
The intricate rhymes and sophisticated structure of The Eve of St. Agnes, as Keats utilizes the same rhyme scheme throughout all 42 stanzas, reflect on the intense emotions and serious subject matter of young love reflective in Shakespeare's works.