'The Lady Of Shalott' by Alfred Lord Tennyson
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Poems1833 (Revised 1842)Part IOn either side the river lie
Long fields of barley and of rye,
That clothe the wold and meet the sky;
And thro' the field the road runs byTo many-tower'd Camelot;
And up and down the people go,
Gazing where the lilies blow
Round an island there below,
The island of Shalott.Willows whiten, aspens quiver,
Little breezes dusk and shiver
Thro' the wave that runs for ever
By the island in the riverFlowing down to Camelot.
Four gray walls, and four gray towers,
Overlook a space of flowers,
And the silent isle imbowers
The Lady of Shalott.By the margin, willow veil'd,
Slide the heavy barges trail'd
By slow horses; and unhail'd
The shallop flitteth silken-sail'dSkimming down to Camelot:
But who hath seen her wave her hand?
Or at the casement seen her stand?
Or is she known in all the land,
The Lady of Shalott?Only reapers, reaping early
In among the bearded barley,
Hear a song that echoes cheerly
From the river winding clearly,Down to tower'd Camelot:
And by the moon the reaper weary,
Piling sheaves in uplands airy,
Listening, whispers " 'Tis the fairy
Lady of Shalott."Part IIThere she weaves by night and day
A magic web with colours gay.
She has heard a whisper say,
A curse is on her if she stayTo look down to Camelot.
She knows not what the curse may be,
And so she weaveth steadily,
And little other care hath she,
The Lady of Shalott.And moving thro' a mirror clear
That hangs before her all the year,
Shadows of the world appear.
There she sees the highway nearWinding down to Camelot:
There the river eddy whirls,
And there the surly village-churls,
And the red cloaks of market girls,
Pass onward from Shalott.Sometimes a troop of damsels glad,
An abbot on an ambling pad,
Sometimes a curly shepherd-lad,
Or long-hair'd page in crimson clad,Goes by to tower'd Camelot;
And sometimes thro' the mirror blue
The knights come riding two and two:
She hath no loyal knight and true,
The Lady of Shalott.But in her web she still delights
To weave the mirror's magic sights,
For often thro' the silent nights
A funeral, with plumes and lightsAnd music, went to Camelot:
Or when the moon was overhead,
Came two young lovers lately wed:
"I am half sick of shadows," said
The Lady of Shalott.Part IIIA bow-shot from her bower-eaves,
He rode between the barley-sheaves,
The sun came dazzling thro' the leaves,
And flamed upon the brazen greavesOf bold Sir Lancelot.
A red-cross knight for ever kneel'd
To a lady in his shield,
That sparkled on the yellow field,
Beside remote Shalott.The gemmy bridle glitter'd free,
Like to some branch of stars we see
Hung in the golden Galaxy.
The bridle bells rang merrilyAs he rode down to Camelot:
And from his blazon'd baldric slung
A mighty silver bugle hung,
And as he rode his armour rung,
Beside remote Shalott.All in the blue unclouded weather
Thick-jewell'd shone the saddle-leather,
The helmet and the helmet-feather
Burn'd like one burning flame together,As he rode down to Camelot.
As often thro' the purple night,
Below the starry clusters bright,
Some bearded meteor, trailing light,
Moves over still Shalott.His broad clear brow in sunlight glow'd;
On burnish'd hooves his war-horse trode;
From underneath his helmet flow'd
His coal-black curls as on he rode,As he rode down to Camelot.
From the bank and from the river
He flash'd into the crystal mirror,
"Tirra lirra," by the river
Sang Sir Lancelot.She left the web, she left the loom,
She made three paces thro' the room,
She saw the water-lily bloom,
She saw the helmet and the plume,She look'd down to Camelot.
Out flew the web and floated wide;
The mirror crack'd from side to side;
"The curse is come upon me," cried
The Lady of Shalott.Part IVIn the stormy east-wind straining,
The pale yellow woods were waning,
The broad stream in his banks complaining,
Heavily the low sky rainingOver tower'd Camelot;
Down she came and found a boat
Beneath a willow left afloat,
And round about the prow she wrote
The Lady of Shalott.And down the river's dim expanse
Like some bold seer in a trance,
Seeing all his own mischance--
With a glassy countenanceDid she look to Camelot.
And at the closing of the day
She loosed the chain, and down she lay;
The broad stream bore her far away,
The Lady of Shalott.Lying, robed in snowy white
That loosely flew to left and right--
The leaves upon her falling light--
Thro' the noises of the nightShe floated down to Camelot:
And as the boat-head wound along
The willowy hills and fields among,
They heard her singing her last song,
The Lady of Shalott.Heard a carol, mournful, holy,
Chanted loudly, chanted lowly,
Till her blood was frozen slowly,
And her eyes were darken'd wholly,Turn'd to tower'd Camelot.
For ere she reach'd upon the tide
The first house by the water-side,
Singing in her song she died,
The Lady of Shalott.Under tower and balcony,
By garden-wall and gallery,
A gleaming shape she floated by,
Dead-pale between the houses high,Silent into Camelot.
Out upon the wharfs they came,
Knight and burgher, lord and dame,
And round the prow they read her name,
The Lady of Shalott.Who is this? and what is here?
And in the lighted palace near
Died the sound of royal cheer;
And they cross'd themselves for fear,All the knights at Camelot:
But Lancelot mused a little space;
He said, "She has a lovely face;
God in his mercy lend her grace,
The Lady of Shalott."
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Lady of Shalott: A Masterpiece of Victorian Poetry
Have you ever read a poem that left you breathless, in awe of the sheer beauty and power of its language? That is what Alfred Lord Tennyson's "The Lady of Shalott" does to me every time I read it. This masterpiece of Victorian poetry is not just a story of a doomed woman trapped in a tower, but a meditation on art, love, and the human condition.
The Story
The poem tells the story of a mysterious lady who lives in a tower on the island of Shalott, near Camelot. She is cursed to weave a tapestry all day, never looking out of the window, or she will die. She sees the world only through a mirror, which reflects the images of people and things passing by on the nearby river. One day, she sees Sir Lancelot riding by, and she cannot resist looking at him directly. The curse comes true, and she leaves her tower, gets on a boat, and dies before reaching Camelot.
On the surface, this is a tragic love story, with the lady sacrificing her life for a glimpse of the handsome knight. But there is so much more to it than that. Let's dive deeper into the poem and explore its themes and symbols.
The Weaving
The Lady of Shalott's weaving is not just a mundane task assigned to her by her curse. It is a metaphor for her art, her creativity, and her isolation from the world outside. She weaves images of knights and ladies, battles and banquets, but she is not part of them. She is an observer, a recorder of other people's lives, never living her own.
"She left the web, she left the loom,
She made three paces thro' the room,
She saw the water-lily bloom,
She saw the helmet and the plume,
She looked down to Camelot.
Out flew the web and floated wide;
The mirror crack'd from side to side;
'The curse is come upon me,' cried
The Lady of Shalott."
When she sees Lancelot, she realizes that her isolation is unbearable, and she wants to be part of the world she has been weaving about. But the curse is too strong, and she dies before she can fulfill her dream. The message is clear: art is not enough; we need human contact, love, and companionship.
The Mirror
The mirror is a crucial element of the poem, and it symbolizes the Lady of Shalott's detachment from reality. She sees the world only indirectly, through a reflection, never experiencing it directly. The mirror also represents art's ability to reflect and interpret reality, but it is a flawed and incomplete reflection, just like the Lady of Shalott's tapestry.
"A pale-faced lady, too,
Laid her snowy hand in his:
One seemed come from a far-off land,
One from the palace of a queen."
The mirror cracks when the Lady of Shalott looks at Lancelot directly, signaling the end of her isolation and the beginning of her tragic fate.
The Curse
The curse that the Lady of Shalott is under is not explained in detail, but it is a powerful force that controls her life. It is unclear who or what put the curse on her, but it is a reminder of the dangers of isolation and the importance of human relationships. The curse is not only a punishment but also a warning, a cautionary tale for those who think they can live without love and connection.
"Heard a carol, mournful, holy,
Chanted loudly, chanted lowly,
Till her blood was frozen slowly,
And her eyes were darkened wholly,
Turn'd to tower'd Camelot."
The Conclusion
"The Lady of Shalott" is a hauntingly beautiful poem that speaks to the human condition in a timeless way. It is a reminder that art and creativity are essential but not enough, that we need human connection and love to live fully. It is also a meditation on the dangers of isolation and the power of curses and fate.
"Out flew the web and floated wide;
The mirror crack'd from side to side;
'The curse is come upon me,' cried
The Lady of Shalott."
Tennyson's language is mesmerizing, his imagery vivid and evocative. He captures the essence of the Victorian era's fascination with chivalry, romance, and the supernatural, but he goes beyond that to explore universal themes that resonate with readers of all ages and cultures.
If you haven't read "The Lady of Shalott" yet, do yourself a favor and read it now. If you have read it, read it again, and let its beauty and wisdom wash over you. This is a poem that will stay with you for a lifetime.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Lady of Shalott: A Masterpiece of Victorian Poetry
Alfred Lord Tennyson's "The Lady of Shalott" is a classic poem that has captivated readers for generations. This masterpiece of Victorian poetry tells the story of a young woman who is cursed to live in isolation on the island of Shalott. The Lady of Shalott is a tragic figure who is doomed to a life of loneliness and despair, and her story is a powerful commentary on the limitations placed on women in Victorian society.
The poem is divided into four parts, each of which tells a different part of the Lady of Shalott's story. In the first part, we are introduced to the Lady of Shalott and her curse. She is a weaver who spends her days creating beautiful tapestries, but she is not allowed to look directly at the outside world. Instead, she must view the world through a mirror that reflects the images she sees in her tapestries. The Lady of Shalott is a prisoner of her own art, and she longs to break free from her isolation and experience the world for herself.
In the second part of the poem, the Lady of Shalott sees Sir Lancelot riding by on his horse. She is immediately drawn to him and cannot resist the temptation to look directly at him. As soon as she does, her curse is activated, and she knows that she is doomed to die. The Lady of Shalott is torn between her desire to experience the world and her fear of the consequences of breaking her curse.
The third part of the poem is the most dramatic. The Lady of Shalott leaves her tower and sets out in a boat to follow Sir Lancelot. As she floats down the river, she sings a haunting song that captures the sadness and desperation of her situation. The Lady of Shalott knows that she is going to die, but she is willing to risk everything for a chance to experience the world outside of her tower.
In the final part of the poem, the Lady of Shalott dies as she reaches Camelot. Her body is found by the knights of the court, who are amazed by her beauty and the tragedy of her story. The Lady of Shalott is a symbol of the limitations placed on women in Victorian society, and her death is a powerful commentary on the consequences of breaking free from those limitations.
One of the most striking aspects of "The Lady of Shalott" is its use of imagery. Tennyson's descriptions of the Lady of Shalott's tapestries and the world outside her tower are vivid and evocative. The tapestries are described as "woven with a magic thread" and "a mirror of the world." The world outside the tower is described as "the river winding clearly" and "the willows whiten." These images create a sense of enchantment and mystery that draws the reader into the Lady of Shalott's world.
Another important aspect of the poem is its use of symbolism. The Lady of Shalott is a symbol of the limitations placed on women in Victorian society. She is a talented artist who is forced to live in isolation and denied the opportunity to experience the world for herself. Sir Lancelot is a symbol of the outside world and the freedom that the Lady of Shalott longs for. The curse that the Lady of Shalott is under is a symbol of the societal constraints that limit women's opportunities and choices.
The Lady of Shalott's death is a powerful commentary on the consequences of breaking free from those constraints. She is punished for her desire to experience the world outside her tower, and her death is a tragic reminder of the dangers that women faced when they tried to break free from the limitations placed on them by society.
In conclusion, "The Lady of Shalott" is a masterpiece of Victorian poetry that continues to captivate readers today. Tennyson's use of imagery and symbolism creates a haunting and evocative portrait of a young woman who is trapped by the limitations placed on her by society. The Lady of Shalott's story is a powerful commentary on the consequences of breaking free from those limitations, and her death is a tragic reminder of the dangers that women faced in Victorian society.
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