'The Lady Of Shalott' by Alfred Lord Tennyson
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Part I
On 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 by
To 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 river
Flowing 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'd
Skimming 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 II
There 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 stay
To 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 near
Winding 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 lights
And 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 III
A bow-shot from her bower-eaves,
He rode between the barley-sheaves,
The sun came dazzling thro' the leaves,
And flamed upon the brazen greaves
Of 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 merrily
As 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 IV
In the stormy east-wind straining,
The pale yellow woods were waning,
The broad stream in his banks complaining,
Heavily the low sky raining
Over 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 countenance
Did 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 night
She 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
When it comes to Victorian poetry, few names are as renowned as Alfred Lord Tennyson. His works are not only celebrated for their technical brilliance but also for their emotional depth and philosophical insights. Among his many poems, one that stands out as a masterpiece is "The Lady of Shalott." This hauntingly beautiful narrative poem, which was published in 1832, has captured the imaginations of readers for over a century. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the themes, symbolism, and stylistic features that make "The Lady of Shalott" a timeless classic.
Plot Summary
The poem is set in the mythical land of Camelot during the reign of King Arthur. The Lady of Shalott is a young woman who lives in a tower on an island near Camelot. She spends her days weaving a tapestry and occasionally glancing at the world outside through a mirror. However, she is under a curse that forbids her from looking directly at the world outside. She can only see the reflection of the outside world in the mirror.
One day, she sees the handsome knight Sir Lancelot riding by, and she can't resist the temptation to look at him directly. As soon as she does, the mirror cracks, and the curse comes true. The Lady of Shalott knows that her time has come, and she leaves her tower to travel down the river towards Camelot. She dies before reaching the city, and the people of Camelot are awed by her beauty and saddened by her tragic fate.
Themes
At its core, "The Lady of Shalott" is a poem about isolation, temptation, and mortality. The Lady of Shalott is cut off from the world, and her only connection to it is through a mirror. She is living a life of solitude and drudgery, with no freedom or agency. The curse that keeps her from looking directly at the world represents the constraints imposed on women in Victorian society. Tennyson himself has said that the poem is about "the isolation of a human soul, cut off from humanity with no hope of return."
The Lady of Shalott's temptation to look directly at the world represents the human desire for knowledge and experience. She knows that there is more to life than what she sees in the mirror, and she longs to be a part of it. However, her desire for knowledge comes at a great cost. By breaking the curse, she seals her own fate and brings about her own death. This is a powerful reminder that knowledge and experience come with a price.
The poem also explores the theme of mortality. The Lady of Shalott's journey down the river towards Camelot is a metaphor for the journey of life. She knows that she is going to die, but she still wants to experience the world before she does. Her death is not a punishment, but a natural consequence of her actions. This is a poignant reminder that life is fleeting and that we should make the most of it while we can.
Symbolism
Tennyson's use of symbolism in "The Lady of Shalott" is masterful. The mirror that the Lady of Shalott uses to see the world represents art. She sees the world through the lens of her own creation, just as artists see the world through their art. The curse that keeps her from looking directly at the world represents the limitations that society imposes on artists. Artists are often expected to conform to certain standards and to create art that reflects the values of their society. The Lady of Shalott's desire to break free from these limitations represents the desire of artists to express themselves freely and to create art that is true to their own vision.
The Lady of Shalott's tapestry represents her own life. She weaves it day in and day out, but she never leaves her tower to experience the world for herself. This represents the way in which we can become trapped in our own lives, never venturing out to experience new things or meet new people.
The river that the Lady of Shalott travels down represents the journey of life. It is both beautiful and dangerous, just as life is both full of wonder and fraught with peril. The Lady of Shalott's decision to leave her tower and travel down the river represents the way in which we must take risks and step out of our comfort zones if we want to truly experience life.
Stylistic Features
Tennyson's use of language and form in "The Lady of Shalott" is nothing short of brilliant. The poem is written in a ballad form, with a regular rhyme scheme and a steady rhythm. This gives the poem a musical quality that makes it easy to read aloud and easy to remember.
The use of repetition is also a key stylistic feature in the poem. The repeated phrase "willows whiten" creates a sense of continuity and reinforces the idea that the Lady of Shalott's life is cyclical and repetitive. The repetition of the phrase "she left the web, she left the loom" emphasizes the Lady of Shalott's decision to break free from her old life and embark on a new journey. The repetition of the phrase "the curse is come upon me" creates a sense of inevitability and tragedy.
Tennyson's use of imagery is also noteworthy. The descriptions of the Lady of Shalott's tapestry, the river, and the landscape around her are vivid and evocative. The use of color, such as the "blue unclouded weather" and the "red cloaks of market girls," creates a sense of richness and beauty.
Conclusion
"The Lady of Shalott" is a true masterpiece of Victorian poetry. Its themes of isolation, temptation, and mortality are as relevant today as they were in Tennyson's time. The poem's powerful use of symbolism and stylistic features makes it a work of art that can be appreciated on many different levels. Whether you are a lover of poetry or simply enjoy a good story, "The Lady of Shalott" is a must-read.
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 hauntingly beautiful work of art tells the story of a young woman who is trapped in a tower and cursed to weave a tapestry all day long. She is forbidden from looking out of her window, but she cannot resist the temptation to do so. When she finally does, she sees Sir Lancelot riding by and falls in love with him. This leads to her tragic demise, but her story is one that has resonated with readers for over a century.
The poem is set in the mythical land of Camelot, and the Lady of Shalott is a character who is both mysterious and tragic. She is a woman who is trapped in a tower, and she spends her days weaving a tapestry that depicts the world outside her window. She is forbidden from looking out of her window, but she cannot resist the temptation to do so. When she finally does, she sees Sir Lancelot riding by and falls in love with him. This leads to her tragic demise, but her story is one that has resonated with readers for over a century.
The Lady of Shalott is a complex character, and Tennyson uses a variety of literary techniques to bring her to life. One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the use of imagery. Tennyson paints a vivid picture of the Lady of Shalott's world, and he uses a variety of images to do so. For example, he describes the Lady of Shalott's tapestry as "a magic web with colors gay" and "a mirror of the world." These images help to create a sense of the Lady of Shalott's isolation and her longing for the outside world.
Another important aspect of the poem is the use of symbolism. Tennyson uses a variety of symbols to represent the Lady of Shalott's situation. For example, the mirror that the Lady of Shalott uses to view the outside world is a symbol of her isolation. The tapestry that she weaves is a symbol of her desire to be a part of the world outside her tower. The curse that she is under is a symbol of the restrictions that society places on women.
The Lady of Shalott's tragic fate is also an important aspect of the poem. Tennyson uses the Lady of Shalott's death to comment on the role of women in Victorian society. The Lady of Shalott is a woman who is trapped in a tower and forced to weave a tapestry all day long. She is forbidden from looking out of her window, and she is punished for doing so. This can be seen as a commentary on the restrictions that society placed on women during the Victorian era.
The Lady of Shalott's death is also a commentary on the power of love. The Lady of Shalott falls in love with Sir Lancelot, and this leads to her tragic demise. This can be seen as a commentary on the power of love to both liberate and destroy. Love is a force that can bring people together, but it can also tear them apart.
In conclusion, Alfred Lord Tennyson's "The Lady of Shalott" is a masterpiece of Victorian poetry. The poem tells the story of a young woman who is trapped in a tower and cursed to weave a tapestry all day long. She is forbidden from looking out of her window, but she cannot resist the temptation to do so. When she finally does, she sees Sir Lancelot riding by and falls in love with him. This leads to her tragic demise, but her story is one that has resonated with readers for over a century. Tennyson uses a variety of literary techniques, including imagery and symbolism, to bring the Lady of Shalott to life. The poem is a commentary on the role of women in Victorian society and the power of love. It is a hauntingly beautiful work of art that will continue to captivate readers for generations to come.
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