The Lady of Shalott

Question

by Alfred Lord Tennyson

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 reached 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 around 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."

Answer 1

"The Lady of Shalott" is a poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson, reflecting themes of isolation, beauty, and tragic fate. The poem is set in the mythical landscape of Camelot, with the Lady of Shalott confined to a tower, cursed to view the world only through a mirror. The narrative unfolds as she longs for a connection to the outside world, particularly to the knights of Camelot, ultimately leading to her tragic decision to see them directly.

Key Themes and Analysis:

1. Isolation and Imprisonment: The Lady's life is characterized by her physical and emotional isolation. She is confined to her tower and is unable to engage with the world directly, which symbolizes the constraints placed on women during Tennyson's time.

2. The Mirror: The mirror serves as a metaphor for limited perception and the constraints of reality. The Lady sees life reflected and distorted, emphasizing how her experiences are detached from the vibrancy of real life.

3. Romantic Longing: The Lady's attraction to Lancelot, a knight of Camelot, represents her desire for love and companionship. Despite being aware of the risks, her yearning propels her towards defiance of her curse.

4. Tragic Consequences: Her choice to look directly at Camelot results in catastrophic consequences. The ultimate price she pays for seeking connection and breaking free from her curse is her death, underscoring the vulnerability of the individual in the face of societal constraints.

5. Beauty and Death: The poem's conclusion reveals the juxtaposition of beauty and tragedy. The Lady's death is serene and poignant, reflecting her ethereal beauty and the romantic idealization of death, but it also critiques the neglect and fear surrounding female autonomy.

6. Public Reaction: The response of the Knights and citizens upon discovering her body emphasizes the themes of loss and the superficial nature of recognition. While they admire her beauty, their reaction highlights a failure to appreciate her humanity and suffering when she was alive.

Overall, "The Lady of Shalott" serves as a rich exploration of art, emotion, and societal constraints, using haunting imagery and lyrical language to convey the tragic essence of the Lady's existence.