The Lady of Shalott."
The Lady of Shalott is a narrative poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Tennyson wrote two versions, one completed in 1833 and another in 1842, which tell the same story but vary in length and wording. Both versions of the poem are composed of four parts, all written in iambic tetrameter with a rhyme scheme of aaaabcccb plus a refrain that ends in "Shalott".
It is based on the Italian novella La Damigella di Scalot, which is in turn inspired by a minor character from Arthurian Legend, Elaine of Astolat.
The poem's Elaine is a young noblewoman who lives on an island on a river that flows into the banks of Camelot. She's cursed to never view the outside world, and instead weaves what she sees reflected in a mirror on a tapestry in her room. But she grows increasingly weary of her isolation. Finally, she sees the noble Sir Lancelot passing by in the mirror, and decides to look at him. This causes the curse to take effect. Knowing she is about to die, the Lady gets on a boat and floats downriver towards Camelot, where her body is received by its inhabitants.
The poem is known for its themes of isolation and artistry, as well as its romantic descriptions of Camelot and surrounding areas.
Tropes:
- Death Song: The lady is described as chanting a "deathsong" as she lays dying on her boat.
- Ethereal White Dress: Both versions of the poem take care to decribe the white garments the Lady wears before she gets on the boat, knowing she's on her deathbed:1833: A cloudwhite crown of pearl she dight,
All raimented in snowy white
1842: Lying, robed in snowy white
That loosely flew to left and right— - Girl in the Tower: The Lady is cursed to stay on a building with "Four gray walls, and four gray towers". She knowingly decides to enact the curse on her and leave, even if it means her death.
- Knight in Shining Armor: Part III of the poem is dedicated to describing Sir Lancelot. He is written as a bold and loyal knight who sings a song by the river, and the Lady cannot help but take a look at him.
- Lady and Knight: Alluded to when the Lady sees a group of knights pass by, and the narrator notes that "she hath no loyal knight and true".
- Partly Cloudy with a Chance of Death: Sunset/dusk variation: the lady dies "at the closing of the day".
- Seasonal Baggage: The passing of the seasons (which in turn describe the lady's long isolation) is implied in the first part, which goes from describing lilies and rye to whitening willows and shivering trees.
- Textile Work Is Feminine: The poem's heroine is a lady who is eternally weaving the reflections of what she sees outside on her loom.
