Literature Blog
Lady of Shalott Review
Published in 1833 by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, this is a beautiful poem about woman who weaves the view she sees of Camelot. The woman lives in a tower and directly below the tower is the boat and the river she weaves in. She is known as "The Lady of Shalott."
The woman is happy to weave, but another part of her is unhappy because she is just tired of only looking at life as a reflection. There is also a curse on the woman. She can't look directly out of the window, so she
instead views the references of her artwork through a mirror that is beside her.
One day Sir Lancelot is riding by in a jolly mood, looking handsome as usual. The woman is attracted and looks out the window, breaking the curse. She then runs down and writes"The Lady of Shalott" on the side of the
boat, and floats off toward Camelot. As she floats away peacefully, she dies. When
boat floats past Camelot, all of the knights make the sign of the cross, because of the corpse they see. But Lancelot simply remarks how beautiful her face is.
This is a favorite poem of mine because I can relate to the artistic side of it. Of course I love my art, but there are many things, other than the art that I become tired of. I become tired of being "just an average artist", or tired of even just feeling "average." We all tend to get tired of simple things in life that cause us to stress, and sometimes we just need to cut those things out and realize they aren't worth our time. But we all seem to have our own curse, because it's hard to let go of certain things. Lady Of Shalott is a generally happy woman, with a repetitive life and no escape. Sadly, her escape is her fate, but she has no choice because of the curse.
http://www.online-literature.com/donne/720/
I can definitely agree with you when you say that you can relate to this poem when it comes to thinking about how average your art is. I feel the same way about mine. I really think your review of the poem is very insightful, and it helped me understand it a bit more, and that was really helpful. Thank you, Angela :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Louise!:) I would comment on yours, and i will later, but im having some technical difficulties at the moment:P. i emailed Carty. I feel bad because I could do everything, except comment on other people's.
ReplyDeleteBefore I came to college, I felt the same way about life. I was happy but it was the same thing every day. When I saw what I could be doing through the window of life I immediately ran out to great it. I'm just hoping my boat ride takes 80 more years before the curse of life takes its toll.
ReplyDeletehi aj,thanks!
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you about life being overly mundane. This poem is very relatable because there are times when I feel imprisoned by daily routines and all I want to do is break free of that. I think that her inability to see Camelot except through the reflection of a mirror represents her being sheltered. She's not able to experience it for herself so she resorts to her imagination and her art as an escape.Though we may not have a curse in a literal sense, those who are sheltered can definitely relate. I use music as my escape from boredom :) (and by the way Angela, your art is fabulous!)
ReplyDeletethanks love!! :)
ReplyDeleteI did a painting based on this poem for the art show, by the way :P
I was originally planning to do one of the Sirens, but didn't have time.
ANGIEEE! You know how much I love this poem. <3
ReplyDeleteYou have an interesting interpretation of the poem, comparing it to your artwork. It's also interesting how one cannot resist temptation even when they are conscious of the fact that it could end their life. Poor Lady Elaine....
Jordyyyy! :D <3
ReplyDeleteAngie! I have never read this poem before but it sounds like something I would be more than interested in! It reminds me of a Disney Movie, the beautiful girl stuck in a castle forbid to do something. I also think, based on your summary of the poem that it proves temptation and thought will never fail. Lady of Shallot can not help but look out her window to find Sir Lancelot even though it will end her life. I believe this demonstrates that temptation and thought are sometimes stronger than the person who holds it! Great Job (:
ReplyDeleteGreat to see that this blog gives you a platform for your insights. And your post even seemed to inspire a few of your classmates to read Tennyson -very cool.
ReplyDelete