The Lady of Shalott
by Alfred Lord Tennyson
(1842)
Originally written in 1833, The Lady of Shallot has been depicted in many paintings, song, and verse. It is an incredibly beautiful poem, and if you haven't read it, DO IT. It's worth the time. Fair maiden cursed forever to never be able to see the world, except through a mirror, spends her time weaving a magical web. Until she sees the beautiful knight, Sir Lancelot, and risks the curse to glance at him. Unfortunately for her, she can't escape the curse, even for Lancelot. It's actually incredibly sad to think that she risked everything for love....a love that was never returned. In fact, Lancelot never even had a chance to meet the Lady of Shallot.
"There she weaves by night and day
A magic web with colors gay. She has heard a whisper say, A curse is on her if she stay to look down on Camelot. She knows not what the curse may be, And so she weaveth steadily, And little other care hath she, The Lady of Shallot." Then she sees Lancelot: "His broad clear bow in sunlight glowed; On burnished hooves his war horse trode, From underneath his helmet flowed His coal-black curls as on he rode, as he rode down to Camelot. From the bank and from the river He flashed into the crystal mirror, "Tirra Lirra", by the river Sang Sir Lancelot." "She left her web, she left the loom, She made Three paces through 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 cracked from side to side, "The Curse is come upon me," cried, The Lady of Shallot." |
Lady of Shalott at shmoop.com |
A Favorite Scene from Anne of Green Gables
Beautiful images - Loreena McKennitt's song based on Tennyson's The Lady of Shalott.
Same song with lyrics for easy reading along...
With lyrics and beautiful images...