The Lady Of Shallot Notes Essay

The Lady of Shalott
by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

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eNotes: Table of Contents
1. The Lady of Shalott: Introduction 2. The Lady of Shalott: Text of the Poem 3. The Lady of Shalott: Alfred, Lord Tennyson Biography 4. The Lady of Shalott: Summary 5. The Lady of Shalott: Themes 6. The Lady of Shalott: Style 7. The Lady of Shalott: Historical Context 8. The Lady of Shalott: Critical Overview 9. The Lady of Shalott: Essays and Criticism ♦ Differences between Tennyson's 1833 and 1842 Versions of Poem ♦ "Cracked from Side to Side": Sexual Politics in "The Lady of Shalott" ♦ The Quest for the "Nameless" in Tennyson's "The Lady of Shalott" 10. The Lady of Shalott: Compare and Contrast 11. The Lady of Shalott: Topics for Further Study 12. The Lady of Shalott: Media Adaptations 13. The Lady of Shalott: What Do I Read Next? 14. The Lady of Shalott: Bibliography and Further Reading

The Lady of Shalott: Introduction
"The Lady of Shalott" tells the story of a woman who lives in a tower in Shalott, which is an island on a river that runs, along with the road beside it, to Camelot, the setting of the legends about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Every day, the woman weaves a tapestry picture of the landscape that is visible from her window, including Camelot. There is, however, a curse on her; the woman does not know the cause of the curse, but she knows that she cannot look directly out of the window, so she views the subjects of her artwork through a mirror that is beside her. The woman is happy to weave, but is tired of looking at life only as a reflection. One day, Sir Lancelot rides by, looking bold and handsome in his shining armor, and singing. The woman goes to the window to look directly out...