"The Lady of Shalott", is a famous poem written by Lord Alfred Tennyson in 1842.The poem tells us the story of the Lady of Shalott,who lives in an island castle in a river which flows to Camelot.She has been cursed to endlessly weave a magic web and she can not look outside,directly at the world.She can only see the world reflected through a mirror;she can only see it's shadows.
One day she sees Sir Lanchelot through the mirror and she stops weaving.She leaves the castle,gets to a boat,where she writes her name and floats to Camelot.
She dies before getting in the palace and when Lancelot sees her dead,he praizes her beauty.
There has been much analysis of the poem.It shows the contradiction between art and life;the Lady is the artist that weaves her art and is isolated by the world,which is believed is what Tennyson thought of himself.
It can also be interpreted as the rebellion of a girl who is locked in a tower , protected from real life.
Or we can even see ourselves today,waching the world through internet or tv,not facing what is real.
You can read the poem in the link
http://ebooks.gutenberg.us/WorldeBookLibrary.com/shalltwo.htm
The poem has inpired many painters
John W. Waterhouse,"The Lady of Shalott"
John W. Waterhouse,"I Am Half Sick of Shadows' said the Lady of Shalott"
William Maw Egley,"The Lady of Shalott"
Sidney H. Meteyard,"I Am Half Sick of Shadows' said the Lady of Shalott"
John Atkinson Grimshaw,"The Lady of Shalott"
John William Waterhouse,"The Lady of Shalott"Check out Lorenna MCkennitt singing "The Lady of Shalott"
