The Lady of Shalott by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

[kellyrfineman]

Today's poem is a lovely one by Tennyson, who was retelling a medieval story about the Lady Elaine of Astolat, who dies of unrequited love for Lancelot. The poem is a significant variation from the original source material, in which Elaine meets and falls in love with Lancelot, who deigns to wear her token (and her brother's armor) in a jousting

Comments

Smiles

[wyckedgood]

I first came accross this poem and began to love it while reading Anne of Green Gables and I always have the image of Anne sinking in her own boat when I read it, in my mind.

My favorite stanza:
But in her web she still delights
To weave the mirror's magic sights,
For often through the silent nights
A funeral, with plumes and lights
    And music, went to Camelot:
Or when the moon was overhead,
Came two young lovers lately wed;
"I am half sick of shadows," said
    The Lady of Shalott.

Shalott always sounded awfull close to Harlot to me. By the by.

The obvious theme to me here is the dangers of isolation.

Re: Smiles

[kellyrfineman]

*massive icon love*

I love the second half of that stanza, and the "I am half sick of shadows" quote. Also, I like the first stanza in Part II.

Re: Smiles

[wyckedgood]

Tee hee..that was an awesome TV moment...several friends and I gtg for True Blood, Sunday nights. We all looked at eachother and went...did he just say Slattern!

[kellyrfineman]

"Slattern" is underused in today's vocabulary. As are "trollop" and "doxy".

Doxy!

[wyckedgood]

I had totally forgotten about doxy. Trollop I use frequently lol.

Good Monday Morning :)