The Lady of Shalott

Definition

The Lady of Shalott is a character from Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem, which tells the story of a woman who lives in a tower and is cursed to only see the world through a mirror, unable to engage directly with it. This narrative explores themes of isolation, artistic creativity, and the consequences of longing for direct experience, all of which resonate with the ideals of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and Victorian art's focus on emotion and symbolism.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Tennyson's poem was published in 1832 and later revised in 1842, capturing the imagination of the Victorian public with its vivid imagery and emotional depth.
2. The Lady of Shalott's isolation reflects societal views on women during the Victorian era, where many were expected to remain passive and confined to domestic roles.
3. The narrative illustrates the tension between reality and art; she can only create her tapestry based on reflections but longs for direct experience.
4. The theme of tragic love is central to the story; when she sees Sir Lancelot through her mirror, it ultimately leads to her demise as she chooses to pursue him despite the curse.
5. Art inspired by The Lady of Shalott became iconic in Pre-Raphaelite paintings, which often depicted her tragic fate with rich colors and detailed settings.

Review Questions

• How does The Lady of Shalott reflect the ideals of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood?
  • The Lady of Shalott embodies the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood's emphasis on emotion, beauty, and intricate detail. The poem's vivid imagery and emotional depth resonate with their artistic goals. Additionally, many Pre-Raphaelite artists captured her story through paintings that highlighted the richness of color and symbolism, emphasizing both her isolation and longing for connection.
• Discuss the significance of the Lady's curse and how it represents broader themes in Victorian art and literature.
  • The Lady's curse serves as a metaphor for the constraints placed on women in Victorian society, reflecting themes of confinement and unfulfilled desire. It showcases a struggle between societal expectations and personal yearning. This resonates with Victorian art, where artists often portrayed women in states of melancholy or longing, using their stories to critique or explore contemporary issues surrounding gender roles.
• Evaluate how Tennyson's portrayal of The Lady of Shalott contributes to our understanding of isolation in art and literature during the Victorian era.
  • Tennyson’s portrayal adds depth to our understanding of isolation as a significant theme in Victorian art and literature. Through The Lady's character, he captures the profound loneliness that can accompany creativity and desire. Her ultimate choice to abandon her safe haven for a fleeting moment with Lancelot represents a powerful commentary on the risks associated with seeking connection in an era that often marginalized women's voices. This exploration resonates deeply within both visual arts and literary narratives from this period.

Related terms

Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood:

An art movement founded in 1848 that sought to return to the detail, intense colors, and complex compositions of early Renaissance art, reacting against the academic standards of their time.

Romanticism: An artistic and intellectual movement that emphasized emotion, individualism, and the beauty of nature, influencing many artists and writers during the Victorian era.

Symbolism: A late 19th-century art movement that used symbolic images and indirect suggestion to express mystical ideas, emotions, and states of mind.