Summary of the Lady of Shalott by Alfred Lord Tennyson

Summary of "The Lady of Shalott" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson "The Lady of Shalott" tells the tragic story of a mysterious woman confined to a tower on the island of Shalott, near Camelot. She is cursed to weave a magical web day and night, only able to view the outside world through a mirror that reflects its "shadows." She is forbidden to look directly at Camelot, and she does not know the nature of the curse. Longing for real experience, the Lady grows weary of her isolated existence, saying she is "half sick of shadows." When the knight Sir Lancelot rides by, his vivid image compels her to turn and look directly at Camelot, breaking the curse’s rule. Instantly, her web unravels, her mirror cracks, and she realizes the curse has come upon her. Accepting her fate, she leaves the tower, finds a boat, writes her name on it, and floats down the river to Camelot. She dies before reaching her destination. The people of Camelot, including Lancelot, are struck by her beauty and mystery, with Lancelot remarking, “She has a lovely face; God in his mercy lend her grace”. The poem explores themes of isolation, the conflict between art and life, and the consequences of seeking reality over illusion.

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