Análisis poético

On either side the river lie

Original Poetry

Translation

On either side the river lie

On both sides of the river are long fields of barley and rye,

Long fields of barley and of rye,

That cover the hills and meet the sky;

That clothe the wold and meet the sky;

And through the field, the road runs by

And thro' the field the road runs by

To the many-towered Camelot;

To many-tower'd Camelot;

The yellow-leaved waterlily

And the green-sheathed daffodil

The green-sheathed daffodilly

Shake in the cold water

Tremble in the water chilly

Around Shalott.

Round about Shalott.

Willows turn white, aspens shiver.

Willows whiten, aspens shiver.

Sunbeams break and quiver

The sunbeam showers break and quiver

In the stream that always runs

In the stream that runneth ever

By the island in the river

Flowing down to Camelot.

Four gray walls, and four gray towers

Overlook a space of flowers,

And the silent island surrounds

And the silent isle imbowers

The Lady of Shalott.

Underneath the bearded barley,

The reaper, working late and early,

The reaper, reaping late and early,

Hears her always singing happily,

Hears her ever chanting cheerly,

Like an angel, singing clearly,

Over the stream of Camelot.

O'er the stream of Camelot.

Piling the sheaves in airy rows,

Piling the sheaves in furrows airy,

Under the moon, the tired reaper

Beneath the moon, the reaper weary

Listening whispers, 'It's the fairy,

Listening whispers, ' 'Tis the fairy,

Lady of Shalott.'

The little island is all fenced

The little isle is all inrail'd

With a rose-fence, and covered

With a rose-fence, and overtrail'd

With roses: by the edge unnoticed

With roses: by the marge unhail'd

The boat with silk sails floats,

The shallop flitteth silken sail'd,

Skimming down to Camelot.

A pearl garland wraps her head:

A pearl garland winds her head:

She leans on a velvet bed,

She leaneth on a velvet bed,

Dressed royally,

Full royally apparelled,

The Lady of Shalott.

Part II

She has no time to play:

She always weaves a charmed web.

No time hath she to sport and play:

A curse is on her, if she stops

A charmed web she weaves alway.

Her weaving, either night or day,

A curse is on her, if she stay

To look down to Camelot.

Her weaving, either night or day,

She doesn't know what the curse may be;

To look down to Camelot.

So she weaves steadily,

She knows not what the curse may be;

Therefore she has no other care,

Therefore she weaveth steadily,

The Lady of Shalott.

Therefore no other care hath she,

The Lady of Shalott.

She lives with little joy or fear.

Over the water, running near,

She lives with little joy or fear.

The sheepbell rings in her ear.

Over the water, running near,

Before her hangs a clear mirror,

The sheepbell tinkles in her ear.

Reflecting towered Camelot.

Before her hangs a mirror clear,

And as she spins the tangled web,

Reflecting tower'd Camelot.

She sees the grumpy village people,

And as the mazy web she whirls,

And the red cloaks of market girls

She sees the surly village churls,

Pass onward from Shalott.

And the red cloaks of market girls

Pass onward from Shalott.

Sometimes a group of happy girls,

An abbot on a slow horse,

Sometimes a troop of damsels glad,

Sometimes a curly-haired shepherd boy,

An abbot on an ambling pad,

Or a long-haired page in crimson clothes,

Sometimes a curly shepherd lad,

Goes by to towered Camelot:

Or long-hair'd page in crimson clad,

And sometimes through the blue mirror

Goes by to tower'd Camelot:

The knights come riding two by two:

And sometimes thro' the mirror blue

She has no loyal knight and true,

The knights come riding two and two:

The Lady of Shalott.

She hath no loyal knight and true,

The Lady of Shalott.

But in her web she still enjoys

To weave the mirror's magic sights,

But in her web she still delights

For often through the silent nights

To weave the mirror's magic sights,

A funeral, with plumes and lights

For often thro' the silent nights

And music, came from Camelot:

A funeral, with plumes and lights

Or when the moon was overhead

And music, came from Camelot:

Came two young lovers recently married;

Or when the moon was overhead

'I am tired of shadows,' said

Came two young lovers lately wed;

The Lady of Shalott.

'I am half sick of shadows,' said

The Lady of Shalott.

Part III

A bow-shot from her bower-eaves,

He rode between the barley-sheaves,

A bow-shot from her bower-eaves,

The sun came dazzling through the leaves,

He rode between the barley-sheaves,

And shone on the brass armor

The sun came dazzling thro' the leaves,

Of bold Sir Lancelot.

And flam'd upon the brazen greaves

A red-cross knight forever kneeled

Of bold Sir Lancelot.

To a lady in his shield,

A red-cross knight for ever kneel'd

That sparkled on the yellow field,

To a lady in his shield,

Beside remote Shalott.

That sparkled on the yellow field,

Beside remote Shalott.

The jeweled bridle glittered freely,

Like a branch of stars we see

The gemmy bridle glitter'd free,

Hung in the golden Galaxy.

Like to some branch of stars we see

The bridle bells rang merrily

Hung in the golden Galaxy.

As he rode down from Camelot:

The bridle bells rang merrily

And from his decorated belt hung

As he rode down from Camelot:

A mighty silver bugle,

And from his blazon'd baldric slung

And as he rode his armor rang,

A mighty silver bugle hung,

Beside remote Shalott.

And as he rode his armour rung,

Beside remote Shalott.

All in the blue clear weather

Thick-jeweled shone the saddle-leather,

All in the blue unclouded weather

The helmet and the helmet-feather

Thick-jewell'd shone the saddle-leather,

Burned like one burning flame together,

The helmet and the helmet-feather

As he rode down from Camelot.

Burn'd like one burning flame together,

As often through the purple night,

As he rode down from Camelot.

Below the bright starry clusters,

As often thro' the purple night,

Some bearded meteor, trailing light,

Below the starry clusters bright,

Moves over green Shalott.

Some bearded meteor, trailing light,

Moves over green Shalott.

His broad clear brow glowed in sunlight;

On polished hooves his war-horse trod;

His broad clear brow in sunlight glow'd;

From underneath his helmet flowed

On burnish'd hooves his war-horse trode;

His coal-black curls as he rode,

From underneath his helmet flow'd

As he rode down from Camelot.

His coal-black curls as on he rode,

From the bank and from the river

As he rode down from Camelot.

He flashed into the crystal mirror,

From the bank and from the river

'Tirra lirra, tirra lirra:'

He flash'd into the crystal mirror,

Sang Sir Lancelot.

'Tirra lirra, tirra lirra:'

Sang Sir Lancelot.

She left the web, she left the loom

She took three steps through the room

She left the web, she left the loom

She saw the water-flower bloom,

She made three paces thro' the room

She saw the helmet and the plume,

She saw the water-flower bloom,

She looked down to Camelot.

She saw the helmet and the plume,

Out flew the web and floated wide;

She look'd down to Camelot.

The mirror cracked from side to side;

Out flew the web and floated wide;

'The curse is come upon me,' cried

The mirror crack'd from side to side;

The Lady of Shalott.

'The curse is come upon me,' cried

The Lady of Shalott.

Part IV

In the stormy east-wind straining,

The pale yellow woods were fading,

In the stormy east-wind straining,

The broad stream in his banks complaining,

The pale yellow woods were waning,

Heavily the low sky raining

The broad stream in his banks complaining,

Over towered Camelot;

Heavily the low sky raining

Outside the isle a shallow boat

Over tower'd Camelot;

Beneath a willow lay afloat,

Outside the isle a shallow boat

Below the carved stern she wrote,

Beneath a willow lay afloat,

The Lady of Shalott.

Below the carven stern she wrote,

The Lady of Shalott.

A cloudwhite crown of pearl she wore,

All dressed in snowy white

A cloudwhite crown of pearl she dight,

That loosely flew (her belt in sight

All raimented in snowy white

Clasped with one bright diamond)

That loosely flew (her zone in sight

Her wide eyes fixed on Camelot,

Clasp'd with one blinding diamond bright)

Though the squally east-wind blew keenly

Her wide eyes fix'd on Camelot,

With folded arms serenely

Though the squally east-wind keenly

By the water stood the queenly

Blew, with folded arms serenely

Lady of Shalott.

By the water stood the queenly

Lady of Shalott.

With a steady stony glance—

Like some bold seer in a trance,

With a steady stony glance—

Seeing all his own misfortune,

Like some bold seer in a trance,

Mute, with a glassy face—

Beholding all his own mischance,

She looked down to Camelot.

Mute, with a glassy countenance—

It was the end of the day:

She look'd down to Camelot.

She loosened the chain, and down she lay;

It was the closing of the day:

The broad stream carried her far away,

She loos'd the chain, and down she lay;

The Lady of Shalott.

The broad stream bore her far away,

The Lady of Shalott.

As when to sailors while they roam,

By creeks and outfalls far from home,

As when to sailors while they roam,

Rising and dropping with the foam,

By creeks and outfalls far from home,

From dying swans wild songs come,

Rising and dropping with the foam,

Blown shoreward; so to Camelot

From dying swans wild warblings come,

Still as the boathead wound along

Blown shoreward; so to Camelot

The willowy hills and fields among,

Still as the boathead wound along

They heard her singing her deathsong,

The willowy hills and fields among,

The Lady of Shalott.

They heard her chanting her deathsong,

The Lady of Shalott.

A longdrawn carol, mournful, holy,

She sang loudly, sang softly,

A longdrawn carol, mournful, holy,

Till her eyes were completely darkened,

She chanted loudly, chanted lowly,

And her smooth face slowly sharpened,

Till her eyes were darken'd wholly,

Turned to towered Camelot:

And her smooth face sharpen'd slowly,

For before she reached upon the tide

Turn'd to tower'd Camelot:

The first house by the water-side,

For ere she reach'd upon the tide

Singing in her song she died,

The first house by the water-side,

The Lady of Shalott.

Singing in her song she died,

The Lady of Shalott.

Explanation

Alfred Lord Tennyson's 'The Lady of Shalott' is a lyrical ballad that tells the tragic story of a woman cursed to live isolated in a tower near Camelot. She spends her days weaving a magical web and can only see the outside world through a mirror. The poem explores themes of isolation, the role of the artist, and the conflict between art and life. The Lady of Shalott is forbidden to look directly at the outside world, and when she does, she brings a curse upon herself. The poem is rich in imagery, depicting the serene yet melancholic setting of Shalott and Camelot. Tennyson uses vivid descriptions of nature and medieval life to create a romantic and mysterious atmosphere. The Lady's eventual decision to look out at the world, inspired by the sight of Sir Lancelot, leads to her tragic demise. Her story reflects the tension between the desire for connection and the constraints of her artistic existence.

Word Dictionary20

Word	Easy Meaning	Translation	Pron.
wold	open, hilly land	open, hilly land	wold
imbowers	encloses	encloses	im-bow-ers
shallop	small boat	small boat	shal-lop
dight	adorned	adorned	dight
raimented	clothed	clothed	ray-men-ted
zone	belt	belt	zone
seer	prophet	prophet	seer
mischance	misfortune	misfortune	mis-chance
carol	song	song	car-ol
churls	peasants	peasants	churls
trow	believe	to think or suppose	trow
greaves	armor for the legs	protective armor worn on the legs	greaves
baldric	belt	a belt worn over the shoulder	bal-dric
tirra lirra	nonsense phrase	a joyful or playful song	tir-ra lir-ra
waning	fading	decreasing in size or strength	wan-ing
wan	pale	lacking color or vitality	wan
marge	edge	the border or edge of something	marge
unhail'd	unnoticed	not greeted or acknowledged	un-hail'd
sheaves	bundles	bundles of grain stalks	sheaves
plumes	feathers	large, decorative feathers	plumes

Poet & Context

PoetAlfred Lord Tennyson

EraVictorian Era

Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson, was an English poet and Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom during much of Queen Victoria's reign. His works, known for their vivid imagery and medieval themes, had a significant influence on the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.

View on Wikipedia

When1832 (revised in 1842)

WhyInspired by the 13th-century Italian text 'La Damigella di Scalot', the poem tells the tragic story of Elaine of Astolat, a young noblewoman. It reflects themes of isolation, the artist's role in society, and the conflict between art and life.

FormLyrical Ballad

Themes & More

Themes

IsolationArt vs. LifeTragic FateRomanticism

Literary devices

Imagery: Vivid descriptions of nature and medieval life create a romantic and mysterious atmosphere.Symbolism: The mirror represents the Lady's limited view of reality and her isolation.Metaphor: The web symbolizes the Lady's life and her entrapment by the curse.Alliteration: Repeated consonant sounds, such as 'Willows whiten, aspens shiver', enhance the musical quality.Personification: The river and other elements of nature are given human-like qualities.

Análisis poético

On either side the river lie

Original Poetry

Translation

On either side the river lie

On both sides of the river are long fields of barley and rye,

Long fields of barley and of rye,

That cover the hills and meet the sky;

That clothe the wold and meet the sky;

And through the field, the road runs by

And thro' the field the road runs by

To the many-towered Camelot;

To many-tower'd Camelot;

The yellow-leaved waterlily

And the green-sheathed daffodil

The green-sheathed daffodilly

Shake in the cold water

Tremble in the water chilly

Around Shalott.

Round about Shalott.

Willows turn white, aspens shiver.

Willows whiten, aspens shiver.

Sunbeams break and quiver

The sunbeam showers break and quiver

In the stream that always runs

In the stream that runneth ever

By the island in the river

Flowing down to Camelot.

Four gray walls, and four gray towers

Overlook a space of flowers,

And the silent island surrounds

And the silent isle imbowers

The Lady of Shalott.

Underneath the bearded barley,

The reaper, working late and early,

The reaper, reaping late and early,

Hears her always singing happily,

Hears her ever chanting cheerly,

Like an angel, singing clearly,

Over the stream of Camelot.

O'er the stream of Camelot.

Piling the sheaves in airy rows,

Piling the sheaves in furrows airy,

Under the moon, the tired reaper

Beneath the moon, the reaper weary

Listening whispers, 'It's the fairy,

Listening whispers, ' 'Tis the fairy,

Lady of Shalott.'

The little island is all fenced

The little isle is all inrail'd

With a rose-fence, and covered

With a rose-fence, and overtrail'd

With roses: by the edge unnoticed

With roses: by the marge unhail'd

The boat with silk sails floats,

The shallop flitteth silken sail'd,

Skimming down to Camelot.

A pearl garland wraps her head:

A pearl garland winds her head:

She leans on a velvet bed,

She leaneth on a velvet bed,

Dressed royally,

Full royally apparelled,

The Lady of Shalott.

Part II

She has no time to play:

She always weaves a charmed web.

No time hath she to sport and play:

A curse is on her, if she stops

A charmed web she weaves alway.

Her weaving, either night or day,

A curse is on her, if she stay

To look down to Camelot.

Her weaving, either night or day,

She doesn't know what the curse may be;

To look down to Camelot.

So she weaves steadily,

She knows not what the curse may be;

Therefore she has no other care,

Therefore she weaveth steadily,

The Lady of Shalott.

Therefore no other care hath she,

The Lady of Shalott.

She lives with little joy or fear.

Over the water, running near,

She lives with little joy or fear.

The sheepbell rings in her ear.

Over the water, running near,

Before her hangs a clear mirror,

The sheepbell tinkles in her ear.

Reflecting towered Camelot.

Before her hangs a mirror clear,

And as she spins the tangled web,

Reflecting tower'd Camelot.

She sees the grumpy village people,

And as the mazy web she whirls,

And the red cloaks of market girls

She sees the surly village churls,

Pass onward from Shalott.

And the red cloaks of market girls

Pass onward from Shalott.

Sometimes a group of happy girls,

An abbot on a slow horse,

Sometimes a troop of damsels glad,

Sometimes a curly-haired shepherd boy,

An abbot on an ambling pad,

Or a long-haired page in crimson clothes,

Sometimes a curly shepherd lad,

Goes by to towered Camelot:

Or long-hair'd page in crimson clad,

And sometimes through the blue mirror

Goes by to tower'd Camelot:

The knights come riding two by two:

And sometimes thro' the mirror blue

She has no loyal knight and true,

The knights come riding two and two:

The Lady of Shalott.

She hath no loyal knight and true,

The Lady of Shalott.

But in her web she still enjoys

To weave the mirror's magic sights,

But in her web she still delights

For often through the silent nights

To weave the mirror's magic sights,

A funeral, with plumes and lights

For often thro' the silent nights

And music, came from Camelot:

A funeral, with plumes and lights

Or when the moon was overhead

And music, came from Camelot:

Came two young lovers recently married;

Or when the moon was overhead

'I am tired of shadows,' said

Came two young lovers lately wed;

The Lady of Shalott.

'I am half sick of shadows,' said

The Lady of Shalott.

Part III

A bow-shot from her bower-eaves,

He rode between the barley-sheaves,

A bow-shot from her bower-eaves,

The sun came dazzling through the leaves,

He rode between the barley-sheaves,

And shone on the brass armor

The sun came dazzling thro' the leaves,

Of bold Sir Lancelot.

And flam'd upon the brazen greaves

A red-cross knight forever kneeled

Of bold Sir Lancelot.

To a lady in his shield,

A red-cross knight for ever kneel'd

That sparkled on the yellow field,

To a lady in his shield,

Beside remote Shalott.

That sparkled on the yellow field,

Beside remote Shalott.

The jeweled bridle glittered freely,

Like a branch of stars we see

The gemmy bridle glitter'd free,

Hung in the golden Galaxy.

Like to some branch of stars we see

The bridle bells rang merrily

Hung in the golden Galaxy.

As he rode down from Camelot:

The bridle bells rang merrily

And from his decorated belt hung

As he rode down from Camelot:

A mighty silver bugle,

And from his blazon'd baldric slung

And as he rode his armor rang,

A mighty silver bugle hung,

Beside remote Shalott.

And as he rode his armour rung,

Beside remote Shalott.

All in the blue clear weather

Thick-jeweled shone the saddle-leather,

All in the blue unclouded weather

The helmet and the helmet-feather

Thick-jewell'd shone the saddle-leather,

Burned like one burning flame together,

The helmet and the helmet-feather

As he rode down from Camelot.

Burn'd like one burning flame together,

As often through the purple night,

As he rode down from Camelot.

Below the bright starry clusters,

As often thro' the purple night,

Some bearded meteor, trailing light,

Below the starry clusters bright,

Moves over green Shalott.

Some bearded meteor, trailing light,

Moves over green Shalott.

His broad clear brow glowed in sunlight;

On polished hooves his war-horse trod;

His broad clear brow in sunlight glow'd;

From underneath his helmet flowed

On burnish'd hooves his war-horse trode;

His coal-black curls as he rode,

From underneath his helmet flow'd

As he rode down from Camelot.

His coal-black curls as on he rode,

From the bank and from the river

As he rode down from Camelot.

He flashed into the crystal mirror,

From the bank and from the river

'Tirra lirra, tirra lirra:'

He flash'd into the crystal mirror,

Sang Sir Lancelot.

'Tirra lirra, tirra lirra:'

Sang Sir Lancelot.

She left the web, she left the loom

She took three steps through the room

She left the web, she left the loom

She saw the water-flower bloom,

She made three paces thro' the room

She saw the helmet and the plume,

She saw the water-flower bloom,

She looked down to Camelot.

She saw the helmet and the plume,

Out flew the web and floated wide;

She look'd down to Camelot.

The mirror cracked from side to side;

Out flew the web and floated wide;

'The curse is come upon me,' cried

The mirror crack'd from side to side;

The Lady of Shalott.

'The curse is come upon me,' cried

The Lady of Shalott.

Part IV

In the stormy east-wind straining,

The pale yellow woods were fading,

In the stormy east-wind straining,

The broad stream in his banks complaining,

The pale yellow woods were waning,

Heavily the low sky raining

The broad stream in his banks complaining,

Over towered Camelot;

Heavily the low sky raining

Outside the isle a shallow boat

Over tower'd Camelot;

Beneath a willow lay afloat,

Outside the isle a shallow boat

Below the carved stern she wrote,

Beneath a willow lay afloat,

The Lady of Shalott.

Below the carven stern she wrote,

The Lady of Shalott.

A cloudwhite crown of pearl she wore,

All dressed in snowy white

A cloudwhite crown of pearl she dight,

That loosely flew (her belt in sight

All raimented in snowy white

Clasped with one bright diamond)

That loosely flew (her zone in sight

Her wide eyes fixed on Camelot,

Clasp'd with one blinding diamond bright)

Though the squally east-wind blew keenly

Her wide eyes fix'd on Camelot,

With folded arms serenely

Though the squally east-wind keenly

By the water stood the queenly

Blew, with folded arms serenely

Lady of Shalott.

By the water stood the queenly

Lady of Shalott.

With a steady stony glance—

Like some bold seer in a trance,

With a steady stony glance—

Seeing all his own misfortune,

Like some bold seer in a trance,

Mute, with a glassy face—

Beholding all his own mischance,

She looked down to Camelot.

Mute, with a glassy countenance—

It was the end of the day:

She look'd down to Camelot.

She loosened the chain, and down she lay;

It was the closing of the day:

The broad stream carried her far away,

She loos'd the chain, and down she lay;

The Lady of Shalott.

The broad stream bore her far away,

The Lady of Shalott.

As when to sailors while they roam,

By creeks and outfalls far from home,

As when to sailors while they roam,

Rising and dropping with the foam,

By creeks and outfalls far from home,

From dying swans wild songs come,

Rising and dropping with the foam,

Blown shoreward; so to Camelot

From dying swans wild warblings come,

Still as the boathead wound along

Blown shoreward; so to Camelot

The willowy hills and fields among,

Still as the boathead wound along

They heard her singing her deathsong,

The willowy hills and fields among,

The Lady of Shalott.

They heard her chanting her deathsong,

The Lady of Shalott.

A longdrawn carol, mournful, holy,

She sang loudly, sang softly,

A longdrawn carol, mournful, holy,

Till her eyes were completely darkened,

She chanted loudly, chanted lowly,

And her smooth face slowly sharpened,

Till her eyes were darken'd wholly,

Turned to towered Camelot:

And her smooth face sharpen'd slowly,

For before she reached upon the tide

Turn'd to tower'd Camelot:

The first house by the water-side,

For ere she reach'd upon the tide

Singing in her song she died,

The first house by the water-side,

The Lady of Shalott.

Singing in her song she died,

The Lady of Shalott.

Explanation

Word Dictionary20

Word	Easy Meaning	Translation	Pron.
wold	open, hilly land	open, hilly land	wold
imbowers	encloses	encloses	im-bow-ers
shallop	small boat	small boat	shal-lop
dight	adorned	adorned	dight
raimented	clothed	clothed	ray-men-ted
zone	belt	belt	zone
seer	prophet	prophet	seer
mischance	misfortune	misfortune	mis-chance
carol	song	song	car-ol
churls	peasants	peasants	churls
trow	believe	to think or suppose	trow
greaves	armor for the legs	protective armor worn on the legs	greaves
baldric	belt	a belt worn over the shoulder	bal-dric
tirra lirra	nonsense phrase	a joyful or playful song	tir-ra lir-ra
waning	fading	decreasing in size or strength	wan-ing
wan	pale	lacking color or vitality	wan
marge	edge	the border or edge of something	marge
unhail'd	unnoticed	not greeted or acknowledged	un-hail'd
sheaves	bundles	bundles of grain stalks	sheaves
plumes	feathers	large, decorative feathers	plumes

Poet & Context

PoetAlfred Lord Tennyson

EraVictorian Era

View on Wikipedia

When1832 (revised in 1842)

FormLyrical Ballad

Themes & More

Themes

IsolationArt vs. LifeTragic FateRomanticism

Literary devices