The Lady of Shalott

Detachment - from reality, morals

“Long fields of barley and of rye,  Contrast: sets the scene, Tennyson making
that clothe the wold and meet the the readers want to live life like in Camelot
sky”   Tennyson wants to make us realise how
many more opportunities there are on
Camelot compared to Shalott

“Tremble in the water chilly”  Personification: shows why the Lady of

Shalott dislikes Shalott
 Sets a negative image of Shalott, makes the
reader think why the Lady of Shalott hasn’t
moved to Camelot 

“She left the web, She made three  Repetition of ‘she’: shows how the Lady of
paces thro’ the room, she saw the Shalott had enough of living under her strict
water-flower bloom” conditions
 Language choice: emphasises to the reader
of how eagerly she wants to start a new life
and have freedom 
 Past experiences, 
The Lady of Shalott 
 Not seen as part of society: she has been put into a lighthouse → physically been
removed from society
 Lots of feelings and perspectives, influences her ability to interact with others 
 She has to find her own way out with no help → shows how society tends to avoid
her

Determination 
 Rob a bank: majority of society refrains from this act → not ethical 
 Stems from their values and morals which are detached from society
 Mindset of characters → reflects their personality and shows that they are lost in their
thoughts

Isolation/Alienation - do things which aren’t ethical

“Hears her ever chanting
cheerly… Tis the fairy, lady of
Shalott”
 Auditory Imagery: Shows how unimportant the
lady of Shalott is within her community as the
reapers immediately know who is singing
 Shows how the Lady of Shalott is an outsider in
her community and no one wants to offer help
to her

“The sun came dazzling thro’ the  Symbolism: the sun represents how the Lady
leaves” of Shalott has escaped Shalott and is on her
way to Camelot
 Makes the reader aware that she has escaped
her comfort zone and is on track for a better life

“Willows whiten, aspens shiver,  Foreshadowing: makes the reader aware of

the sunbeam showers break and how dangerous Shalott is
quiver… by the island in the  The surroundings emphasise a world of
river” boredom and have a sense of empathy
 towards the Lady of Shalott
 Causation of detachment, experience of being isolated, morals values and
actions conflict with society’s 
Lady of Shalott
 Physically isolated: has no contact with others → judged by society as behaved in a
manner which is inconsistent with social standards, removing her from society
 She becomes more angry, etc 
 No one cares about her → she is the one searching ways to escape isolation

Determination
 Morals and values are separate as they are influenced by greed
 Greed is stemmed from the fact that they have missed out on what they want
 They are the minority that decide to rob a bank → living in their own world

Destruction

Detachment
Quote Literary Device Action  Purpose

“We all get into a Simile Shows the Highlights the belief the
huddle like a potential characters have for each
football team.” separation of the other, shows the
characters audience of the
relationship between the
characters. 

“The whole world Hyperbole/Exaggeratio Highlights humor Emphasises how

can hear our n of characters, characters are not
encouragement.” they see it as nervous or have fear of
another normal failure: shows audience
day in life  they are committed to
their actions and
decisions

Isolation
Quote Literary Action  Purpose
Device

“It is the hour of day. We Truncated Emphasises the intense Reflects the modern
thump into the planning Sentences times which the style and form of a short
room” characters are living in. story 

“It is time to focus on the Repetition Highlights the emotions Makes the audience
task at hand. It is time to of desperation, greed aware of the long time
put all the preparation and nervousness which Jack has been waiting
into hard work”  Jack feels. to commit the bank
robbery.