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= The Lady Of Shalott Part I =

The Lady Of Shalott is a 19th ballad written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892). The ballad was written in four parts but this article will be focusing primarily on the first part.

Overview
The poem focuses on a young girl who is trapped in a tower and forbidden to go outside because she is cursed. It is based on the Arthurian legend of Elaine of Astolat who dies of unrequited love for Sir Lancelot and drifts down a river to Camelot in a boat. Part I of this poem is setting the scene, foreshadowing later events and introducing the main character of the ballad.

Part I of The Lady of Shalott
Part I On either side the river lie Long fields of barley and of rye, That clothe the wold and meet the sky; And thro' the field the road runs by To many-tower'd Camelot; The yellow-leaved waterlily The green-sheathed daffodilly Tremble in the water chilly Round about Shalott.

Willows whiten, aspens shiver. The sunbeam showers break and quiver 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 isle imbowers The Lady of Shalott.

Underneath the bearded barley, The reaper, reaping late and early, Hears her ever chanting cheerly, Like an angel, singing clearly, O'er the stream of Camelot. Piling the sheaves in furrows airy, Beneath the moon, the reaper weary Listening whispers, ' 'Tis the fairy, Lady of Shalott.'

The little isle is all inrail'd With a rose-fence, and overtrail'd With roses: by the marge unhail'd The shallop flitteth silken sail'd, Skimming down to Camelot. A pearl garland winds her head: She leaneth on a velvet bed, Full royally apparelled, The Lady of Shalott.