The Lady of Shalott part 2

Here is part 2 of Tennyson's poem, including images and definitions. (For part 1, click here.)

No time hath she to sport and play:

A charmed web she weaves alway. 

charmed is charm-ed

alway: always

painting by John William Waterhouse

A curse is on her, if she stay

Her weaving, either night or day, 

a girl weaving on a Rainbow Loom

       To look down to Camelot.

She knows not what the curse may be;

Therefore she weaveth steadily, 

Therefore no other care hath she,

       The Lady of Shalott. 

She lives with little joy or fear.

Over the water, running near,

The sheepbell tinkles in her ear. 

sheepbell: a bell worn by a sheep

Before her hangs a mirror clear,

       Reflecting tower'd Camelot.

And as the mazy web she whirls,

She sees the surly village churls,

churls: peasants

And the red cloaks of market girls

       Pass onward from Shalott.

Sometimes a troop of damsels glad,

damsels: girls

An abbot on an ambling pad, 

painting by Bermejo

 abbot: the head of an abbey of monks

ambling: walking slowly and in a relaxed way

Sometimes a curly shepherd lad, 

lad: boy

Or long-hair'd page in crimson clad,

page: attendant to a knight

in crimson clad: wearing red

       Goes by to tower'd Camelot:

And sometimes thro' the mirror blue

thro': through

The knights come riding two and two: 

She hath no loyal knight and true,

       The Lady of Shalott.

But in her web she still delights

To weave the mirror's magic sights,

For often thro' the silent nights

A funeral, with plumes and lights

       And music, came from Camelot:

Or when the moon was overhead

Came two young lovers lately wed;

I am half sick of shadows,' said

       The Lady of Shalott. 

On this site, there is a Lady of Shalott image that was done by a 5th grader. It's awesome. And wouldn't you know it, it's from an Ambleside school! The pictures were done as part of the UK's Power of Reading project.

One of my fourth graders asked if Shalott was a real place. Here's what I found:

Tennyson based "The Lady of Shalott" on a 13th century Italian romance titled Donna di Scalotta, based on Elaine of Astolat (or Ascolat). (Astolat is not a real place, but if you google "Astolat Great Britain map," you will discover that there is an Astolat Business Park in Surrey, an Astolat Pub, an Astolat Electrical Services, and a bus stop named The Astolat.) Tennyson didn't think "The Lady of Scalott" sounded soft and pretty, so he used Shalott instead.

Another thing my students wanted to know was how the Lady did human things like eating and sleeping and going to the bathroom if she wasn't able to stop weaving. Oh, those curses...