The Idea of Prince Charming Lady of Shallot Lancelot with Bicycle Forget Prince Charming

Pre-reading Questions: The Lady of Shallott Striving towards a goal encourages us to grow. But what if the goal is perfection (the ideal)? Is “perfection” attainable? How does the pursuit for perfection affect our place in the world around us?

Making Predictions This visual reflects the ending of the poem. Based on the lady’s body language, and the setting, what do you think this poem is about? (There are no right or wrong answers). Do you think this is a happy or sad ending? Why?

Setting .......The poem is set in England in the Dark Ages (late 5th-early 6th century) during the reign of the legendary King Arthur . The action takes place not far from the town of Camelot, Arthur's seat of government and the abode of his famous Knights of the Round Table. 

Setting The action takes place not far from the town of Camelot. Camelot is where Arthur ruled from and the abode of his famous Knights of the Round Table. 

Character List Lady of Shalott: Young woman confined to a building on the Island of Shalott in a river flowing toward Camelot.   Reapers: Farmers working in the fields near Shalott.  Passers-By: People who pass the Island of Shalott on their way to or from Camelot. They include peasants, market girls, an abbot, knights,shepherds, and pages.  Sir Lancelot: Knight of the Round Table. After he passes Shalott, the lady makes a decision to escape her confines.  Residents of Camelot

Source .....Tennyson based "The Lady of the Lake" on an Italian story of the late thirteenth century entitled"How the Lady of Scalot Died for Love of Lancelot of the Lake. This story was part of a collection, Cento Novelle Antiche (One Hundred Ancient Tales). It tells of a young woman who falls in love with Sir Lancelot, a knight of the Round Table. He does not respond to her love, however, because he is in love with Queen Guinevere, the wife of King Arthur. Pining for Lancelot, the lady declines in her health and, before dying, directs that her body be placed on a boat to be floated to Camelot. Tennyson changed Scalot to Shalott for the sake of poetic euphony and altered the story to suit his purposes.