"The Lady of Shalott," Part 1

A line-by-line explanation by a college prof

[@KierstenS-vs2zu]

Thank you so much for explaining this. My daughter enjoyed "Anne of Green Gables" and she became very interested in the scene where Anne pretends to be "the lady of Shalott." She asked me many questions about it and I didn't know how to explain it. Your videos are very helpful!! :-)

[@heidiconway3303]

You don’t seem to have grasped that the curse on the Lady of Shalott is that she can’t look at the world directly, only the reflection through the mirror. It was Lancelot’s beauty that caught her eye and made her look at him directly hence the curse came upon her. She was going to die anyway so that’s why she left the tower and floated down to Camelot, a place so beautiful that everyone knew about and wanted to go to.

[@Beccaa99x]

This was so helpful for me. Just to sit down and go through it line by line, thankyou so much. You explained things so clearly and you described little things which just create a much clearer picture in my head. On to part two!

[@mydogfartsalot1016]

If you just want to hear the poem, the times for it are: 0:11 2:24 3:15 4:31 6:00 6:32 8:01

[@patriciacostello1573]

Terrific poem analysis! One small correction: the barges in Part One are literally river barges being floated down to Camelot; this was an economical transportation mode at the time. The horses (or mules) were roped to to the barge for controlling it. The horses were probably walking on either side of the river on the margin.

[@SixMinuteScholar]

Thank you for that tip! Makes sense. I will pass that on to my students!

[@nicholasjohnfranklin7397]

@@SixMinuteScholar Just to add that this is slightly anachronistic since the "barges trailed by horses" (i.e. narrowboats pulled by horses) were a relatively new feature in the English countryside. In the previous couple of decades an extensive system of canals had been dug by navvies across southern England and the Midlands as far as Leeds and the Welsh border. You can still walk along the "towpaths" of these canals (i.e. the footpaths that were originally used by horses to tow the barges).

[@shelleywinters6763]

I'm just left wondering about the curse, it's very mysterious this curse. I like all your theories about whether she should have stayed in the tower or not and what it represents, women's roles in society. Then it's about the mythical place of Camelot and King Authurs round table, excalibur, so it's a fantasy story in my mind with magic and again. What is the curse about, who put it on her and why? I'm reminded of Medussa, she was beautiful and was cursed by a God to turn all men to stone and be an ugly beast. From a curses are real and you will definately die, not maybe then leaving is unwise. I was wondering if she could throw her art out the turret so at least people know of her. Living alone is death, most people can't survive in isolation anyway.

[@rominasanchez7602]

This is pure gold! Thank you so much :)

[@SixMinuteScholar]

You're welcome!

[@meenakshimeenukutty1156]

Wowee superb Mam.....its very interested....the.lady of shalod

[@rihabmalikraheem7819]

Thanks for your explanation 👍

[@Aazam66]

Good explanation, love from india

[@jmenon6025]

very nicely explained.helped me a lot.thanks

[@SixMinuteScholar]

J menon I'm glad! :-)

[@JoachimderZweite]

Say the correct things to get the good grade that shows insight and cleverness. When it is all over and you get an A then just enjoy the poem and read it over and over with a nice bottle of wine far from the fools that make their living teaching. I grew up with a massive amount of English Poetry and Shakespeare recited to me by a mother who never even went to school but who was taught by her father who also was a living library.

[@Sophie.S..]

Just a note here, barges are flat bottomed boats usually carrying freight, in olden days, usually pulled by horses, they are not wagons or sledges on the road being pulled by horses. I am British and we still use them today, albeit they are now motor powered. Please be correct when you are describing a poem. Nicely explained otherwise.

[@manvisingh2565]

You were a life saver. Much appreciation from India!

[@Fatimaahmed1994]

Why she was living alone?

[@wansukz3035]

She is a symbol of artistic isolation

[@samthesnowman666]

lol

[@darinalyakhova6969]

Rebecca, you're beautiful))) your videos are so instructed))) but...about your hair...you're a woman, and young woman, and with another hair style you could look probably better....hope everything be fine! love you and wish you be loved💖💖💖💖

[@latasiad8]

Darina Lyakhova “but...about your hair” hop off mate domt try to attack this beautiful women like that miss her with your negative energy