Folklore and Mythology

Myths and Legends of the World The Concise Oxford Companion... The Concise Oxford... The Concise Oxford Companion... Further reading

Shalott, The Lady of

Myths and Legends of the World | 2001 | Copyright

Shalott, The Lady of

In the Arthurian legends*, the Lady of Shalott was a young woman named Elaine of Astolat who died of unfulfilled love for Sir Lancelot, the greatest of King Arthur's knights. Lancelot had entered a jousting tournament but wanted to hide his true identity so he asked Elaine to give him a different shield. In return, he agreed to wear her colors in the tournament.

Lancelot won the contest, but he was injured and fled to avoid being discovered. Elaine found him and nursed him back to health. She also revealed her love for him. However, Lancelot could not return her affections because he loved Guinevere.

joust fight on horseback between two knights

The heartbroken Elaine died of grief, but before dying, she wrote a letter to Lancelot requesting that he bury her. Her father placed the letter in her hand and put her body on a barge, which a mute boatman rowed to King Arthur's court at Camelot. Lancelot saw the barge and recognized Elaine. When King Arthur read Elaine's letter, he asked Lancelot to bury her, thus granting her final request.

See also Arthurian Legends; Lancelot.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"Shalott, The Lady of." Myths and Legends of the World. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Shalott, The Lady of." Myths and Legends of the World. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3490900444.html

"Shalott, The Lady of." Myths and Legends of the World. 2001. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3490900444.html

Learn more about citation styles

‘Lady of Shalott, The’

The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature | 2003 | | Copyright

‘Lady of Shalott, The’, a poem by Tennyson, published 1832, much revised for the 1842 Poems. The story bears little resemblance to his subsequent treatment of it in ‘Lancelot and Elaine’ of the Idylls of the King. The Lady, like Mariana, was one of several enchanted or imprisoned maidens to capture the Victorian imagination, and was the subject of many illustrations, including a notable one by Holman Hunt.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "‘Lady of Shalott, The’." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "‘Lady of Shalott, The’." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-LadyofShalottThe.html

MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "‘Lady of Shalott, The’." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-LadyofShalottThe.html

Learn more about citation styles

Lady of Shalott, The

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music | 1996 | | Copyright

Lady of Shalott, The. Cantata by Phyllis Tate, setting of Tennyson's poem, for ten., va., perc., 2 pf., and celesta. Comp. 1956 for 10th anniv. of BBC 3rd Programme. Also cantata by Maurice Jacobson.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "Lady of Shalott, The." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "Lady of Shalott, The." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O76-LadyofShalottThe.html

MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "Lady of Shalott, The." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O76-LadyofShalottThe.html

Learn more about citation styles

‘Shalott, The Lady of’

The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature | 2003 | | Copyright

‘Shalott, The Lady of’, see Lady of Shalott, The.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "‘Shalott, The Lady of’." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "‘Shalott, The Lady of’." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-ShalottTheLadyof.html

MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "‘Shalott, The Lady of’." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-ShalottTheLadyof.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Talking with Tennyson: interpreting 'The Lady of Shalott' in the internet... Magazine article from: NATE Classroom; 9/22/2007
	Getting it wrong in "The Lady of Shalott".(Critical essay) Magazine article from: Victorian Poetry; 8/17/2009
	A reflection on fiction and art in "The Lady of Shalott". (Brief... Magazine article from: Victorian Poetry; 6/22/2003