Position of the Poem:
This excerpt from "The Lady of Shalott" establishes a sense of isolation and confinement for the Lady.
How to explain
The four gray walls and towers suggest a prison, and the image of her being surrounded by water further emphasizes her separation from the world. The contrasting image of the bustling city of Camelot highlights the disparity between her life and the life she observes.
Themes:
Several themes are evident in the excerpt:
Isolation and confinement: The Lady's physical isolation is clear, but the poem also suggests an emotional and psychological separation from the world.
Nature and society: The contrast between the natural beauty of the island and the artificiality of Camelot reflects on the tension between these two worlds.
Art and reality: The Lady's only connection to the world is through her art, suggesting a yearning for a more authentic experience.
Fate and control: The Lady's life is seemingly predetermined by the curse, highlighting the lack of control she has over her own destiny.
The Complete Question
Sample Excerpt from "The Lady of Shalott" by Alfred Lord Tennyson
On either side the river lie
Long fields of barley and of rye,
That clothe the world and meet the sky;
And through the fields the road runs by
To many-towered Camelot;
And up and down the people go,
Gazing where the lilies blow
Round an island there below,
The island of Shalott.
Willows whiten, aspens quiver,
Little breezes dusk and shiver
Through the wave that runs forever
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.