Question

What is the overall tone of “The Lady of Shalott”? How does Tennyson convey this tone?

Answer 1

The overall tone of the poem is melancholic and mysterious. Although the poem begins with descriptions of the beautiful surroundings, the sense of confinement and suppression creeps in through the language Tennyson uses:

Four gray walls, and four gray towers,

Overlook a space of flowers,

And the silent isle imbowers

The Lady of Shalott.

The lady is a prisoner in a tower, cursed to never to clearly see the actual beauty in the world except through reflections in her mirror. When the poet tells us that “She lives with little joy or fear,” we know that she has a placid and uneventful existence. The tone of the poem leads the reader to believe that a climax is imminent. The lady says, “I am half sick of shadows,” suggesting that she is tempted to leave the tower.

The poet uses an even tone while describing the beautiful city of Camelot. The imagery creates a mood of tranquility. The melancholy tone used to depict the imprisonment of the lady changes to a tone of urgency when the curse befalls the Lady. The atmosphere of doom becomes prevalent in the poem from the moment the lady sets eyes on the outside world.