The Lady of Shalott - Lesson 4 - Character Analysis PowerPoint

In this English teaching resource, students delve into the character analysis of the Lady of Shalott through the second part of Alfred Lord Tennyson's famous poem. The objective is to read and interpret the text to gain a deeper understanding of the Lady's character. The lesson encourages students to explore the Lady's isolated life within her tower, where she weaves a colourful web by day and night. Students are prompted to analyze her circumstances, including the mysterious curse that prevents her from looking directly at Camelot, instead observing the outside world through a mirror. Through this reflection, she glimpses the bustling life beyond her confinement—villagers, knights, and lovers—all of which she weaves into her tapestry.

The lesson's activities involve answering questions about the Lady's environment, her actions, and the impact of her seclusion on her emotional state. The resource provides possible answers to guide discussion, such as the stark contrast between the vibrant life outside the tower and the Lady's shadow-filled existence. Students are also tasked with investigating the themes of isolation and loneliness, using dictionaries and thesauruses to expand their vocabulary and comprehension. They must identify words and phrases in the poem that convey the Lady's solitude and the mood it creates. Through these exercises, students will build a more nuanced understanding of the character and the thematic elements of Tennyson's work, culminating in a creative task to create a comic strip summarizing the poem's story thus far.