"The Lady of Shalott" was published in 1832, during the early Victorian era. It explores a number of themes that push the reader to question the social prejudices that occurred during Queen Victoria's reign. To stimulate thought, Tennyson paints a romantic picture of Camelot and uses a number of literary techniques to draw the reader into the story. The idyllic scene at the beginning of the poem, juxtaposed with the desolation with which it ends, injects a wave of drama, which emphasizes the weight of the unanswered cerebral questions directed at the reader. Writers of this period relied on public opinion to encourage commercial enterprises, so Tennyson appealed to the civility of his day. Some argue that contemporary literary opinion turned sharply against him during the twentieth century, as his writings reflected Victorian values. Therefore, the morals that can be identified in this text should be used as guidelines that expose the hypocrisy underlying the foundation of Victorianism. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The four stanzas in Part One use the same basic structure. There are nine lines with an aaaabcccb rhyme scheme and Tennyson emphasizes the rhyme, using it to his literary advantage. The abrupt interruption at the end of the fluid structure builds an archaic and medieval atmosphere that clouds the reader's perception, forcing him into a dimension of ancient narration. As a result it reflects the medieval theme of the poem and creates interest. One interpretation might suggest that this mirrors the Lady of Shalott plot, as her life ends abruptly. Therefore the construction of the poem is a prophetic warning about the fate of the Lady of Shalott, demonstrating the vulnerability of women during the Victorian period, who were subject to the patriarchal values ​​on which civilization was founded. Susan Kent observed, “Women were identified so exclusively by their sexual functions that nineteenth-century society came to regard them as 'the Sex.'” The polarized gender roles experienced by men and women have influenced the ideology of "separate spheres". This framework assigned conventional functions to men, such as “courage, intellect, independence,” while attributing intrinsic feminine characteristics to women, “emotional, sensitive, altruistic.” Tennyson adheres to this doctrine by placing the Lady of Shalott on a higher pedestal in the context of innocence. The first part of the poem builds a serene and majestic tone, creating the impression that the Lady of Shalott is sacrosanct. 'Listening, he whispers 'It is the fairy Lady of Shalott.' The reference to the citizens' thoughts demonstrates the mythical nature of the Lady of Shalott, her existence seems enigmatic due to her involuntary confinement. A feminist interpretation would recognize the façade surrounding the Lady. They might suggest that the whimsical, allegorical fantasy tied to his existence is a canvas masking the true desolation of his incarceration. «But who saw her waving her hand? Or did you see her standing at the window?” The rhetorical questions incorporate this apocryphal aspect of his identity and immerse the reader in a fictional land of cyclical controversies. The nature surrounding the tower appears picturesque and calm, creating the impression that Camelot is peaceful. This creates suspense and dramatic irony, as it isn't long before the mirage is shattered. Furthermore, Tennyson uses a pathetic fallacy to highlight the future emotional turbulence the Lady will face. 'Little twilight breezes and tremble through' the wave.