Students from 9A IGCSE Literature group create a Power Point comparing the Lady of Shalott and Mariana as characters - from the Tennyson poems of the same name.
2. Similarities
Both Mariana and the Lady of Shalott are isolated
from the rest of the world and forced to observe as an
outsider.
Both are confined to one space – the Lady of Shalott
cannot leave her tower, and Mariana stays inside her
moated grange.
There is repetition in both their routines. The Lady
weaves endlessly, and Mariana walks around talking to
herself.
3. Differences
The Lady of Shalott spent
her time weaving. She
interpreted the world as
she saw it. Mariana,
however, did not do
anything of the sort.
The Lady chose to break
out of her confinement in
the end, even though it
would mean her death.
Mariana remained in her
moated grange.
4. Common Themes
Both “Mariana” and “The
Lady of Shalott” feature
themes of isolation,
which are emphasised by
the setting. Mariana’s
moated grange is
surrounded by water
that isolates her, and the
Lady lives in a tower on
an island.
5. Common Themes
Both poems have a sense of
repetition and hopelessness.
Both use colour to represent the
feelings of their characters. In
“The Lady of Shalott”, the
outside world is painted as
being bright and colourful to
emphasise how dull the Lady’s
surroundings are. “Mariana”
features muted colours that
represent its titular character’s
gloomy mental state.