Tennyson was a great descriptive artist. His art is essentially picturesque in the sense that he uses words as the painter uses his brush and colours for conveying his inner thoughts and feelings through his paintings. About his pictorial quality, Steadman has remarked, “Leaving the architecture of Tennyson's poetry and coming to the sentiments which it seeks to express we are struck at once by the fact that an idyllic, or picturesque mode of conveying that sentiment is the one natural to this poet, if not the only one to be permitted by the limitations … He does not, like Browning, catch the secret of a master passion; on the contrary he gives us an ideal picture of an ideal person , but sets against a background more tangible than other artist can draw making the accessories, and even the atmosphere, convey the meaning of the poem.”
In The Lady of Shalott, the poet shows his sensuous art. Tennyson describes the natural beauty of Shalott. It is a silent island on the bank of a river. The river flows round long fields of barley and of rye. Through the fields there is a road to Camelot. Camelot is a prosperous town with high towered buildings. The road is never at quiet. People go up down, gazing the lilies blooming round the island.
“On either side the river lie
Long fields of barley and of rye,
That clothe the world and meet the sky;
And thro’ the field the road runs by
To many - tower'd Camelot;
And up and down the people go,
Gazing where the lillies blow
Round an island there below,
The island of Shalott.”
He draws sensuous word picture of nature. There are trees of willow that look white for the wind turns over their leaves exposing the white under part. The light leaves of aspen tremble and quiver in the slightest breeze. In darkness light breeze blows over waves flowing down to Camelot. The Lady of Shalott is confined into her palace with four gray walls and four gray towers amid a large field of flowers.
“Willows whiten, aspens quiver,
Little breezes dusk and shiver
Thro’ the wave that runs for ever
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."
Tennyson draws sensuous word picture of Sir Lancelot's appearance. It is attractive enough to charm the Lady. Sir Lancelot's face shines bright in sunlight. The shoes of his horse are bright. Sir Lancelot's dark black curls make his shining helmet look brighter. From the river bank his image is reflected in the mirror hanging before The Lady of Shalott.
“His broad clear brow in sunlight glow'd;
On burnish'd hooves his war - horse trode;
From underneath his helmet flow'd
His coal black curls as on he rode,
As he rode down to Camelot.
From the bank and from the river.
He flash'd into the crystal mirror,
“Tirra lira”, by the river
Sang Sir Lancelot.”
The poet draws a lively word picture of the Lady. The Lady of Shalott looks towards Camelot with great sense of satisfaction like a saint who does not give importance to his physical misfortune. It is sunset when she loses the chain of the boat and sails it to Camelot. The fast waves take the boat away:
"And down the river's dim expanse
Like some bold seer in a trance,
Seeing all his own mischance—
With a glassy countenance
Did she look to Camelot.
And at the closing of the day
She loosed the chain, and down she lay:
The broad stream bore her far away,
The Lady of Shalott.”
Tennyson's word pictures are comprehensive and full of movement. He tells about the storm as well as the Lady's dress. At this time, the Lady of Shalott is in a snow white dress. It is loose and flutters in stormy wind. Leaves from trees fall on her lightly in the silent night when the boat is taking her to Camelot. The boat moves with waves passing through hills and fields. People living in nearby area hear her last song.
“Heard a carol, mournful, holy,
Chanted loudly, chanted lowly,
Till her blood was frozen slowly,
And her eyes were darken'd wholly,
Turn'd to tower'd Camelot.
For ere she reach'd upon the tide
The first house by the water – side,
Singing in her song she died,
The Lady of Shalott.”
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