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Lancelot and Elaine

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Poem

31 pages

First published July 21, 2014

2 people are currently reading
53 people want to read

About the author

Alfred Tennyson

2,144 books1,442 followers
Works, including In Memoriam in 1850 and "The Charge of the Light Brigade" in 1854, of Alfred Tennyson, first baron, known as lord, appointed British poet laureate in 1850, reflect Victorian sentiments and aesthetics.

Elizabeth Tennyson, wife, bore Alfred Tennyson, the fourth of twelve children, to George Tennyson, clergyman; he inevitably wrote his books. In 1816, parents sent Tennyson was sent to grammar school of Louth.

Alfred Tennyson disliked school so intensely that from 1820, home educated him. At the age of 18 years in 1827, Alfred joined his two brothers at Trinity College, Cambridge and with Charles Tennyson, his brother, published Poems by Two Brothers , his book, in the same year.

Alfred Tennyson published Poems Chiefly Lyrical , his second book, in 1830. In 1833, Arthur Henry Hallam, best friend of Tennyson, engaged to wed his sister, died, and thus inspired some best Ulysses and the Passing of Arthur .

Following William Wordsworth, Alfred Tennyson in 1850 married Emily Sellwood Tenyson, his childhood friend. She bore Hallam Tennyson in 1852 and Lionel Tennyson in 1854, two years later.

Alfred Tennyson continued throughout his life and in the 1870s also to write a number of plays.

In 1884, the queen raised Alfred Tennyson, a great favorite of Albert, prince, thereafter to the peerage of Aldworth. She granted such a high rank for solely literary distinction to this only Englishman.

Alfred Tennyson died at the age of 83 years, and people buried his body in abbey of Westminster.

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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Profile Image for GSGS.
250 reviews
November 14, 2012
Thank you for bringing me here, Anne of Green Gables :D

I don't often appreciate poetry as much as I should but this is a beautiful poem that almost made me want to cry.
Profile Image for laura.
164 reviews34 followers
Read
December 29, 2022
i really loved this once i got used to the style and the verse!! hoping i can soon have enough time to read all of the other idylls <3
Profile Image for Aylu.
52 reviews
February 12, 2023
"I'm half-sick of shadows", said the Lady of Shalott ❤️
Profile Image for Katherine V.
260 reviews
May 31, 2025
No sé casi nada de las leyendas artúricas, pero terminé metida hasta el cuello en el salseo emocional de Camelot.

Lancelot ama a Ginebra. Ginebra ama a Lancelot. Pero Ginebra está casada con Arturo, y Lancelot jura lealtad al rey… ¿Entonces qué es esto? ¿Una novela romántica medieval? ¿Una tragedia disfrazada de epopeya? 🤯

Desde el primer momento shipeé a Elaine con Lancelot. Ella es sincera, dulce, lo cura cuando está herido, y él, muy suelto, le dice que le pida lo que quiera… pero cuando ella le pide su amor, él le da calabazas. ¿Perdón? ¿Para qué le dices “lo que quieras” si vas a rechazarla?

Y luego está Ginebra, la descarada. Se ofende porque Lancelot podría amar a otra, pero ella no piensa dejar a Arturo, ni su corona, ni su reputación. Desprecia a Elaine como si no fuera digna, cuando en realidad es la más noble de los tres.

Lo que más me dolió fue Elaine. Su muerte no fue solo trágica, fue silenciosamente brutal. Morir de amor, sin rencor, con esa carta tan digna… me rompió. Es imposible no sentir que ella es la única víctima real en esta historia. Lancelot y Ginebra pueden tener su drama, pero quien más sufre es la que amó de verdad.

Y Arturo… ¿de verdad no sabía? ¿O simplemente prefería mirar a otro lado? Porque parece que todo el mundo en Camelot sabe de ese amor menos él. ¿Rey sabio? Tal vez. ¿Rey ciego por amor o conveniencia? Segurísimo.

Y voy a decirlo sin miedo: si me meto de lleno en este salseo medieval, nada ni nadie me hará querer a Lancelot y a Ginebra. Ya sé que muchos consideran su historia como “trágica”, ¡sí, cómo no! Trágica será para Arturo. Para mí, ellos representan justo lo contrario a lo que se supone que es el ideal caballeresco. Amor sin honor no es amor romántico, es traición.

Y cuando descubrí que Elaine también es la Dama de Shalott, solo que representada de forma más simbólica en otro poema de Tennyson… mi corazoncito poético colapsó. Misma esencia: mujer que ama en silencio, mujer que muere sin ser vista.
Profile Image for Lucia.
65 reviews8 followers
November 19, 2024
"Y creo sin duda que ese fruto cuelga demasiado alto para que lo atrape una boca que no sea la de una reina"
4⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Irene.
13 reviews1 follower
August 19, 2009
Excellent poem by Tennyson. It tells the story of Sir Lancelot of the Lake and Elaine of Astolat, the lily maiden. Emotions depicted beautifully. The poem is strong and moving.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews

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