rewrite this essay
The poem "The Lady of Shalott" by Alfred Lord Tennyson sets the scene of a mysterious and isolated lady living on the island of Shalott. It describes the beauty and tranquility of the surrounding landscape, as well as the confinement of the Lady within her tower. The painting, depicting the Lady weaving in her tower, visually reinforces the sense of solitude and entrapment described in the poem. One detail the poem contains that the painting does not is the mention of "Gazing where the lilies blow round an island there below," which highlights the Lady's longing to observe the outside world. On the other hand, the painting provides a visual representation of the Lady's activities and her surroundings that enhances our understanding of her life and emotions.