Read this excerpt from "the lady of shalott" by alfred, lord tennyson. in what way is the lady of shalott symbolic of an artist such as a poet? there she weaves by night and day a magic web with colours gay. she has heard a whisper say, a curse is on her if she stay to look down to camelot. she knows not what the curse may be, and so she weaveth steadily, and little other care hath she, the lady of shalott.