Writing & speaking task suggestions based on “The Lady of Shalott”
Many of the suggested projects involve an element of “creative anachronism”
Writing Tasks
 indicates that a sample has been prepared
1.  a newspaper report (for The Camelot Courier ?) recounting the incident of the finding the body in the boat
or some other incident that might have preceded or followed the events narrated in the poem.
2.  a newspaper editorial discussing the possible wider significance of the death of the Lady of Shalott
3. a collection of letters-to-the-editor presenting a variety of different comments on the incident of the finding of
the body of the Lady of Shalott
4. a feature article on:
4.1. magic, spells, curses, witches etc
4.2. romantic love
4.3. the attraction of legends like that of King Arthur and the knights of the round table
5.  an historical narrative on the modern day ruined castle of Shalott recounting the legend dealt with in
Tennyson’s poem
6.  a short story based on the poem – some possibilities are:
6.1. recounting the action covered in the poem
6.2. detailing the events that might have preceded the action in the poem – how the Lady came to be in the
tower with a curse on her
6.3. narrated from the point of view of Sir Lancelot, or one of the lords or ladies of the court, or one of the
common people (a reaper, a market girl, a shepherd lad etc)
6.4. narrated via a series of entries in the diary that the Lady of Shalott or some other character might have
kept
6.5. a story starting with the opening situation in the poem but with an alternative ending
6.6. a story of your own involving the action of a curse of some kind
6.7. a story of your own involving a character badly wanting something that they cannot have
6.8. a version of the story portraying the Lady of Shalott as an innocent victim of some malevolent plot
6.9. a version of the story portraying the Lady of Shalott as someone who got exactly the fate they deserved
7. a letter from one of the citizens of Camelot relating the incident of the lady’s body being found in the boat
8. a final letter that the authorities might have found on searching the castle after the Lady’s death
9.  a police (City Watch) report into the finding of the body and/or the subsequent investigation of the
circumstances
10.  the script for a short play based on the poem (or several scenes thereof)
11. the script for part of a film based on the poem
12.  a business letter to a film production company seeking funding for a film to be made based on the poem
13.  a real estate advertisement for the sale of the castle of Shalott
14. your own narrative poem based in some way on Tennyson’s. Perhaps it might begin “On either side the
highway lie”.
15. your own lyric poem (i.e. non narrative) based in some way on Tennyson’s.
16. a travel feature on “many-towered Camelot” and the surrounding area
17.  a job advertisement seeking new knights for the Round Table or a new jester for the king
18.  a job application and supporting CV for a position as one of the Knight’s of the Round Table or position
in the royal household. A personal reference supporting this application would be another option.
Garry Collins
gazco48@bigpond.net.au
Writing & speaking task suggestions based on “The Lady of Shalott”
Many of the suggested projects involve an element of “creative anachronism”
19.  the minutes of a meeting: of a local coven of witches at which one of the members reported on the success
of her spell placed on the Lady of Shalott; of a meeting of King’s Arthur’s Royal Council; of the Knights of the
Round Table etc
20. a piece of writing in any genre generated from an extract from the poem, e.g.: “shadows of the world”, “a
troop of damsels glad”, “the mirror’s magic sights”, “singing her last song”.
21.  a report for the sporting pages of The Camelot Courier of a recent jousting tournament
22. a review of the performances of the minstrels, jesters, acrobats and other entertainers who were performing in
the royal palace on the night that the boat containing the body of the Lady of Shalott turned up at the wharf
23. a commentary on the poem that would assist other student readers to greater understanding and appreciation
24. a recipe for a witch’s potion of the sort that might have been involved in the death of the Lady of Shalott
25. the autopsy report by the Chief Physician of the Royal Infirmary on the body of the Lady of Shalott
26. a wanted to sell advertisement for the horse, armour, weapons etc of a knight killed in a tournament
27. a display advertisement advertising a jousting tournament, a new type of armour or some other event or item
suggested by the poem
28. profiles on several new knights recently appointed to join King Arthur’s Round table
29. your own suggestion for a piece of writing generated from the poem – discuss it with the teacher first
Speaking Tasks
1. Powerpoint supported presentation on a poem – to include rehearsed reading and explanatory commentary
2. Informative talk on an aspect of background to “The Lady of Shalott”: Tennyson, the legend of King Arthur,
medieval warfare, the Holy Grail, chivalry, witchcraft, castles
3. A series of mock TV news items developed from the poem or a news item and associated current affairs
program segment
4. A mock TV interview with Sir Lancelot or another character derived from the poem
5. Rehearsed role play: the detective in charge briefs his/her team of investigators on the situation surrounding the
death of the Lady of Shalott – known facts, theories, investigation tasks
6. Closing address by the prosecutor or defence barrister in the trial of someone charged with involvement in the
death of the Lady of Shalott.
7. A ‘pitch’ presentation to a panel of movie producers to persuade them to invest in making a movie based on the
poem.
8. A briefing of a party of tourists preparing for a vacation trip to Camelot: sights to see, activities planned, travel,
accommodation arrangements, meals and the local cuisine, currency, laws and local customs, climate and
clothing required etc
9. Debate speech on the topic: “That literature from and about the past has no real relevance to 21st century
education.” You may choose to argue for either affirmative or negative.
Garry Collins
gazco48@bigpond.net.au