Both of the poems feature contrast between light and darkness, in Mariana the poem straight away starts with a dark perspective whereas in lady of shalott the poem starts with a summery seasonal imagery with the 'lilies' blowing by the light wind. In Mariana the 'moated grange' is engulfed by the dull state of decay in nature, for instance the flower has lost it's beauty because of the invasion of the 'blackest moss,' this may indicate that the woman has lost herself like the flower by the brooding of her lover, the obscurity of the surroundings of the moat is consistent throughout the poem. However in the lady of shallot, Tennyson illustrates the change in mood by using the weather to represent the atmosphere of change, the poems beauty of nature dies out when Tennyson uses visual imagery of absurd vocabulary such as 'stormy,' 'pale yellow wood,' it immediately draws the readers attention and creates suspense of how the poem may end.

In the second last stanza of Mariana Tennyson creates an ominous and chilling atmosphere, although Tennyson had established in beginning that she lives alone 'upon the lonely moated grange,' he gives an implication that there may have been

In Mariana there is no mention of any existence of any living body apart from her, we get an indication that no one knows of her, similarly in lady of shalott even though she is surrounded by the 'reapers, reaping early' they are not aware of her presence nevertheless they are aware of her 'song' and think that there is an outwardly magical 'fairy Lady of shalott.'

In the lady of shalott although she is isolated from the interacted world, the lady is able to look 'thro' a mirror,' and see the 'shadows of the world appear,' however she cannot feel or touch the surroundings of what she sees in the mirror, yet she is surrounded by the natures beauty of 'aspens,' 'lilies,' which indicate a very lively wildlife. On the contrary the woman in Mariana can able to see things in reality yet 'she could not look on the sweet heaven.' The mirror is very significant in the lady of shalott as it protects the lady, we know this because she sees the world through the mirror, once the mirror has 'crack'd from side to side,' the 'lady' points out that 'the curse' is upon her however she does 'knows not what the curse maybe,' nonetheless we later on find out that once she has come encountered with the outside world she meets her death. On the contrary in Mariana she is not protected by anything whatsoever instead she is exposed to the surroundings of decompose of 'the rounding gray.' Where ever she turns she is surrounded by the outside gloominess, Tennyson constantly describes the surroundings by always referring to things as 'blackest' or 'dark' this emphasises that the woman is not only trapped by her emotional depression but also by the natures murkine

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1114
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)