Shakespeare's Plays: A Complete Guide with Summaries

William Shakespeare’s 39 plays encompass timeless themes, unforgettable characters, and masterful storytelling. Below is a categorized list of all his plays, each with a short summary to help you understand their essence.

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The Tragedies

Shakespeare's tragedies explore profound themes of ambition, love, betrayal, and fate, often ending in heartbreak.

1. Antony and Cleopatra

The tragic romance of Roman general Antony and Egyptian queen Cleopatra, whose love clashes with political ambitions, leading to their downfall.

2. Coriolanus

A Roman war hero struggles with pride and betrayal as he faces banishment and returns to seek revenge on the city he once defended.

3. Hamlet

The Prince of Denmark seeks revenge against his uncle, who murdered his father and seized the throne, while grappling with existential dilemmas.

4. Julius Caesar

A tale of political conspiracy and betrayal as Brutus and other senators assassinate Caesar, only to face tragic consequences.

5. King Lear

An aging king’s decision to divide his kingdom among his daughters leads to madness, betrayal, and a tragic end.

6. Macbeth

Ambition and prophecy drive Macbeth to murder King Duncan, leading to his rise as king and eventual downfall.

7. Othello

A tragic story of jealousy and manipulation as Iago deceives Othello into believing his wife Desdemona is unfaithful.

8. Romeo and Juliet

Two young lovers from feuding families fall in love and meet a tragic end due to misunderstandings and family conflict.

9. Timon of Athens

A wealthy man’s excessive generosity leads to financial ruin, causing him to become a misanthrope in his isolation.

10. Titus Andronicus

A revenge-filled tale of violence and tragedy as the Roman general Titus Andronicus seeks vengeance against the Queen of the Goths.

11. Troilus and Cressida

Set during the Trojan War, this play explores themes of love and betrayal as Troilus and Cressida’s romance is tested by war.

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The Comedies

Shakespeare’s comedies offer humor, mistaken identities, and happy endings, often centered on love and reconciliation.

1. All’s Well That Ends Well

A young woman’s cunning plan to win her reluctant husband’s love leads to comedic misunderstandings and a happy resolution.

2. As You Like It

A romantic comedy featuring Rosalind, who disguises herself as a man and discovers love in the Forest of Arden.

3. The Comedy of Errors

Hilarious confusion ensues when two sets of identical twins are mistaken for each other in the same city.

4. Love’s Labour’s Lost

A group of noblemen vow to avoid women to focus on their studies, only to fall for a visiting princess and her ladies.

5. Measure for Measure

A dark comedy exploring justice, mercy, and morality as a strict deputy enforces harsh laws in Vienna.

6. The Merchant of Venice

A tale of love and prejudice as a young man borrows money from a Jewish moneylender, Shylock, under a perilous bond.

7. The Merry Wives of Windsor

The comedic misadventures of Sir John Falstaff as he attempts to woo two married women for financial gain.

8. A Midsummer Night’s Dream

A whimsical tale of love, magic, and mischief as fairies interfere in the romantic lives of four lovers in a forest.

9. Much Ado About Nothing

Beatrice and Benedick’s witty banter leads to love, while a villain’s scheme jeopardizes another couple’s happiness.

10. Pericles, Prince of Tyre

Pericles endures shipwrecks, separation from his family, and eventual reunion in this adventurous tale.

11. The Taming of the Shrew

Petruchio attempts to “tame” the strong-willed Katherina in this comedic battle of the sexes.

12. The Tempest

The magician Prospero uses his powers to orchestrate events on an enchanted island, leading to forgiveness and reconciliation.

13. Twelfth Night

Viola disguises herself as a man, leading to a love triangle filled with mistaken identities and comedic chaos.

14. The Two Gentlemen of Verona

Two friends fall in love with the same woman, testing their loyalty and friendship in this light-hearted comedy.

15. The Winter’s Tale

A tale of jealousy and redemption as a king falsely accuses his wife of infidelity, leading to separation and a miraculous reunion.

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The Histories

These plays dramatize the lives of English monarchs and their political and personal struggles.

1. Henry IV, Part 1 & Part 2

Prince Hal matures from a reckless youth to a responsible heir while his father, King Henry IV, battles rebels.

2. Henry V

King Henry V leads England to victory at the Battle of Agincourt, showcasing his leadership and resolve.

3. Henry VI, Parts 1, 2, & 3

A trilogy chronicling the Wars of the Roses, the struggle for power between the houses of York and Lancaster.

4. Henry VIII

The story of King Henry VIII’s court, focusing on political intrigue, his marriages, and the rise of Anne Boleyn.

5. King John

A play depicting King John’s tumultuous reign, including his conflicts with France and his struggles for legitimacy.

6. Richard II

The downfall of King Richard II as he is deposed by Henry Bolingbroke, who becomes King Henry IV.

7. Richard III

Richard’s manipulative rise to power and his eventual defeat at the Battle of Bosworth Field.

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The Romances

These late-career plays blend elements of tragedy and comedy, often involving magic and redemption.

1. Cymbeline

A complex tale of jealousy, mistaken identity, and eventual reconciliation involving the British King Cymbeline and his family.

2. The Tempest

Prospero’s journey from vengeance to forgiveness unfolds in a magical setting filled with spirits and shipwrecked nobles.

3. The Winter’s Tale

A king’s jealousy tears his family apart, but time and fate lead to miraculous reunions and forgiveness.

4. Pericles, Prince of Tyre

Pericles faces trials of loss and adventure, ultimately reuniting with his long-lost daughter and wife.

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Why Explore Shakespeare’s Plays?

Shakespeare's plays remain relevant due to their timeless themes, rich characters, and poetic language. Whether you’re drawn to the drama of Hamlet, the humor of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, or the historical intrigue of Henry V, there’s something for everyone in the Bard’s works.

Stanza by Stanza Explanation - Percy Bysshe Shelley

Introduction

"Ode to the West Wind" is one of Percy Bysshe Shelley’s most celebrated works, written in 1819 and published in 1820. Known for its passionate themes of change, nature, and revolution, the poem paints the image of the West Wind as a powerful force capable of both destruction and renewal. Shelley calls upon the wind as a metaphor for his own desire to inspire change in the world. This article will provide a detailed summary and stanza-by-stanza explanation of the poem, helping readers to understand its depth and relevance.

     I

O wild West Wind, thou breath of Autumn's being,

Thou, from whose unseen presence the leaves dead

Are driven, like ghosts from an enchanter fleeing,

 

Yellow, and black, and pale, and hectic red,

Pestilence-stricken multitudes: O thou,

Who chariotest to their dark wintry bed

 

The winged seeds, where they lie cold and low,

Each like a corpse within its grave, until

Thine azure sister of the Spring shall blow

 

Her clarion o'er the dreaming earth, and fill

(Driving sweet buds like flocks to feed in air)

With living hues and odours plain and hill:

 

Wild Spirit, which art moving everywhere;

Destroyer and preserver; hear, oh hear!

 

II

Thou on whose stream, mid the steep sky's commotion,

Loose clouds like earth's decaying leaves are shed,

Shook from the tangled boughs of Heaven and Ocean,

 

Angels of rain and lightning: there are spread

On the blue surface of thine aëry surge,

Like the bright hair uplifted from the head

 

Of some fierce Maenad, even from the dim verge

Of the horizon to the zenith's height,

The locks of the approaching storm. Thou dirge

 

Of the dying year, to which this closing night

Will be the dome of a vast sepulchre,

Vaulted with all thy congregated might

 

Of vapours, from whose solid atmosphere

Black rain, and fire, and hail will burst: oh hear!

 

III

Thou who didst waken from his summer dreams

The blue Mediterranean, where he lay,

Lull'd by the coil of his crystalline streams,

 

Beside a pumice isle in Baiae's bay,

And saw in sleep old palaces and towers

Quivering within the wave's intenser day,

 

All overgrown with azure moss and flowers

So sweet, the sense faints picturing them! Thou

For whose path the Atlantic's level powers

 

Cleave themselves into chasms, while far below

The sea-blooms and the oozy woods which wear

The sapless foliage of the ocean, know

 

Thy voice, and suddenly grow gray with fear,

And tremble and despoil themselves: oh hear!

 

IV

If I were a dead leaf thou mightest bear;

If I were a swift cloud to fly with thee;

A wave to pant beneath thy power, and share

 

The impulse of thy strength, only less free

Than thou, O uncontrollable! If even

I were as in my boyhood, and could be

 

The comrade of thy wanderings over Heaven,

As then, when to outstrip thy skiey speed

Scarce seem'd a vision; I would ne'er have striven

 

As thus with thee in prayer in my sore need.

Oh, lift me as a wave, a leaf, a cloud!

I fall upon the thorns of life! I bleed!

 

A heavy weight of hours has chain'd and bow'd

One too like thee: tameless, and swift, and proud.

 

V

Make me thy lyre, even as the forest is:

What if my leaves are falling like its own!

The tumult of thy mighty harmonies

 

Will take from both a deep, autumnal tone,

Sweet though in sadness. Be thou, Spirit fierce,

My spirit! Be thou me, impetuous one!

 

Drive my dead thoughts over the universe

Like wither'd leaves to quicken a new birth!

And, by the incantation of this verse,

 

Scatter, as from an unextinguish'd hearth

Ashes and sparks, my words among mankind!

Be through my lips to unawaken'd earth

 

The trumpet of a prophecy! O Wind,

If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?

Outline of the Article

1. Introduction to "Ode to the West Wind"
• Background of the poem
• Key themes and symbolism  

2. Summary of the Poem
• Overall message and tone
• Significance of the wind 

3. Stanza 1: The Invocation to the Wind
• Description of the West Wind
• The wind as both a destroyer and creator

4. Stanza 2: The Wind as a Harbinger of Change
• How the wind affects nature
• The connection between the wind and transformation 

5. Stanza 3: The Wind and Human Emotions
• Shelley’s plea for personal renewal
• The wind as a metaphor for the poet’s mind

6. Stanza 4: The Poet’s Role in the World
• Shelley’s desire to use his poetry to inspire revolution
• The connection between the wind’s power and the poet’s voice

7. Stanza 5: The Wind as a Force of Destruction
• The destructive nature of the wind
• The relationship between chaos and creation 

8. Stanza 6: The Poet’s Final Plea
• The ultimate request Shelley makes to the West Wind
• The metaphorical significance of the wind’s power

9. Conclusion
• The lasting impact of the poem
• How Shelley’s vision connects with modern times

10. 5 FAQs

• Common questions about "Ode to the West Wind"

Summary of "Ode to the West Wind"

"Ode to the West Wind" is a dramatic, lyrical poem in which Shelley invokes the West Wind as a powerful, almost divine figure. The wind is portrayed as both a destroyer and a rebuilder, capable of sweeping away decay and bringing about renewal. Shelley's central theme is the idea of transformation—of both nature and society—driven by the relentless force of the wind. He calls upon the wind not only as a natural phenomenon but as a metaphor for his own aspirations to inspire change in the world through his words.

The wind’s power is shown to affect everything it touches, from the trees to the oceans. Shelley uses the wind’s destructive force as a symbol of social and political upheaval, particularly in a time of political unrest in England. The poet’s longing for revolution and renewal is reflected in his passionate plea to the wind to carry his words and ideas across the world. The poem ends on a hopeful note, suggesting that the power of the wind—and by extension, the poet’s power—can bring about meaningful change.

Stanza 1: The Invocation to the Wind

Shelley begins the poem with an invocation to the West Wind. He describes the wind as a "wild spirit" that brings both destruction and renewal. This dual nature of the wind is important, as it symbolizes the power of transformation that can be both violent and constructive. Shelley refers to the wind as a "destroyer" of old leaves and a "preserver" of new life, highlighting its capacity to bring death and birth simultaneously.

The opening stanza sets the tone for the entire poem, as Shelley addresses the wind directly, seeking its help to spread his message and influence. The West Wind is not just a force of nature; it is a representation of the poet’s own desire to instigate change.

Stanza 2: The Wind as a Harbinger of Change

In the second stanza, Shelley reflects on the wind’s role in nature, describing how it drives the storm clouds and spreads the seeds of plants. The wind, in this sense, is a harbinger of change. It carries the potential for growth and new life, just as it destroys the old. This dual role of the wind as both a force of death and a catalyst for life underscores Shelley’s theme of transformation.

Shelley compares the wind’s ability to cleanse and renew nature to his own desire to stir up a similar transformation in society. The wind’s actions serve as a metaphor for the poet’s ambition to ignite social and political change, sweeping away the decay of the old order and fostering the emergence of something new.

Stanza 3: The Wind and Human Emotions

The third stanza delves deeper into Shelley’s emotional connection with the wind. He pleads with the wind to take his thoughts and feelings and spread them far and wide. Here, the wind symbolizes Shelley’s desire for personal renewal and intellectual freedom. By aligning his emotions with the wind’s power, Shelley suggests that the poet, like the wind, has the potential to influence the world and bring about change.

Shelley imagines himself as a leaf caught in the wind’s grasp, representing his own fragility and dependence on nature’s forces. However, he also sees the wind as a force that can free him, allowing his voice and ideas to reach the farthest corners of the earth.

Stanza 4: The Poet’s Role in the World

In the fourth stanza, Shelley connects the wind’s power to the poet’s role in society. He believes that the poet has the ability to inspire revolution and change, much like the wind inspires change in nature. The poet’s voice, like the wind, has the power to spread ideas and ignite passions in others.

Shelley compares himself to the wind, suggesting that his words can have the same force and impact as the West Wind. He sees poetry as a means of transforming the world, breaking through the barriers of oppression and social injustice. The wind becomes a symbol of both freedom and the potential for political and social upheaval.

Stanza 5: The Wind as a Force of Destruction

In this stanza, Shelley reflects on the destructive nature of the wind. He acknowledges that while the wind can be a force for renewal, it can also bring chaos and destruction. The wind is depicted as capable of shattering the old order, sweeping away the remnants of a decaying world.

This destructive aspect of the wind serves as a metaphor for revolution and political upheaval. Shelley uses the wind’s power to symbolize the chaos that precedes change. Just as the wind tears down the old, Shelley believes that society must be torn apart in order to make way for something new.

Stanza 6: The Poet’s Final Plea

In the final stanza, Shelley makes a desperate plea to the West Wind, asking it to carry his words and ideas to the masses. He wishes for his poetry to be like the wind, spreading far and wide and sparking change wherever it goes. Shelley also expresses his desire for the wind to inspire others, bringing about the transformation he so desperately craves.

Shelley’s plea is one of hope and ambition. He recognizes that change is not easy and that it requires powerful forces to bring it about. By invoking the West Wind, Shelley hopes to align his own energy with the wind’s, channeling its power into a force for good.

Conclusion

"Ode to the West Wind" remains one of Shelley’s most powerful poems, filled with a sense of urgency and ambition. The wind symbolizes both destruction and renewal, making it the perfect metaphor for the changes Shelley wishes to see in the world. The poet’s connection to the wind highlights his desire to inspire revolution and transformation, using the power of poetry to bring about a better future. Shelley’s words continue to resonate today, reminding us of the potential for change and the power of the individual to make a difference.

5 FAQs

1. What is the main theme of "Ode to the West Wind"?
The main theme of "Ode to the West Wind" is the power of transformation, symbolized by the West Wind, which brings both destruction and renewal. Shelley uses the wind as a metaphor for the change he seeks in society and nature.

2. What does the West Wind symbolize in the poem?
In the poem, the West Wind symbolizes both a destructive and creative force. It represents the potential for change, revolution, and renewal in the natural world and human society.

3. Why does Shelley address the wind in the poem?
Shelley addresses the West Wind because he sees it as a powerful force capable of sweeping away the old and bringing about the new. He uses the wind as a metaphor for his own desire to inspire change through his poetry.

4. How does Shelley use nature in the poem?
Shelley uses nature to represent the cycles of life, death, and rebirth. The wind’s ability to destroy and renew reflects the poet’s hopes for social and political change.

5. What is the significance of the wind’s destruction in the poem?
The wind’s destruction symbolizes the need for upheaval in society before renewal can occur. Shelley believes that in order for positive change to happen, the old and decaying order must first be torn apart.

 

01. Breyten Breytenbach

Breyten Breytenbach was born in September 16, 1939. He is an South-African writer. Besides

writing he is good at painting. He won Anisfield-Wolf Book Award. His famous works are- A veil

of footsteps, All one horse (1990), Dog Heart: A Memoir, Mouroir(1984) etc.

02. Chinua Achebe

He was born in November 16, 1930, Ogidi, Anambra, Nigeria. His first work Things Fall Apart

becomes successful. He was not only a poet but also a novelist. For his outstanding literary

work he won Man Booker International Prize. His famous work are- Things Fall Apart ,No

Longer at Ease, A Man of the People, Arrow of God ,Anthills of the Savannah.

03. Christopher Okigbo

Christopher Okigbo was born in Okigbo was born on 16 August 1930. He is an postcolonial

poet. He is the founder member of African Authors Association. He died in the independence

of Biafra.Path of Thunder, Dance of the Painted Maidens, Lament of the Masks these are the

famous works of Christopher Okigbo.

04. Dambudzo Marechera

The poet who was born in Zimbabwe and became famous for his literary works is Dambudzo

Marechera. He was born in June 4, 1952, Rusape, Zimbabwe. He won Guardian Fiction Prize.

Black sunlight ,The House of Hunger ,The black insider and Cemetery of mind are his famous

literary works.

05. David Wright

David Wright was born in February 23, 1920, Johannesburg, South Africa. He was the student

of Oriel College, Oxford. His notable poems are- An Agnostic Gets A Shave In Pakistan, The

Teacher's Reward, Making the Most of What We Have, Spring and I are Restless, A Santa Fe

Storm.

06. Dennis Brutus

Dennis Brutus was a south African poet who was born in November 28, 1924, Harare,

Zimbabwe. He was also known as a journalist. His famous works are: Simple Lust, Stubborn

hope, Still the Sirens/Poems, Salutes & censures, Remembering, Leaf Drift.

07. Ingrid Jonker

Many of her poetry is translated into other languages. This great woman was born in

September 19, 1933, Northern Cape, South Africa. She is also considered south African Sylvia

Plath. Her famous poems are- The child is not dead, Ontvlugting ,Ek herhaal jou, The Face of

Love, My omhelsing het my verdubbel, Ek herhaal jou (I repeat you), This journey, Begin

Summer, L’Art poetique and 25 December.

08. Keorapetse Kgositsile

Keorapetse Kgositsile was an South African poet who is known as "Bra Willie". He was born in

September 19, 1938, Johannesburg, South Africa. When the clouds clear, o the Bitter End,

This Way I Salute You these are his famous literary writings.

09. Kofi Awoonor

Whose writings depicted the culture of Ewe people and their religion is Kofi Awoonor. He was

born in March 13, 1935, Gold Coast; so he is an Ghanaian poet. His remarkable writings are

The African predicament, Comes the voyager at last and The Promise of Hope.

10. Wole Soyinka

Wole Soyinka is an Nigerian poet who was born in July 13, 1934 (age 80), Abeokuta, Nigeria.

He is the first poet who won Nobel Prize for Africa in Literature. Ake, The Interpreters, King

Baabu, The Beatification of the Area Boy are his famous writings.

11. Leopold Sedar Senghor

Leopold Sedar Senghor was born in October 9, 1906, Joal-Fadiouth, Senegal. He is not only a

poet but he is the first president of Senegal. His famous books are The collected poetry,

Oeuvre poetique, Poems of a black Orpheus and Selected Poems of Leopold Sedar Senghor.

12. Kwame Dawes

Kwame Dawes is an Ghanaian poet who is actually not only a poet but also an actor, musician

and editor. He was born in July 28, 1962. He got Guggenheim Fellowship for Creative Arts, US

& Canada. His famous works are: Bob Marley: Lyrical Genius, Shook foil, Natural mysticism

and Impossible Flying: Poems.

13.Phillis Wheatley

Wheatley was seized from Senegal, when she was about seven years old. This African poet

was born in May 8, 1753. She started her early life in slavery and throughout her life she had

to struggle against poverty. She believes in the power of literature especially in the power of

poetry. Her notable works are-On Imagination, An Hymn To The Morning, One Being Brought

From Africa To America, On Being Brought from Africa to America, A Farewell To America to

Mrs. S. W., On The Death Of A Young Lady Of Five Years, An Hymn to Humanity, An Hymn

To The Evening, Ode To Neptune, On Recollection, On, Virtue, A Rebus and so on.

14.Nikki Giovanni

Nikki Giovanni was an African-American poet and born in June 7, 1943, Knoxville, Tennessee,

United States. Not only she writes poems but also was known as a commentator. Her notable

works are- Bicycles: Love Poems, Cotton candy on a rainy day, Quilting the black‐eyed pea,

Ego-tripping and other poems for young people etc.

15. Guy Butler

Guy Butler was born in January 21, 1918. He is a South African poet and critic. He completed

his education from Oxford University. His notable books are Demea, Karoo morning and

Pilgrimage to Dias Cross.

 

01. The Lady of Shalott

This ballad was first published in 1842 which represents a difference between art and life. Lady of Shalott here is seen to lock in a room and is not allowed to look outside the window. But Lancelot one of the members of Arthur's round table attracts him and this temptation caused her cursed and leads her to death.

 

02. Barbara Allan

It is a traditional ballad which is first referred by Pepys in 1666. In this poem or ballad poem Sir John's love for Allan is described. Sir John accuses that the reason of his sickness is his love for her. But on the contrary Barbara Allan always refuses to love him.

 

03. The Host of the Air

This is an old ballad of English version. The bread and wine symbolizes Jesus where The Host of the Air indicates bread and wine. In this ballad a man is seen to dream about his newly married wife who has been stolen by a young man when he is card games and eating bread as well as drinking wine.

 

04. The Ballad of East and West

This ballad poem is about an Afghan warrior and an English colonel whose horse is seized by Kamal, the Afghan warrior. The phrase- "East is East and West is West'' tells that these two parts of the word are not subject to meet until the day of judgement comes. But the main characters Kamal and the colonel's son proves that each territory can mix up if they keep aside their racism, religion and approach with their nobility and bravery.

 

05. The Ballad of Reading Gaol

This poem is first published in 1987. Just after become free from prison Oscar Wilde composed this ballad where he describes about prisoned life and his struggle in the prison. The harsh realities of prisoned life as well as the life of execution is revealed in this poem.

 

06. The Ballad of Moll Magee

This is one of the famous ballads of W.B. Yeats where the protagonist tells her story to the children that once she killed her little child just after returning from outside. She tells her poverty is one reason for the death of her child and that why her husband leaves her but she has no feeling for her husband rather than she always thinks about her dead child.

 

07. The Elfin Knight

There are a lot of supernatural elements in The Elfin Knight which is recognised as traditional ballad. It is also reachable to the children. It is the story of a maiden who summons the Elfin Knight into her bedroom but when the Knight tells he has wife and children in his house she rejects him and the Knight disappears.

 

08.The Ballad of the White Horse

This poem was first published in 1911. Here in this ballad poem the speaker describes how the Danes are defeated in the battle of Ethandum by Alfred. It is the struggle between Christianity  and pagan religion.

 

09. The Cruel Mother

This ballad refers to the story of a mother who randomizely kills her children. After giving birth a  child every time she kills it and buries in in the forest. But interestingly this woman feels some love for other children playing in the street but she is mocked by those children for her heinous deed.

 

10. The Three Ravens

It is a folk ballad and was first published in 1611. The ballad tells the story about three birds who is seen to discuss where and what they should at that moment. One suggests that they should eat the body of recently dead knight. Finally they were unsuccessful to see the knight to be buried.

 

11. The Demon Lover

This ballad poem tells about the story of two lovers; love between Mrs. Drover and a soldier. To keep his promise the soldier again returns to Mrs. Drover during the world war ii. After reading the letter when Mrs. Drover rushes to the country house she discovers that the taxi driver is the soldier himself.

 

12. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

The ancient mariner tells his life story to a wedding guest. On the time of his youth how he killed an Albatross and brought bad luck to the crew. It seems a sin to the crew to kill the albatross thats why they cursed the ancient mariner. Finally after a lot of sufferings the ancient mariner realizes that showing respect to all the creatures means showing respect to God.

13. Lord Randal

Lord Randal tells the story of a unlucky lover who is killed or poisoned by his beloved. After returning from her beloved, his mother asks her where he was. The Lord tells he was in the forest for hunting and had the dinner with his beloved. Lord Randal gradually becomes sick as he was poisoned by his sweetheart during the dinner.

 

14. The Twa Sisters

In this ballad the younger sister is killed by her own elder sister because she was jealous of her younger sister's fair skin and handsome suit. The corpse of the younger sister is found by a musician whose musical instrument helps him to find out the murderer.

 

15. The Wife of Usher’s Well

It is the story of a mother who sends her sons in the sea but very soon she hears that all of them died. After mourning some time using her magical power she gets back her sons for a night. In the morning the sons again goes away where they have come from.

 

Works Cited:

http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/thematic_poems/ballad_poems_4.html

http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/the-lady-of-shalott-by-tennyson-summary-poem-analysis-interpretation.html

http://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/47550/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ballad_of_Reading_Gaol

http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch084.htm

http://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/3942/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Three_Ravens

https://betterknowachildballad.wordpress.com/2012/10/15/child-10-twa-sisters/

http://www.exampleessays.com/viewpaper/59505.html