The Lady of the Lake (Scott)
The Lady of the Lake is a narrative poem by Walter Scott published in 1810. The action takes place on Loch Katrine in the Trossachs in Scotland and is divided into six Cantos , with each individual Canto taking place on one day. The poem contains three different storylines: a knightly battle between the three men Roderick Dhu, James Fitz-James and Malcolm Graeme for the love of Ellen Douglas; the feud and reconciliation of King James V and James Douglas; and a war between the Lowland Scots, led by James V, and the clans from the Highlands, led by Roderick Dhu, chief of Clan Alpine.
The poem became a top seller immediately after its publication, selling 25,000 copies within eight months. The work has been translated into various languages and contributed to the romantic transfiguration of old Scotland in the course of the 19th century. Parts of the German translation of Adam Storck has Franz Schubert set to music, from which Ellen's third song (often after his first words, but misleadingly as "Schubert's Ave Maria " hereinafter) has become world famous. Based on Scott's poem, Andrea Leone Tottola wrote the libretto for Rossini's opera La donna del lago . The Ku Klux Klan's custom of setting up burning crosses of fire is traced back to an episode in the third Canto. The text of the song Hail to the Chief , the official anthem to welcome the American President, is also originally based on the poem.
people
- King James V of Scotland travels incognito as James Fitz-James, Knight of Snowdoun
- Ellen Douglas, daughter of James Douglas
- James Douglas, former Duke of Bothwell, mentor to the youthful King Jacob, now an enemy in exile
- Allan Bane, a bard
- Roderick Dhu, Chief of Clan Alpine, outlawed as a result of a murder at the Scottish court
- Lady Margaret, mother of Roderick Dhu
- Malcolm Graeme, young chief from the Highlands and former courtier to King Jacob, loved by Ellen
- Hermit Brian, a pagan prophet in the Druid tradition
- Duncan, recently deceased senior member of Clan Alpine
- Angus, son of Duncan
- Norman, groom and member of Clan Alpine
- Mary, Norman's wife
- Blanche of Devan, a Lowland woman whose groom was killed by Clan Alpine men on her wedding day, driving Blanche insane
headlines
- Canto I: The Chase ("The Hunt")
- Canto II: The Iceland ( "The Island")
- Canto III: The Gathering ( "The Meeting")
- Canto IV: The Prophecy ("The Prophecy")
- Canto V: The Combat ( "The Battle")
- Canto VI: The Guard-room ("Das Wachlokal")
