Symbols are objects in a piece of writing that represent something beyond themselves; they have both a literal and figurative meaning. The river is an important symbol. The flowing of the river represents the flowing of the life of the Lady of Shalott, and it is even a part of her death. Another symbol, the island she lives on, represents her isolation and loneliness apart from the world.
An allusion is a reference to a historical person, place or event that an author uses to deepen meaning in a piece of writing. Tennyson references Camelot several times in his poem. Camelot is a fictional place in the time of King Arthur, and it symbolizes romance and love. The audience understands so much depth through the use of that one word. Another allusion, the use of Sir Lancelot, a heroic and romantic figure, helps the audience understand the allure of turning from her work to look at a handsome man directly.
Authors use personification to link objects to human actions and emotions. Personification is giving human qualities or characteristics to objects. Tennyson writes, "Willows whiten, aspens quiver, / Little breezes dusk and shiver." Aspen trees don't quiver, and breezes certainly can't shiver. These are human qualities. He uses another example of personification when he writes, "The broad stream in his banks complaining." Only people complain; Tennyson is using this poetic device to explain how loud the broad stream was.
Anytime an author creates words that appeal to the senses -- things the reader sees, tastes, touches, hears or smells -- the writer is using imagery. Tennyson delights in imagery. Tennyson writes, ”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.” In this part of the poem, Tennyson utilizes visual imagery in the description of the colorful web and auditory imagery with the whispering of curses.