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The Island

Canto Second from The Lady of the Lake, by Walter Scott

Walter Scott's The Lady of the Lake, published in 1810, is a narrative poem set in the Scottish Highlands during the early sixteenth century. This canto opens on the morning after a stranger's arrival on the island refuge of Ellen Douglas and her father, an exiled nobleman. Allan-bane, the aged minstrel, sings the stranger away with a blessing and a warning, then turns his prophetic harp to darker themes. The poem explores exile, memory, loyalty, and the tension between lost grandeur and present contentment. Scott's verse was immensely popular in its day and helped shape the Romantic image of the Highlands. This canto is worth a reader's time because it dramatises the artist's role in a time of political ruin and asks whether exile can ever be chosen freely or only endured with grace. This text reflects its era.

Band

Silver · First-year university levelTypical starting range: adult

Length

long · about 1722 words in 5 sections · 1 picture

Source

The Lady of the Lake, Walter Scott

First published

1810

Regions

Canada · United States

Included formats

• · Web reader and PDF
• · EPUB for e-readers
• · Home-print sheet
• · Folded booklet
• · Binder edition (8.5 × 11)
• · Worksheet
• · Quick Check (10 questions) with answer key
• · Read-aloud script
• · Teacher’s Edition (members)

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