The Lady of the Lake

About “The Lady of the Lake”

The Lady of the Lake is a narrative poem by Walter Scott, published in 1810. Set in the Trossachs region of Scotland, it is divided into six cantos, each covering a day's events. The poem includes detailed antiquarian notes. It features three main plots: a competition among three men—Roderick Dhu, James Fitz-James, and Malcolm Graeme—for the love of Ellen Douglas; the conflict and resolution between King James V of Scotland and James Douglas; and a conflict between the Lowland Scots and Highland clans. The poem was highly influential in the nineteenth century and contributed to the Highland Revival. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.)