What literary devices are in Tennyson's "The Lady of Shalott," part 1?

In Alfred, Lord Tennyson's "The Lady of Shalott," there are a number of literary devices used in this beautiful and sad poem.

In the first stanza, barley and rye are personified as clothing the "ground" or "hills" (wold) as Tennyson states...

...they clothe the wold and meet the sky...

End rhyme is used in the poem. Rhyme is seen most commonly when the vowel sound in a group of words is the same. The lines may "rest" next to each other or occur every other line. There are many variations of end rhyme. A letter is assigned for each sound. For the first line-ending words that rhyme in a poem, like "snow" and "go," each would be assigned an "A." If the next rhyme used words like "first" and "thirst," their sound would be assigned a "B." (Each sound is given a new "letter.) The rhyme scheme for the first two stanzas, for instance, is:

A  A  A  A  B  C  C  C  B

In this case, the last word of the first four lines rhymes with each other: lie, rye, sky, by. The long "i" sound is assigned an "A." The sound changes with the world "Camelot," so it is labeled with a "B;" and when the following line begins a new rhyming pattern with go, blow, below, these sounds are assigned a "C."

Alliteration is generally the repetition of a consonant sound at the beginning of a group of words. The sound must be the same, though the letter doesn't need to be. ("Ph" and "F" use different letters, but they sound the same.) Line 4 gives an example of alliteration with:

...road run...

The "R" sound is repeated, creating the musical quality of alliteration. We see it again at the start of the second stanza:

Willows whiten...

Here is the repeated sound of the "W."

Repetition (used for effect) is found in line 15:

Four grey walls, and four grey towers...

It is also seen throughout the poem occurring in the middle of the stanzas with the repetition of the word "Camelot."

In line 28, we recognize the use of assonance, which is the repetition of the same vowel sound occurring in a group of words:

...reaper weary...

In this example, the "ea" creates a vowel blend with the long "E" sound.

Consonance is found in line 29, and is a similar literary device that uses repetition, but in this case the sound repeated is made up of consonants—still repeating the same sound:

...bearded barley

In this case, the "R" sound in "bearded" and "barley" is repeated.

Finally, we may see a metaphor in the last line of Part One:

...Tis the fairy

Lady of Shalott.

A metaphor compares two dissimilar things that share similar characteristics—but unlike the "simile," a "metaphor" does not use the words "like" or "as" in the comparison. The Lady of Shalott is not a fairy, though she may seem supernatural (something beyond the natural world)—like the fairy—in that she sings and weaves, never coming out of her house, much the way a fairy (if one is to believe in them) does not come out of hiding for people to see, either.

What are some literary devices used by Tennyson in "The Lady of Shalott," parts 1-4?

Tennyson uses multiple literary devices in "The Lady of Shalott," including simile, imagery, metaphor, and symbolism.

In part three of the poem, Tennyson describes the details of Lancelot's armor and horse:

"The gemmy bridle glitter'd free,
  Like to some branch of stars we see
  Hung in the golden Galaxy." (82-84)

Tennyson uses a simile to compare the glitter of the horse's bridle to the stars at night.  This simile also incorporates imagery, creating visual image in the readers' mind.  The celestial imagery continues later in part three in the third stanza as Lancelot journeys to Camelot:

Burn'd like one burning flame together,
  As he rode down to Camelot.
  As often thro' the purple night,
  Below the starry clusters bright,
  Some bearded meteor, trailing light,
  Moves over still Shalott. (94-99)

The comparison of Lancelot to a meteor is significant, because the metaphor suggests that the knight travels a fixed course, with no room for variation, like a meteor.  With all his flash and brilliance, Lancelot cannot change his course or stop for the Lady of Shalott.

Tennyson also employs symbolism with his use of the mirror that shows "shadows of the world" in part two (46).  A curse binds the Lady to weave, and her only view of the world is the mirror.  The mirror symbolizes the false promise of the outside world; it shows the reality of what happens beyond the tower, but is only an illusion.  When the lady finally leaves her weaving for Lancelot; the mirror "crack'd from side to side," signifying that her fragile connection to the real world has been broken by the curse.

Where is figurative language used in the poem "The Lady of Shalott"?

This classic poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson, which found renewed popularity when it was set to music by the contemporary Canadian musician Loreena McKennnitt, is indeed full of figurative language corresponding to the definitions offered in the previous answers. The entire poem is an evocative portrayal of one of myriad legends within the Arthurian myth cycle and portrays the famed knight Lancelot.

Lancelot is portrayed with Christian imagery (a red cross on his shield) but is also known to have committed adultery with King Arthur's wife, Queen Guinevere. In the poem, "a red cross knight forever kneeled/to a lady in his shield" has two possible meanings. One, that the red cross is the symbol on the shield associated with Christianity, and the "lady" is the Virgin Mary (the Grail knights were also portrayed as having red crosses on their shields); or two, it means his shield was inscribed with an image representing the Queen. Artistic representations have shown both to be possible. In kneeling "to a lady in his shield" Lancelot is kneeling to his faith, to his lover, and also to the notion of purity he challenges himself to uphold.

This information underscores the helpless love the Lady of Shallot feels for the knight, as his heart belongs to the queen but also to an unattainable idea of purity. This is a subtle way to criticize Christianity's expectation that people can remain chaste and still serve God. After they commit adultery, Lancelot hides in the forest and Guinevere enters a convent to do penance. Lancelot is also portrayed in another story within the Arthurian myth cycle with the Lady Elaine, whom he trusts to keep his shield in safe keeping, and it is possible the "lady" in his shield may refer to her also.

Where is figurative language used in the poem "The Lady of Shalott"?

Beautiful figurative language graces Alfred, Lord Tennyson's lyrical poem "The Lady of Shalott," with multiple examples of metaphors, similes, understatement, pathetic fallacies, and symbols. 

The metaphors include "willow-veiled," which compares the leafy branches of a weeping willow tree to a veil; "silken-sailed," which compares the sails of a ship to smooth and shiny silk fabric; "bearded barley," which compares the ripe barley heads to a man's beard; "magic web," which compares the lady's tapestry to a spider's web; and "shadows," which compares reflections in a mirror to shadows.

The similes include a comparison of Sir Lancelot's jeweled bridle to "some branch of stars we see hung in the golden Galaxy"; his helmet and feather to "one burning flame" and a metor; and the lady in her boat to "some bold seer in a trance." 

One powerful understatement occurs when the lady states, "I'm half sick of shadows." 

Pathetic fallacies occur when Tennyson attributes emotions to the bridle bells ("merry") and the stream ("complaining"). 

Finally, two powerful symbols in the poem are the red-cross knight on Sir Lancelot's shield, which represents his chivalry, and the cracking of the mirror, which portrays the curse coming upon the Lady of Shalott.

Tennyson skillfully uses many different figures of speech to enhance the beauty and meaning of "The Lady of Shalott." 

Where is figurative language used in the poem "The Lady of Shalott"?

In "the Lady of Shalott," the poet uses figurative language, which includes, metaphors, and personification.

Metaphor: Suggests that the fields clothe the world. Not literally, but it creates a wonderful image. The lady is compared to a spider sitting in her web, with the ability to create images in a mirror.

"Long fields of barley and of rye,
That clothe the wold and meet the sky;' 

"But in her web she still delights
To weave the mirror's magic sights"

Personification: Attributing human qualities to a thing or idea.  Breezes can't shiver, people can.  But you get the idea.

"Little breezes dusk and shiver 

In among the bearded barley,

The broad stream in his banks complaining,"

Excerpts from "The Lady of Shalott" by Tennyson