`Ulysses` by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Ulysses , by Alfred Lord Tennyson

Alfred Lord Tennyson 's Poem Ulysses is written as a first person narrative from the perspective of a dissatisfied aged man , Ulysses , King of Ithaca . This essay will outline how Alfred Tennyson 's portrays Ulysses as an old man pondering about the life he lived as a younger man and longing for adventures similar to those he ventured on in his youth Although Ulysses may not be the character that Tennyson 's audience would have expected , this will show how the character is compared to that of

the society of the time in which the poem was created . In this poem , Tennyson also conveys a personal message that would have been very timely around the time when the poem was written in 1833 (it was later revised for publication in 1842 . Tennyson also uses Ulysses to symbolize the general Victorian age , whereby civilization was growing at a rapid pace , and many technologies and advances were taking place . He uses symbolism to sympathize and connect with his audience at a personal level . Throughout all of the poetic symbolism , Tennyson writes his poem as a dramatic monologue , with un-rhythmic iambic pentameter to bring all of his thoughts , ideas and symbolism into a beautifully written poem Tennyson reworks the figure of Ulysses by drawing on the ancient hero of Homer 's HYPERLINK "http /www .sparknotes .com /lit /odyssey " \t "_blank Odyssey "Ulysses " is the Roman form of the Greek "Odysseus ) and the medieval hero of Dante 's Inferno

Tennyson wrote this poem in the first few weeks after he learned of the death of a dear college friend Arthur Henry Hallam . Similarly to Tennyson 's other work (i .e . In Memoriam ) this poem is also an elegy for a deeply cherished friend . Ulysses symbolizes the grieving poet and proclaims his resolution to push onward in spite of the awareness that death closes all (line 51 . Tennyson stated himself , the poem expresses his own need for going forward and braving the struggle of life ' after the loss of Hallam . Throughout the poem Ulysses specifically expresses that though he is old , and has had many adventures , he still dreams of gaining a greater knowledge and a furthering his journey to the point that he would choose death in to seek that greater adventure . In the poem , Ulysses shares some of his experiences with regard to traveling and experiencing new cultures and customs , much have I seen and known (line 13 ) and the people that he has not only met , but also been honored by myself not least , but honored of them all (line 15 ) but yet Ulysses still remains unsatisfied with his life Yet all experience is an arch where thro gleams that untravell 'd world whose margin fades / for ever and ever when I make a move (lines 19-21 . Ulysses , in a search for the satisfaction he so desperately requires in his aging days , entrusts the ruling of the country to his son (lines 33-34 ) and sets...