Poetry Essay

Ulysses - Alfred Lord Tennyson

Victorian Poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson wrote a poem of Ulysses in the year 1833, it was written and got published in the year 1842. In the year 1842, Ulysses got published in poetry collection which protected literary renown of Tennyson. Although, this poem was written 9 years earlier at the time when his age was 24 and after the demise of his dearest friend named Arthur Henry Hallam. Tessnnyson gave a comment that this poem was written with the feeling of loss of Hallam on me as compared to several poems in the In Memoriam. This poem gathered praises from the contemporaries of Tennyson and even succeeding fictional figures such as T.S. Eliot, who termed it a complete poem. Normally it is considered as one of his best works and is a foundation of Victorian poetry group and even Tennyson oeuvre group.

This poem is put in place at the time when King Ulysses comes back home to Ithaca from a lengthy trip of war in Trojan Wars. His search of information above the social limits and his trips in disrespect of his family members has been criticized mainly on negative and positive light.

First stanza shows the attitude of Ulysses. His concept of complete king is not this that the king is sitting around the fire along with his wife and is making regulations for individuals who are unaware of him. He contrast individuals like animal (savage race), to whom food and care should be given. He is uncomfortable as he recognizes that he intended to perform more important tasks. At this point, we need to question Ulysses selfishly declaring his kingdom and family members as less significant to him as compared to his wishes and requirements. This shows that how he features faulty character in the previous literature.

Odysseus in Homer is informed by the support of Tiresias, a blind prophet, which he would come back to home to Ithaca; however, he is going to make another trip to a land far from his residence. This part of the tale is fleshed out in Dante. Ulysses has collected his men to make them prepare for the trip and insists them that they should not waste their precious time on the planet. He expires in this trip that is the reason why he is present in hell. Character of Tennyson is somewhat sandwiched between these fictional precursors, as ...