Essay about Analysis of Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s Epic Poem...

Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s epic poem Ulysses is composed as a dramatic monologue, consisting of four stanzas each of which frankly discuss the speakers current situation and yearning for adventure. The use of iambic pentameter provides a sense of fluidity to the speaker’s voice. The speaker reveals himself to be the protagonist of the poem with the opening line â€Å"It little profits that an idle king† (1). The use of the word â€Å"idle† offers the first clue as to one of the main themes of the poem. Tennyson much like the protagonist of his poem feels the need to move on, in life. The period in which the poem was wrote, many sociable changes where occurring in Victorian England, the effects of the industrial revolution where being†¦show more content†¦We discover Ulysses after the famous battle of Troy and his twenty year hiatus from his kingdom of Ithaca. Tennysons decision to use the Latin spelling of the name is explained in Robbins critique; The poet finds the inspiration for his speaker’s mood and attitude in Homer’s Odysseus and Dante’s Ulysses, especially the later, whose mode of utterance in the inferno suggests form and feeling of Tennysons poem. (Tennysons Ulysses: The Significance of the Homeric and Dantesque Backgrounds. 177-93) Stanza’s one and two are relatively short in comparison to the third and forth stanzas, when examined closely the reasoning behind the decision to use Dantes Ulysses becomes apparent. The speaker provides little detail and discuss’ his wife and the citizens of Ithaca as if they where inconsequential, his wife is described as aged and the people of Ithaca are described as â€Å"a savage race, / That hoard, and sleep, and feed. A number of critics compare Tennyson’s own personal predicament to that of Ulysses, Nohrnberg explains how; â€Å"Alfred Tennyson attributed Ulysses’ determination to persevere up to the last, in â€Å"Ulysses,† to his own resolute choice in favor of life and survival upon the traumatic news of the death of friend, soul-mate, and intending future brother-in-law Arthur Hallam (1833).† (Eight Reflections ofShow MoreRelatedAmerican Literature11652 Words   |  47 Pagesquick overview of poetry analysis. Please note that this handout discusses the basics of poetry; there is much more to know about it than there is room to discuss here. Laurence Perrine s book LITERATURE: STRUCTURE, SOUND, AND SENSE can provide more detailed information about poetry analysis. Until you can get a copy of the book, I hope this page helps you begin your poetry analysis work. What is poetry ? Poetry goes beyond the rhyming of words. The object of writing a poem is usually to make aRead MoreFigurative Language and the Canterbury Tales13472 Words   |  54 Pagesthinly disguised representation of the author, poet, or playwright creating a work. 5. anaphora: repetition of the same word or group of words at the beginnings of successive clauses. †¢ The Lord sits above the water floods. The Lord remains a King forever. The Lord shall give strength to his people. The lord shall give his people the blessings of peace. -Ps. 29 †¢ â€Å"Let us march to the realization of the American dream. Let us march on segregated housing. Let us march on segregated schools. Let