Why did Tennyson write Ulysses?
It was one of several poems that Tennyson composed in response to the death of his friend Arthur Henry Hallam. Restless and bored with Ithaca, Ulysses turns his throne over to his prudent son Telemachus and rallies his men with inspiring words of heroism.
When was Ulysses poem written?
"Ulysses" is a poem in blank verse by the Victorian poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–1892), written in 1833 and published in 1842 in his well-received second volume of poetry.
Is Ulysses a poem or novel?
Ulysses is a modernist novel by Irish writer James Joyce. It was first serialized in parts in the American journal The Little Review from March 1918 to December 1920 and then published in its entirety in Paris by Sylvia Beach on 2 February 1922, Joyce's 40th birthday.
What is the purpose of the poem Ulysses?
Ulysses is a poem which gives us details about the unhappiness and monotony Ulysses is going through in his old age. He is living at his home on the island of Ithaca. The summary of Ulysses will take us through the monologue which he speaks in the poem. We learn that Ulysses is not content with the way of his life.
What is the lesson of Ulysses?
The meaning of “Ulysses” was always bound up with buying it, owning it, and showing it off, actions that assert the primacy of pleasure—the moral right to experience it—over sanctimony. This is an assertion utterly continuous with those Joyce made inside its covers.
Why Ulysses is an elegy?
Like In Memoriam, then, this poem is also an elegy for a deeply cherished friend. Ulysses, who symbolizes the grieving poet, proclaims his resolution to push onward in spite of the awareness that “death closes all” (line 51).
Why is Ulysses so hard to read?
"Ulysses," Slote admits, is a very intricate book on one level: "The profusion of styles and the quantity of allusions to Dublin street topography, Irish history, Aristotle, Shakespeare, Dante, and 19th-century popular music makes it seem somewhat inaccessible to many readers," he says.
Should I read Ulysses?
James Joyce's “Ulysses” is widely considered to be both a literary masterpiece and one of the hardest works of literature to read. It inspires such devotion that once a year, thousands of people all over the world dress up like the characters, take to the streets, and read the book aloud.
Who is the speaker of the poem Ulysses?
The speaker, in the poem, is Ulysses himself. Ulysses is the king of Ithaca. He is also a soldier, though he has not fought in a war since his return to Ithaca.
What is the main conflict in the poem Ulysses?
Along one plot line (that of Molly's adultery), the main conflict in the novel is that Bloom knows that Molly is going to sleep with Boylan before the day is out. Along another, say, Stephen's, the main conflict is that ever since the death of his mother he has been isolated from the world.
What are two central ideas of the poem Ulysses?
The theme of the poem is evident in the final lines: Made weak by time and fate, but strong in willTo strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. Despite his age, the hero thirsts for adventure and has a strong desire to seek new experiences and face new challenges.
What are the two main themes of Tennyson's Ulysses?
The Virtues of Perseverance and Optimism The need to persevere and continue is the central theme of In Memoriam and “Ulysses” (1833), both written after Hallam's death.
How is Ulysses a Victorian poem?
We can consider “Ulysses” as a Victorian poem because the poem reflects the Victorian spirit and echoes the political exposition. The poem gives insight into Victorian writing of multiple essence of life , Victorian compromise , impact of Reform Bills of 1832, spirit of inquiry and colonial spirit.
What is the main conflict in the poem Ulysses?
Along one plot line (that of Molly's adultery), the main conflict in the novel is that Bloom knows that Molly is going to sleep with Boylan before the day is out. Along another, say, Stephen's, the main conflict is that ever since the death of his mother he has been isolated from the world.
What is the tone of Ulysses poem?
The tone of "Ulysses" is reflective, contemplative and hopeful. The speaker has come to the conclusion that, to live a meaningful life, he has to move on from his domestic situation. Whilst the poem is a kind of dramatic monologue, it is more of a soliloquy—an address to oneself but in the presence of others.
What does Ulysses say old age has?
Ulysses says that "old age hath yet its honour and its toil" (50); by his own admission old age has responsibilities and he's trying to get out them. He contradicts himself. Ulysses is an old man who wants to be young again; he is hopelessly attempting to transgress a boundary that can't be crossed.
What is the context of the mosaic of Odysseus?
Literary context. A Roman mosaic depicting a maritime scene with Odysseus (Ulysses), from Carthage, 2nd century AD. Tennyson adopts aspects of the Ulysses character and narrative from many sources; his treatment of Ulysses is the first modern account.
What is the emotional gulf between the state of his domestic affairs and the loss of his special friendship?
According to Victorian scholar Linda Hughes, the emotional gulf between the state of his domestic affairs and the loss of his special friendship informs the reading of "Ulysses" —particularly its treatment of domesticity. At one moment, Ulysses' discontent seems to mirror that of Tennyson, who would have been frustrated with managing the house in such a state of grief. At the next, Ulysses is determined to transcend his age and his environment by travelling again. It may be that Ulysses' determination to defy circumstance attracted Tennyson to the myth; he said that the poem "gave my feeling about the need of going forward and braving the struggle of life". On another occasion, the poet stated, "There is more about myself in Ulysses, which was written under the sense of loss and that all had gone by, but that still life must be fought out to the end. It was more written with the feeling of his loss upon me than many poems in In Memoriam ." Hallam's death influenced much of Tennyson's poetry, including perhaps his most highly regarded work, In Memoriam A.H.H., begun in 1833 and completed seventeen years later.
What is the main source of the poem "Ulisse"?
Tennyson's character, however, is not the lover of public affairs seen in Homer's poems. Rather, "Ulisse" from Dante 's Inferno is Tennyson's main source for the character, which has an important effect on the poem's interpretation. Ulisse recalls his voyage in the Inferno ' s 26th canto, in which he is condemned to the Eighth Circle of false counsellors for misusing his gift of reason. Dante treats Ulisse, with his "zeal …/ T'explore the world", as an evil counsellor who lusts for adventure at the expense of his family and his duties in Ithaca. Tennyson projects this zeal into Ulysses' unquenched desire for knowledge:
Why is the poem "Ulysses" ironic?
The ironic interpretations of "Ulysses" may be the result of the modern tendency to consider the narrator of a dramatic monologue as necessarily " unreliable " . According to critic Dwight Culler, the poem has been a victim of revisionist readings in which the reader expects to reconstruct the truth from a misleading narrator's accidental revelations. (Compare the more obvious use of this approach in Robert Browning's " My Last Duchess ".) Culler himself views "Ulysses" as a dialectic in which the speaker weighs the virtues of a contemplative and an active approach to life; Ulysses moves through four emotional stages that are self-revelatory, not ironic: beginning with his rejection of the barren life to which he has returned in Ithaca, he then fondly recalls his heroic past, recognizes the validity of Telemachus' method of governing, and with these thoughts plans another journey.
What is Tennyson's view of the poem?
The view that Tennyson intended a heroic character is supported by his statements about the poem, and by the events in his life—the death of his closest friend—that prompted him to write it. In the twentieth century, some new interpretations of "Ulysses" highlighted potential ironies in the poem.
How many lines of blank verse are there in the poem?
The poem's seventy lines of blank verse are presented as a dramatic monologue. Scholars disagree on how Ulysses' speech functions in this format; it is not necessarily clear to whom Ulysses is speaking, if anyone, and from what location. Some see the verse turning from a soliloquy to a public address, as Ulysses seems to speak to himself in the first movement, then to turn to an audience as he introduces his son, and then to relocate to the seashore where he addresses his mariners. In this interpretation, the comparatively direct and honest language of the first movement is set against the more politically minded tone of the last two movements. For example, the second paragraph (33–43) about Telemachus, in which Ulysses muses again about domestic life, is a "revised version [of lines 1–5] for public consumption": a "savage race" is revised to a "rugged people".
When was Odysseus first recorded?
The adventures of Odysseus were first recorded in Homer 's Iliad and Odyssey (c. 800–700 BC), and Tennyson draws on Homer's narrative in the poem. Most critics, however, find that Tennyson's Ulysses recalls Dante's Ulisse in his Inferno (c. 1320).
What is the difference between Telemachus and Ulysses?
Tennyson's Telemachus provides a foil for Ulysses. Ulysses lusts for the unknown, while Telemachus seems to be sated by the daily tasks of life. Ulysses grapples with this dichotomy. He seems to be confident in Telemachus' ability to rule, but he also uses words like "slow", "soft", "subdue", "mild", and "tenderness" to describe his son. Though the descriptors are not negative, they certainly do not reflect the rugged, jaw-clenching, power of Ulysses. Ulysses loves his son, but he also is pleased that they will not have to govern together. Telemachus' disinterest in adventure seems to fuel Ulysses' desire for it. Ultimately, he decides that there are still adventures to be had, and that he cannot waste the time he has left.
What is an allusion in mythology?
Allusion: An allusion is when a writer refers to another work of literature or mythology: "Through scudding drifts the rainy Hyades/ Vexed the dim sea". In this example, Tennyson alludes, or refers to, Hyades, a constellation of stars that in ancient Greek mythology is associated with the presence of rain. Ulysses alludes to Hyades as a trouble-maker for him while he crossed the sea.
Why did Tennyson write "Ulysses"?
This poem reflects Tennyson's internal struggle. Tennyson wrote "Ulysses" as he grappled with the untimely death of his best friend, Arthur Henry Hallam. Like Ulysses, Tennyson yearned for the days of adventure that he had spent with his friend. Tennyson was only 24 years old when Hallam died, and he was probably aware that he still had a good deal of his life ahead of him. Hallam's death, like Ulysses' old age, stunted Tennyson's ability to seek new adventures.
Why is Anaphora repeated?
Anaphora: Anaphora is repeating a word many times to emphasize it: "to strive, to seek, to find." The repetition of the word "to" sets the reader up for a surprise when Ulysses ends the poem not with another "to" phrase, but with the opposite: "and not to yield."
What is the meaning of "metonymy"?
Metonymy: Metonymy is using a word that is related to a term to represent that term: "to whom I leave the scepter and the isle". In the example, Ulysses is going to grant Telemachus his kingdom. The kingdom is represented by the scepter.
How does enjambment work in poetry?
Enjambment: Enjambment allows for a sentence to continue after the line break: "I cannot rest from travel; I will drink/ Life to the lees." This poetic device helps poets achieve the proper meter in each line and requires the reader to pause mid-statement. The reader reads, "I will drink" and then must pause. This pause causes the reader to consider how Ulysses will end the statement- will he drink too much because he cannot rest? When the end of the statement is revealed, the reader sees that Ulysses in fact intends to drink up life to the last drop or "to the lees."
What does Ulysses believe about life?
The meaning of life: Ulysses believes that life has meaning only if one is pursuing new experiences. His present idle life lacks meaning because it is devoid of adventure. This begs the question, Is Telemachus' steady life of service without meaning?
Overview
Interpretations
Tennyson penned "Ulysses" after the death of his close Cambridge friend, the poet Arthur Henry Hallam (1811–1833), with whom Tennyson had a strong emotional bond. The two friends had spent much time discussing poetry and philosophy, writing verse, and travelling in southern France, the Pyrenees, and Germany. Tennyson considered Hallam destined for greatness, perhaps as a s…
Synopsis and structure
As the poem begins, Ulysses has returned to his kingdom, Ithaca, having made a long journey home after fighting in the Trojan War. Confronted again by domestic life, Ulysses expresses his lack of contentment, including his indifference toward the "savage race" (line 4) whom he governs. Ulysses contrasts his present restlessness with his heroic past, and contemplates his old age and eventual death—"Life piled on life / Were all too little, and of one to me / Little remains" (24–26)—…
Legacy
Contemporary reviews of "Ulysses" were positive and found no irony in the poem. Author John Sterling—like Tennyson a member of the Cambridge Apostles—wrote in the Quarterly Review in 1842, "How superior is 'Ulysses'! There is in this work a delightful epic tone, and a clear impassioned wisdom quietly carving its sage words and graceful figures on pale but lasting marble." Tennyson's 1842 …
Notes
1. ^ Pettigrew 1963, p. 28.
2. ^ O'Gorman, Francis (2004). Victorian Poetry: An Annotated Anthology. Blackwell Publishing. p. 85. ISBN 0-631-23436-5.
3. ^ Quoted in Markley 2004, p. 125.
4. ^ Ostriker, Alicia (May 1967). "The Three Modes in Tennyson's Prosody". PMLA. 82 (2): 273–284. doi:10.2307/461298. JSTOR 461298
1. ^ Pettigrew 1963, p. 28.
2. ^ O'Gorman, Francis (2004). Victorian Poetry: An Annotated Anthology. Blackwell Publishing. p. 85. ISBN 0-631-23436-5.
3. ^ Quoted in Markley 2004, p. 125.
4. ^ Ostriker, Alicia (May 1967). "The Three Modes in Tennyson's Prosody". PMLA. 82 (2): 273–284. doi:10.2307/461298. JSTOR 461298.
External links
• Text of "Ulysses" with annotations at Representative Poetry Online.
• A reading of "Ulysses" by Sir Lewis Casson (1875–1969).
• Landow, George P. "Alfred Tennyson's "Ulysses"". The Victorian Web.