Ulysses
ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON
About the Author :
Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809 - 1892) was an English
was the Poet Laureate during much poet. He
ofQueen
Tennyson's early poetry, with its medievalismVictoria's reign.
Visual imagery, was a major influence on the and powerful
Brotherhood. Tennyson focused on short lyrics,Pre-Raphaelite
such as 'Break,
Break, Break',"The Charge of the Light
most Brigade, among the
notable ones. Much of his verse was
based on classical
mythological themes, such as Ulysses' and The Lotus Eaters'.
One of hismost famous literary
works,'In Memoriam A.H.H.'was
commemorate his friend Arthur Hallam. written to
About the Poem:
Ulysses was written in 1833 and was
of the dramatic monologue. published in 1842. It is a popular example
The
and discontent upon returning to mythical hero Ulysses describes his
his restlessness
kingdom, Ithaca, after his numerous
ranging voyages. Despite returning home
the sea and explore new in his old age, Ulysses yearns to far
his wife Penelope and histerritories again. He is not overjoyed at his reunionbe on
his age and his environmentson Telemachus. Ulysses is determined to transcend with
by themundane duties of by travelling again. He does not want to be restricted
desire for knowledge and his kingdom. The poem
experience even in the facecelebrates the unyielding
of mortality.
It little profits that an idle!
king,
By this still hearth,
among these barren crags,
11dle : lazy.
Hearth: the floorofa fireplace.
136
, ULYSSES
Matchdwith an aged wife, I
Unequal laws unto a savage mete and dole
That hoard, and sleep, and race,
I cannotrest from feed, and know not me.
travel: I willdrink
Life to the lees: All times I
have enjoy'd
Greatly, have suffer'd greatly, both with
That loved me, and alone, on shore, those
and when
Thro' scudding drifts the rainy Hyades
Vext the dim sea: I am becomea
name;
For always roaming with a hungry heart
Much have Iseen and known; cities of mnen
And manners, climates, councils,governments,
Myself not least, but honour'd of them all;
And drunk delight of battle with my peers,
Far on the ringing plains of windy Troy.
Iam a part of all that I have met;
Yet allexperience is an arch wherethro'
Gleams that untravell'd world whose margin fades
For ever and forever when I move.
How dull it is topause, to make an end,
To rust unburnish'd, not to shine in use!
As tho to breathe were life! Life piled on life
Were all too little, and of one to me
Little remains:but every hour is saved
From that eternal silence, somethingmore,
A bringer of new things; and vile it were
For somme three suns to store and hoard myself,
And this gray spirit yearning in desire
To follow knowledge like a sinking star,
Hyades:the name of astar cluster and a group ofnymphs in Greek mythology.
"Vext the dim Sea: a restless spirit who doesn't want to take abreakfrom roaming the ocean
in search ofadventure.
137
ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON
About the Author :
Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809 - 1892) was an English
was the Poet Laureate during much poet. He
ofQueen
Tennyson's early poetry, with its medievalismVictoria's reign.
Visual imagery, was a major influence on the and powerful
Brotherhood. Tennyson focused on short lyrics,Pre-Raphaelite
such as 'Break,
Break, Break',"The Charge of the Light
most Brigade, among the
notable ones. Much of his verse was
based on classical
mythological themes, such as Ulysses' and The Lotus Eaters'.
One of hismost famous literary
works,'In Memoriam A.H.H.'was
commemorate his friend Arthur Hallam. written to
About the Poem:
Ulysses was written in 1833 and was
of the dramatic monologue. published in 1842. It is a popular example
The
and discontent upon returning to mythical hero Ulysses describes his
his restlessness
kingdom, Ithaca, after his numerous
ranging voyages. Despite returning home
the sea and explore new in his old age, Ulysses yearns to far
his wife Penelope and histerritories again. He is not overjoyed at his reunionbe on
his age and his environmentson Telemachus. Ulysses is determined to transcend with
by themundane duties of by travelling again. He does not want to be restricted
desire for knowledge and his kingdom. The poem
experience even in the facecelebrates the unyielding
of mortality.
It little profits that an idle!
king,
By this still hearth,
among these barren crags,
11dle : lazy.
Hearth: the floorofa fireplace.
136
, ULYSSES
Matchdwith an aged wife, I
Unequal laws unto a savage mete and dole
That hoard, and sleep, and race,
I cannotrest from feed, and know not me.
travel: I willdrink
Life to the lees: All times I
have enjoy'd
Greatly, have suffer'd greatly, both with
That loved me, and alone, on shore, those
and when
Thro' scudding drifts the rainy Hyades
Vext the dim sea: I am becomea
name;
For always roaming with a hungry heart
Much have Iseen and known; cities of mnen
And manners, climates, councils,governments,
Myself not least, but honour'd of them all;
And drunk delight of battle with my peers,
Far on the ringing plains of windy Troy.
Iam a part of all that I have met;
Yet allexperience is an arch wherethro'
Gleams that untravell'd world whose margin fades
For ever and forever when I move.
How dull it is topause, to make an end,
To rust unburnish'd, not to shine in use!
As tho to breathe were life! Life piled on life
Were all too little, and of one to me
Little remains:but every hour is saved
From that eternal silence, somethingmore,
A bringer of new things; and vile it were
For somme three suns to store and hoard myself,
And this gray spirit yearning in desire
To follow knowledge like a sinking star,
Hyades:the name of astar cluster and a group ofnymphs in Greek mythology.
"Vext the dim Sea: a restless spirit who doesn't want to take abreakfrom roaming the ocean
in search ofadventure.
137
