Tennyson Essay, Research Paper
Alfred Tennyson was born on August 6th, 1809, at Somersby, Lincolnshire,
fourth of twelve children of George and Elizabeth Tennyson. Tennyson,
said to be the best poet of the Victorian era and his poetry will be
discussed in this essay.
Tennyson had a lifelong fear of mental illness, because several men in
his family had a mild form of epilepsy, which then was thought of as a
shameful disease. His father and brother Arthur made their epilepsy
worse by excessive drinking. His brother Edward had to be put in a
mental institution after 1833, and he spent a few weeks himself under
doctor’s care in 1843. In the late twenties his father’s physical and
mental condition got worse, and he became paranoid, abusive, and
violent.
In 1827 Tennyson escaped his troubled home when he followed his two
older brothers to Trinity College, Cambridge, where his teacher was
William Whewell. Because each of them had won university prizes for
poetry the Tennyson brothers became well known at Cambridge. In 1829
The Apostles, an undergraduate club, invited him to join. The members
of this group would remain Tennyson’s friends all his life.
Arthur Hallam was the most important of these friendships. Hallam, a
brilliant Victorian young man was recognized by his peers as having
unusual promise. He and Tennyson knew each other only four years, but
their intense friendship had a major influence on the poet. On a visit
to Somersby, Hallam met and later became engaged to Emily Tennyson, and
the two friends looked forward to a life-long companionship. Hallam
died from illness in 1833 at the age of 22 and shocked Tennyson
profoundly. His grief lead to most of his best poetry, including “In
Memoriam”, “The Passing of Arthur”, “Ulysses”, and “Tithonus”.
Since Tennyson was always sensitive to criticism, The bad reviews of
his 1832 poems hurt him greatly. Critics in those days took great joy
in the harshness of their reviews. John Wilson Croker’s harsh
criticisms of some of the poems he wrote kept Tennyson from publishing
again for another nine years.
The success of his 1842 poems made Tennyson a popular poet, and in
1845 he got a government pension of 200 pounds a year, which helped him
with his financial difficulties. The success of “The Princess” and “In
Memoriam” and his appointment as Poet Laureate in 1850 finally
established him as the most popular poet of the Victorian era.
By now Tennyson, only 41, had written some of his greatest poetry, but
he continued to write and to gain popularity. Prince Albert admired
his poetry so much that he would drop by unexpectedly to here some of
Tennyson’s poetry. This helped solidify his position as the national
poet, and Tennyson returned the favour by dedicating “The Idylls of the
King” to his memory.
Tennyson suffered from extreme short-sightedness so without a monocle
he could not even see to eat. This made for difficult reading and
writing, and this is why he composed a lot of his poetry in his head.
Sometimes he would work on a single poem for many years.
Every aspect of the Victorian era were found in his poetry. His
poetry covered a large range of subjects such as moral and religious
problems in his time. His poems also discuss the events of his day –
“The Charge of the Light Brigade” and “The Death of the Duke of
Wellington” are two poems of this type that show the emotion of the
nation.
Tennyson’s work is appreciated perhaps for the sheer beauty of his
writing, his descriptions of the natural world and of the landscape-
most often the Lincolnshire countryside which he grew up in:
Calm and deep peace on this high wold,
And on these dews that drench the furze,
And all the silvery gossamers
That twinkle into green and gold
(Culler, A. Dwight, pg. 39)
The ‘public’ side of Tennyson’s work is now valued less than his more
personal poetry. He writes about how reality destroys the ideal world
as in “The Lady of Shalott”. Frequently, Tennyson’s personal worries
were the same as those of the time. For example, the way he describes
Sir Bedivere’s reaction to the death of King Arthur in “Morte D’Arthur”.
Tennyson expresses Sir Bedivere’s problem, caught in a changing world
and with stable traditions disappearing fast. “For now I see the true
old times are dead…”(Culler, A. Dwight, pg. 47):
And I, the last, go forth companionless,
And the days darken round me, and the years,
Among new men, strange faces, other minds.
(Culler, A. Dwight, pg. 48)
Probably his greatest poem is “In Memoriam”, published in 1850, though
written over the previous seventeen years. He started writing it after
the youthful death of his best friend, Arthur Hallam. His death led
Tennyson to question the purpose of life and the importance of death.
“In Memoriam” is almost like a poetic diary since all events are linked
to Hallam and to the question of death. They say it’s the uncertainty
of the poem that makes it so good. The twentieth century poet T. S.
Eliot said of it, “Its faith is a very poor thing, but its doubt is a
very intense experience.” The intensity, the doubt, the beauty: all
are typical of Tennyson.
Long-lived like most of his family, no matter how unhealthy they
seemed to be, Alfred, Lord Tennyson died on October 6, 1892, at the age
of 83.
Bibliography
1. The illustrated Encyclopedia of Knowledge (1978)
2. Culler, A. Dwight, The Poetry of Tennyson (1977)
3. Nicolson, Harold, Tennyson: Aspects of His Life (1972)
4. Software Toolworks Multimedia Encyclopedia (1992)
Другие работы по теме:
The Passing Of Arthur And Excalibur Essay
, Research Paper John Boorman adapted the ?Passing of Arthur? in the movie ?Excalibur.? Movies are not the only adaptations of Tennyson?s poem but there are several art and music adaptations. Examples
Descriptive Language And The Lady Of Shallot
Essay, Research Paper In any piece of lyrical poetry, authors must masterfully use the language of the poem to covey the intended meaning. In order to ensure the meaning is not lost, it is imperative that the author incorporates various aspects of the narrative to escalate the poem past its face value. Alfred Tennyson’s poem “The Lady of Shallot” is no exception to the rule.
Alfred Wegener Essay Research Paper Alfred Wegener
Alfred Wegener Essay, Research Paper Alfred Wegener was an explorer and meteorologist, born in Berlin, who first came up with the “Continental Drift Theory” or the “Wegener Theory.” This theory stated that all of the continents came from one super continent, also known as Pangea, which spread apart gradually moving into their current positions on Earth.
MarianaA Dismal Being Essay Research Paper Growing
Mariana-A Dismal Being Essay, Research Paper Growing up in a troubled atmosphere, Alfred Lord Tennyson, with his two older brothers, left to attend Trinity College in Cambridge. Working under the tutelage of William Whewell, he had the opportunity to write poetry (Alfred). “Mariana,” published three years later, displays the depth that Tennyson learned to write while in Cambridge.
Critical Essay On The Eagle Essay Research
Paper Critical Essay The name of the poem I am writing about is called ?The Eagle? by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. It is in figurative language form. The poem is divided into 2 Stanza?s with 3 lines each. And there are an
J Alfred Prufrock And The Dramatic Monologue
Essay, Research Paper The early examples of dramatic monologue created strong expectations about the genre. This unique type of poetry offers a refreshing change from other types of poetry and intrigues the reader, beckoning an analysis and interpretation of the speaker and his or her character. Two defining early dramatic monologues are; Robert Browning s “My Last Duchess” and Lord Alfred Tennyson s “Ulysses”.
The Eagle Essay Research Paper
“The Eagle” Alfred Lord Tennyson uses one of the most dignified animals to convey his views on superiority to the reader in his poem “The Eagle”. The eagle is placed so far above every other creature on the earth, that he actually serves as a towered observer to the world below him. Tennyson seems to imply that although it is great to be supreme and untouchable, it is also very lonely at the top.
The Courageous Travler Essay Research Paper Lord
The Courageous Travler Essay, Research Paper Lord Alferd Tennyson presents to us in the poem ?Ulysses? an old sailor, a warrior and a king who is in retrospection on his experiences of a lifetime of travel. Ulysses old age and strong will causes him to be restless and unable to be comfortable at home. He chooses a life of travel over his family because that is what he knows best.
Contender Essay Research Paper During the course
Contender Essay, Research Paper During the course of THE CONTENDER, by Robert Lipsyte, Alfred is influenced by several characters who help him grow, change and learn. Two of the most important were Mr. Donatelli, the owner of the gym, and Alfred’s Aunt Pearl.
Crossing The Bar Essay Research Paper Alfred
Crossing The Bar Essay, Research Paper Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote “Crossing the Bar” in 1889, just years before he died. This poem describes his uncomplaining attitude toward death. Even though he wrote other poems after this, he requested that “Crossing the Bar” appear as the last poem in all collections of his work.
Victorian Doubt In God Essay Research Paper
Victorian Doubt in God: Alfred Tennyson s In Memoriam When I first got this assignment I racked my brain for a topic that would interest me as well as something I could learn from. When I came across Alfred Lord Tennyson it sparked my interest and as I read on I decided that I would write about him. My next decision was to pick one of his poems to research.
The Eagle By Alfred Lord Tennyson Essay
, Research Paper Matt Ifkovitz Period 2 The Eagle A brief but powerful poem written by the great Victorian poet, Alfred Lord Tennyson, The Eagle is an inspiring poetic piece. Tennyson, recognized as the greatest poet in Victorian England, was distinguished as poet laureate in1850. Readers from all over looked to his poems for advice on the major issues effecting their lives.
Lady Of Shalott Essay Research Paper FALLFor
Lady Of Shalott Essay, Research Paper FALL For me the fall is an exhilarating time of year. A time of change, an in-between period of muddled and varied weather. For others who view fall as a short time before a dreary winter, fall takes on a less colorful face. Alfred Lord Tennyson uses fall metaphorically throughout “The Lady of Shalott” to illustrate how the Lady of Shalott’s life (or lack thereof) progresses.
Ulysses By Tennyson Essay Research Paper The
Ulysses By Tennyson Essay, Research Paper The poem I chose to write about is ?Ulysses?, by Alfred Lord Tennyson. It is a poem based on Homer?s Odyssey, which is the story of Odysseus (Ulysses) and
Ulysses Essay Research Paper Alferd Tennysons
Ulysses Essay, Research Paper Alferd Tennysons’s “Ulysses ”Alfred Tennyson’s ‘Ulysses’ is both a lament and an inspiring poem. Even modern readers who are not so familiar with the classics, can visualize the heroic legend of Ulysses, and so is not prepared for what he finds in the poem— not Ulysses the hero but Ulysses the man.
Dulce Et Decorum Est By Wilfred Owen
?, And ?The Charge Of The Light Brigade? By Lord Alfred Tennyson Essay, Research Paper Since before man could begin to remember, war has been an omnipresent course of action as conflict has been, and still is, wide spread throughout the world. War is seen by some as a grim evil, while others perceive it to be a brave and glorious feat.
Tennyson As A Victorian Essay Research Paper
Tennyson as a Victorian The Victorian age was an age where many changes occurred socially, economically, and industrially. People began to explore into areas such as the earth, the human body, and how to benefit
Death Is Life Essay Research Paper Death
Death Is Life Essay, Research Paper Death is the reward of Life Life is considered, by some, to be a journey towards death and the great reward of afterlife. This traveling process is held in many different views and is
The Lady Of Shalott Essay Research Paper
What are the main themes in Alfred Lord Tennyson’s ‘The Lady of Shalott’, and how are they presented? Alfred Lord Tennyson was born in Somersby, Lincolnshire on August
The Lady Of Shalot Essay Research Paper
In his poem, ?The Lady of Shalott,? Alfred, Lord Tennyson uses psychoanalytical representation to display the mental failings of the main character, the Lady of Shalott. Tennyson displays to the reader a young woman in her twenties who is so mentally eccentric that she becomes a recluse and shuts herself off from reality.
The Lady Of Shallot Essay Research Paper
In Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s “The Lady of Shallot”, Tennyson describes the dispirited story of a reclusive woman, the Lady of Shallot, bound by a curse to weave a never-ending web. The curse includes the Lady of Shallot being forbidden to glance at the town of Camelot. Tennyson portrays the “magic web” that she weaves and relates them to images of seasons.
A Hero Among Men A Man Among
Heroes Essay, Research Paper A Hero Among Men, A Man Among Heroes The name Ulysses instantly conjures up images of heroism and adventure. Even modern readers who are less versed in classical literature recognize the larger-than-life character, if not the specific details of this legend. It is with these associations in mind that one approaches the poetic monologue Ulysses by Alfred Lord Tennyson.
Attitudes To War And How Essay Research
Paper Attitudes to war and how they Developed Wilfred Owen and Alfred Lord Tennyson both wrote well known poetry about war. Their poems were written in different centuries and they clearly illustrate the changing attitude to war
Ulysses Essay Research Paper UlyssesThe Winter of
Ulysses Essay, Research Paper Ulysses,The Winter of a King By: dave The Winter of a King In the poem ?Ulysses? by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, the readers are shown a great king in the later years of his life. The reader finds Ulysses reflecting on the glorious days of his youth and planning that by some means he will obtain those glorious times again.
Dorian Gray And The Lady Of Shallot
: Stepping Out Of The Shadows Essay, Research Paper During one?s life, one must step out into the real world and experience all of what the world has to offer. In order to attain a well-balanced life both mentally and socially, one may seek any way possible to live life to the fullest. We were put on this earth to live- not just simply by breathing in and out everyday, and making life the best it can possibly be.
Lady Of Shallot Essay Research Paper Tennyson
Lady Of Shallot Essay, Research Paper Tennyson s 1832 poem, The Lady of Shalott , found itself born again in its revised state after Tennyson s ten year silent period. In both versions, the Lady of Shalott is a body of
The Arguement Regarding Odysseus
’ Fate Essay, Research Paper The Argument Regarding Odysseus Fate The story is known worldwide. Odysseus, the great epic hero, leaves his beautiful Ithaca, spends ten years of his life fighting bravely against Troy, and then spends another ten years reaching home. At this point he leaves Troy again. He leaves his family and loyal subjects to go exploring and questing to satisfy the wanderer inside him.
Masters Of Their Domain Essay Research Paper
Masters of Their Domain The similarities between The Eagle, by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, and Hawk Roosting, by Ted Hughes, are far more prominent than the differences. There is one glaring contradiction between the two poems. The hawk is an accomplished killer whereas the eagle is just perched ready for dinner only to kill when he has to.
A Critical Analysis Of Tension
’s In Memorial A. H. H. Essay, Research Paper A Critical Analysis of Tension’s In Memorial A. H. H. During the Victorian Period, long held and comfortable religious beliefs