"Ulysses" by Alfred Lord Tennison

About Alfred Lord Tennyson
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• Born in 1806
• Showed the promise of the poet he was going to be in early childhood.
• 1827 - produced - "Poems by Two Brothers" with his brother Charles.
• Trinity college in 1928 - Warm relationship with Arthur Hallam - death of Arthur Hallam in 1833 - grieved the poet - In Memoriam in 1850.
• Succeeded Wordsworth in the same year as the poet laureate.

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About ULYSSES

• Ulysses is a dramatic Monologue written in 1833.
• Ulysses - Homer's Epic The Odyssey, is a man of outstanding wisdom and adventure.
• Homer's Epic Poem, Ulysses returns to his kingdom Ithaca, after ten years of ceaseless fighting in the Trojan War and another ten years of wandering.
• Story of Ulysses is continued in Tennyson's poem as Ulysses find himself growing restless years after his return to Ithaca.
• Contemplates making a final voyage being discontented with his dull, mechanical and insipid life without any challenges and adventures.
• Transfers his kingly duties to his son Telemachus who in his view is better suited to rule over Ithaca.
• Tennyson insisted - his feeling about the need for going forward and braving the struggle of life.
• Ancient Mythology and Modern Philosophy.
• Takes a romantic view of Ulysses's and present him as a symbol of modern man's insatiable thirst for knowledge and Heroism and indomitable spirit to pursue his quest. However arduous the struggle.
• Can perceive and element of irony in Tennyson's depiction of Ulysses.