Ulysses by Alfred Tennyson http www marrasouk com
Ulysses by Alfred Tennyson http: //www. marrasouk. com
Central Idea Ulysses wants to continue a challenging and adventured life instead of staying stable to death. http: //www. marrasouk. com
Structure & Form § A dramatic monologue: the entire poem is spoken by a single character, whose identity is revealed by his own words. § In blank verse, or unrhymed iambic pentameter, which serves to impart a fluid and natural quality to speech. § Use of Enjambment: a thought does not end with the line-break; the sentences often end in the middle, rather than the end, of the lines. § the poem is divided into four paragraph-like sections, each of which comprises a distinct thematic unit of the poem.
Greek name Latin name Odysseus or Ulysses is the hero of Homer's epic poem, “The Odyssey. ” He took 10 years to get home from the Trojan War! He is the: king of Ithaca, husband of Penelope, father of Telemachus, Ulysses is a great adventurer known for his cunning and resourcefulness. http: //www. marrasouk. com
In Tennyson’s poem about Ulysses the hero is on the island of Ithaca In retirement Ulysses contemplates one final voyage… It’s written in the first person It’s a dramatic monologue Ulysses is speaking http: //www. marrasouk. com
In the first section Ulysses reflects on his life Talking about himself Ulysses It little profits that an idle king, By this still hearth, among these barren crags, Suggests empty lack of Give out action The islanders Match'd with an aged wife, I mete and dole Unequal laws unto a savage race, That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me. http: //www. marrasouk. com They don’t recognise his achievements
In the second section Ulysses looks back all times I have enjoyed Greatly, have suffered greatly, both with those That loved me, and alone; Repeated for emphasis - Ulysses on shore is a man of extremes both Stars that bring rain At sea and when Through scudding drifts the rainy Hyades Vexed the dim sea: troubled The epic language http: //www. marrasouk. com emphasises the scale of what he has done
Ulysses thinks about the exciting times from his life I am become a name; Much have I For always roaming seen and known; It is these times that he remembers cities of men and manners, climates, councils, governments Where he was honoured drunk delight of battle with my peers; He enjoyed war Far on the ringing plains of windy Troy. http: //www. marrasouk. com
Ulysses' past experience makes him want more adventure Sounds enticing experience is an arch wherethrough Gleams that untravelled world Travel and action are better than standing still Contrasts with “gleams” How dull it is to pause, to make an end, To rust unburnished, not to shine in use! Comparing himself to a sword unpolished http: //www. marrasouk. com
Ulysses knows that he has not much time left He wants. . Links the idea of travel and knowledge To follow knowledge like a sinking star, Beyond the utmost bound of human thought. The journey which no one has yet travelled http: //www. marrasouk. com
In the next section he says he will leave his kingdom to his son Telemachus has the job of civilizing the people of Ithaca Well-loved of me to make mild A rugged people, and through soft degrees Subdue them to the useful and the good. Ulysses want no part of this He works his work, I mine. http: //www. marrasouk. com
Ulysses gets set for his last voyage There gloom the dark broad seas. He speaks to How does this line make his mariners the voyage seem dangerous? you and I are old; He sees himself and his men as heroes He knows that death is close But before it arrives Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods Some work of noble note, may yet be done, To be accomplished http: //www. marrasouk. comon the voyage
He’s ready to leave To sail beyond Tis not too late to seek a newer world. the sunset, To the edge of the known Has an air and the baths world of finality Of all the western stars, until I die. Beyond the straits of Gibraltar He‘s no desire to return from this voyage http: //www. marrasouk. com
Perhaps he wanted to be reunited with Ulysses him? thinks of paradise It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles, And see the great Achilles, whom we knew The companion of Ulysses at Troy “about the need of going forward and braving the struggle of life" Tennyson was 24 when he wrote this poem, shortly after the death of his friend Arthur Hallam http: //www. marrasouk. com
In the final section Ulysses realises he is old but he still wants to live life Most of his life is over remains Tho' much is taken, much abides He’s realistic about his limitations We are not now that strength But he won’t be beaten by what lies ahead but strong in will Is Ulysses trying to to strive, to seek, motivate himself to find, and not to yield for the journey? http: //www. marrasouk. com. Give in
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