Analysis of Tithonus Poem

What does Tithonus request from the divine figure?

Tithonus is satisfied with the immortality granted to him.

What imagery is used to describe Tithonus as he laments his state?

Tithonus describes himself as a gray shadow, once a man who was __________ in beauty.

Match the following descriptions with the corresponding concepts.

What is the primary tone of the poem?

The poem depicts Tithonus as being happy with his immortality.

What mythological figure does Tithonus represent in the poem?

The poem teaches that man should not desire to change his race or wish to exceed human power because it leads to ______.

Match the following elements of the poem with their descriptions:

Summary of "Tithonus"

The poem depicts Tithonus's sorrow after being granted immortality by Aurora, the goddess of dawn.
The poem starts with a description of decay and nature's cycle.
Tithonus desires death but immortality has robbed him of his humanity.
He's trapped in a state of eternal aging, watching Aurora's beauty and youthfulness, while suffering the inevitable effects of time.
Tithonus's suffering originates from his choice to desire immortality.

Downward Movements

The literal decay of the woods and nature represent the down ward movements in Tithonus' life
The image of clouds "weeping" rainfall and plough and bury in the same earth symbolizes the cyclical nature of life and death.

Tone and Theme

The tone is elegiac and tragic, expressing a profound sense of loss and sorrow.
The poem explores themes of desire, fate, and the limitations of human power against the inevitable passage of time.
The poem acts as a meditation on the ephemeral nature of beauty and youth in relation to immortality.

Publication and Structure

The poem was published in 1842.
It's a dramatic monologue in blank verse.
The poem has seven sections of varying line lengths.
There's no consistent rhyme scheme or pattern of meter.

This quiz delves into the themes and symbols of Tithonus, exploring his sorrow over immortality granted by the goddess Aurora. It highlights the poem's tone, the cyclical nature of life and death, and the tragic implications of eternal aging. Engage with the deeper meanings and literary techniques employed in this elegiac work.