Tennyson's Ulysses Poem Analysis

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Questions and Answers

Where has Ulysses returned to after fighting in the Trojan War?

  • Rome
  • Athens
  • Troy
  • Ithaca (correct)

What is Ulysses' attitude towards the people he governs?

  • Authoritative
  • Fearful
  • Indifferent (correct)
  • Caring

What does Ulysses long for?

  • To rule with an iron fist
  • To settle down
  • Rest and relaxation
  • Further experience and knowledge (correct)

Who will inherit Ulysses' throne?

<p>Telemachus (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Ulysses perceive Telemachus' abilities as a king?

<p>Most blameless (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Ulysses call upon his fellow mariners to do?

<p>To join him on another quest (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Ulysses' ultimate goal in his quest?

<p>To sail beyond the sunset (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the tone of Ulysses' language?

<p>Unelaborated but forceful (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the dominant meter of the poem 'Ulysses'?

<p>Iambic pentameter (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the poet who wrote the poem 'Ulysses'?

<p>Alfred, Lord Tennyson (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How many lines does the poem 'Ulysses' consist of?

<p>70 (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the poet who remarked about the slow pace of the poem's language?

<p>Matthew Arnold (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the enjambments in the poem 'Ulysses'?

<p>To create a sense of restlessness (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the event that inspired Tennyson to write the poem 'Ulysses'?

<p>The death of his friend Arthur Henry Hallam (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who was the close friend of Tennyson who died in 1833?

<p>Arthur Henry Hallam (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the poem 'Ulysses' presented as?

<p>A dramatic monologue (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the critic who views the poem as a dialectic?

<p>Dwight Culler (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When was the poem 'Ulysses' published?

<p>1842 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What news did Tennyson receive that affected his outlook?

<p>The news of Hallam's death (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who did Tennyson share his grief with after Hallam's death?

<p>His sister, Emily (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What attraction did Ulysses' determination have for Tennyson?

<p>His determination to defy circumstance (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the title of Tennyson's poetry book published in 1832?

<p>Not specified (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which poet introduced the character of Ulysses?

<p>Homer (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the title of the poem where Tennyson's character, Ulysses, is contemplating undertaking a new voyage?

<p>Ulysses (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is the main source of Tennyson's character, Ulysses?

<p>Dante (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of Tennyson's sister who was engaged to Hallam?

<p>Emily (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which canto of Dante's Inferno does Ulisse recall his voyage?

<p>The 26th canto (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the title of the poem where Tennyson's grief over Hallam's death is reflected?

<p>In Memoriam A.H.H. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What criticism did Baum have against Ulysses?

<p>Inconsistencies in the poem (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is compared to Ulysses in terms of character flaws?

<p>Lord Byron (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Ulysses' attitude towards his son Telemachus?

<p>Condescending (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Ulysses seek to do in the poem?

<p>Find a new adventure (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the tone of the poem according to critics?

<p>Melancholic (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is criticized about the poem's narrative structure?

<p>Lack of action (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Herbert Tucker suggest about Tennyson's characters?

<p>They are moved inwardly by moving through time and space (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is compared to Ulysses' final utterance in the poem?

<p>Satan's courageous phrase (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of Shakespeare's works is referenced in the poem 'Ulysses'?

<p>Hamlet (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the title of Dante's work that influences Tennyson's poem?

<p>The Divine Comedy (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the theme of Ulysses' final sentiments in the poem?

<p>Courage and perseverance (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the poet who wrote the poem 'Ulysses'?

<p>Alfred, Lord Tennyson (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the tone of Ulysses' speech to his sailors in the poem?

<p>Determined and courageous (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the line 'To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield'?

<p>It echoes Dante's character Ulisse (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the context of Ulysses' monologue in the poem?

<p>A recollection while situated in Hell (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the critical interpretation of Ulysses' final sentiments in the poem?

<p>It promotes the questing spirit of youth (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who inspires Ulysses' character in the poem?

<p>Dante's Ulisse (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the phrase 'Come, my friends, / 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world'?

<p>It showcases Ulysses' determination to explore (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Poem Overview

  • The poem "Ulysses" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, is about the character Ulysses from Homer's Odyssey.
  • The poem is written in blank verse and consists of 70 lines.
  • The poem is a dramatic monologue, with Ulysses speaking about his desire to leave his kingdom and seek new adventures.

Structure and Style

  • The poem is divided into four sections, with the first and third sections being thematically parallel.
  • The poem's language is unelaborated but forceful, with a focus on conveying Ulysses' conflicting emotions.
  • The poem features a mix of iambic pentameter and spondees, which creates a sense of tension and conflict.

Themes

  • The poem explores the theme of the human desire for experience and knowledge.
  • Ulysses is driven by a sense of restlessness and discontent, feeling that his life is too quiet and uneventful.
  • The poem also touches on the theme of aging and mortality, with Ulysses aware of his own decline and the passing of time.

Autobiographical Elements

  • The poem was written after the death of Tennyson's close friend, Arthur Henry Hallam.
  • Tennyson was grieving and feeling lost, and the poem reflects his own emotions and struggles.
  • The poem is a way for Tennyson to express his own feelings of restlessness and discontent.

Influences

  • The poem is influenced by Homer's Odyssey, as well as Dante's Inferno.
  • The character of Ulysses is drawn from both of these sources, as well as from Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida.
  • The poem's language and style are also influenced by these sources, with a focus on creating a sense of grandeur and epic scope.

Interpretations

  • The poem has been interpreted in many ways, with some readers seeing it as a celebration of the human spirit and others as a critique of Ulysses' flaws.
  • Some readers have seen the poem as a reflection of Tennyson's own emotions and struggles, while others have seen it as a more universal exploration of the human condition.
  • The poem's final line, "To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield," has been interpreted as a call to action, a statement of defiance, and a reflection of Ulysses' flaws.

Legacy

  • The poem is considered one of Tennyson's most famous and influential works.
  • It has been widely studied and admired, and has had a significant impact on the development of poetry and literature.
  • The poem's themes and ideas continue to resonate with readers today, making it a powerful and enduring work of literature.

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