Alfred Lord Tennyson
Born in 1809 in Lincolnshire, England.
Became Poet Laureate in 1850 after William Wordsworth.
Deeply affected by the death of his best friend Arthur Hallam, which shaped
much of his emotional poetry.
Known for combining personal emotion with universal themes like time, death,
faith, and heroism.
Died in 1892 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
1. Introduction
Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809–1892) was one of the greatest English poets and
served as the Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom during much of Queen
Victoria's reign. He is known for his deep emotional expression, mastery of
language, and exploration of human struggles, nature, mythology, and loss.
Tennyson was a major voice of the Victorian era. His poetry spoke to the
emotional and intellectual struggles of the time, especially the tension between
tradition and change. His poetic range included lyricism, narrative epics, and
philosophical reflections.
2. Victorian Age
Tennyson was the representative poet of the Victorian era, a period marked by
industrial progress, moral questioning, and scientific advancements. His poetry
reflects the tensions of the time: faith vs. doubt, duty vs. desire, and individual
emotion vs. social expectations. He gave voice to the concerns and spirit of the
age.
A time of industrialization, colonial expansion, and scientific progress (e.g.,
Darwin's theory of evolution).
This led to doubts about religion and human purpose.
Tennyson captured these anxieties in poems like In Memoriam, where he tries to
reconcile faith with the harsh realities of life and death.
Victorian ideals of duty, morality, and stoicism also appear in his work
(especially in poems like Ulysses).
3. Themes of Poems
1. The Lotus-Eaters
● Theme: Escapism, weariness of life, conflict between duty and the desire
to rest.
● Greek myth reference of Odysseus' men wanting to stay in a dream-like
land.
● Mythical backdrop: Odysseus and his men land on the island of the
Lotus-Eaters.
● Main Theme: Escape from responsibility; desire for eternal rest and
forgetfulness.
● Reflects Victorian weariness with modern life and the temptation to
avoid struggles.
2. St. Agnes’ Eve
● Theme: Purity, spirituality, mysticism, and longing for divine connection.
● Reflects deep religious feeling and sacred atmosphere. (Note: Tennyson’s
version, not to be confused with Keats’ poem.)
● Theme: Spiritual longing, innocence, and mystical beauty.
● A poem rich in imagery and atmosphere, it presents a vision of purity and
divine connection.
3. Tears, Idle Tears
● Theme: Nostalgia, sorrow, the pain of memories and the passage of time.
● Poem expresses deep emotion without a clear source of the sorrow —
making it universal.
● Theme: Nostalgia, regret, and the mystery of human sorrow.
● The poet reflects on the past with a sadness that cannot be explained.
● Uses emotional intensity and musical language (even though it has no
rhyme).
4. Writing Style
● Language: Rich, lyrical, emotional, and sometimes symbolic.
● Meter: Often iambic pentameter (especially in blank verse).
● Rhyme Schemes: Varies—some poems use regular rhyme, others like
Tears, Idle Tears are written in blank verse (no rhyme).
● Genre: Lyrical poetry, narrative poems, dramatic monologues, and
elegies.
● Language: Poetic, vivid, emotional, often rich with imagery and
symbolism.
● Meter: Commonly iambic pentameter.
Rhyme Scheme: Varies — some poems like Tears, Idle Tears use blank
verse (no rhyme), others use traditional rhyme.
● Genres:
○ Lyrical poetry (Tears, Idle Tears)
Dramatic monologue (Ulysses, Tithonus)
Narrative poetry (The Lady of Shalott, The Lotus-Eaters)
Elegy (In Memoriam)
5. Mythological References
Tennyson frequently used Greek and Roman mythology (e.g., The
Lotus-Eaters), as well as Arthurian legends (in Idylls of the King). These
references added depth and universality to his themes of heroism, struggle, and
human emotion.
Tennyson drew on Greek myths (e.g., Odysseus in The Lotus-Eaters, Ulysses)
to explore human dilemmas.
He also used Arthurian legends in Idylls of the King to express Victorian
values like honor, purity, and sacrifice.
These myths helped him explore timeless themes with a universal appeal.
6. Historical Background
● Victorian England: A time of rapid industrialization, scientific
discovery, and social reform.
● Tennyson was personally affected by the death of his close friend
Arthur Hallam, which influenced many of his poems (e.g., In
Memoriam).
● His work often reflects the conflict between faith and doubt, a common
concern in an era where science challenged traditional beliefs.
● Victorian Era (1837–1901): A time of great progress and anxiety.
● Religious doubt caused by scientific advancements (e.g., geology,
Darwinism).
● Social reforms, education expansion, and the British Empire also
influenced Tennyson’s view of duty, leadership, and legacy.
● Arthur Hallam’s death (1833): Had a profound emotional impact on
Tennyson and inspired In Memoriam A.H.H., a deeply personal yet
philosophical elegy.
