Ulysses as a Dramatic Monologue
Ulysses was composed in 1853 shortly after the death of Hallam and was published in 1842. Tennyson was in the mood of despondency because of the death of his boson friend. He started writing " in Memoriam only to overcome his despair. Thus Tennyson expresses his feeling about the need of going forward and facing the struggle of life.
Thus Ulysses adapts a classical story to embodies a modern idea. It is closely related to the 26th Canto of Dant's ' Inferno: However, the details and minute portions are Tennyson's original contributions. Ulysses is the hero of Homer's great epic " Odyssey ". He joined the Trojan was in fulfilment of is slomn promise made to Helen to help her in danger. Thus with its mythological background, the poet glorifies the scientific temperament of the Victorian age.
" To follow knowledge, like a sinking star
Beyond the utmost bound of human thought. "
The poem opens with the assertion by Ulysses who is ruling over his kingdom after having come back twenty years. He is not satisfied with most inactive life at home. He has been active throughout his life and is now bored with his lazy life in his old age. He is eager to go in search of new knowledge and experience " like a sinking star. "
He knows that he does not have to live only to sit idly at home doing nothing when he can utilize every moment of his remaining life in search of knowledge. He tells that his some Telemachus is quite competent to rule over his kingdom in his absence and perform all his domestic and religious duties. It is, therefore, his intention to entrust the kingdom to his son and go on his travels in search of a new world.
Ulysses addresses his sailor companions and asks them to be ready to sail, no doubt he and they are all - old and no doubt to possess that strength which they had in the past. Buvold age has its own charm and requires a man to do his work in spite of it. It is possible that he and his companions may be drowned in the sea or that they may reach the happy Island where his former friend Achilles lives after death.
They should not be afraid of the difficulties they may have to face in the way. Ulysses says that they are united in their purpose of seeking a new world without being depressed by troubles. The poem is written in blank verse, which has an admirable beauty and movement. The blank verse seems to possess Miltonic grandeur and majesty.
The compactness of expression, combined with the grandeur of blank verse gives it a beauty of it won. The poem abounds is felicitous phrase and a diction marked by a happy church of word. Tennyson has employed in it a terse Baconic and epigrammatic language. The style is not ornamental as in the lotus - Eaters but it has musical touches and a pictorial quality such as in the lines.
The lights being to twinkle from the rocks
The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs ;
Moons round with many voices.
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