Analysis of Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s Epic Poem Ulysses Essay -- Epic Poe

Alfred, Lord Tennysons epic poem Ulysses is undisturbed as a dramatic monologue, consisting of four stanzas each of which frankly handle the speakers current situation and yearning for adventure. The purpose of iambic pentameter provides a grit of fluidity to the speakers voice. The speaker reveals himself to be the protagonist of the poem with the opening line It little profits that an idle king (1). The use of the word idle offers the first clue as to one of the chief(prenominal) themes of the poem. Tennyson much like the protagonist of his poem feels the need to move on, in life. The period in which the poem was wrote, many sociable changes where occurring in twee England, the effects of the industrial revolution where being felt far and unspecific and there was, the idea that society needed to work together in order to establish conformity. Ulysses is feeling emotionally empty throughout the poem, without his seafarer friends and adventures similar to times g one by, a similar situation that Tennyson had fix himself in. Ulysses was written after the death of his close friend, soul mate and confidante Arthur atomic number 1 Hallam. This was one of many poems composed by Tennyson, upon Hallams death the intimately notable being Memorandum (1833-1850). Tennyson himself commented how the series of poems were a direct comparison to how he felt after the loss of his dear friend. The poem was produce in the book Poems by Alfred Tennyson (1842). Mythological characters appear to play an big role within Tennysons poetry, from English folk law characters much(prenominal) as King Arthur that featured in Morte DArthur and other Idyllis to the classic mariner and adventurer Ulysses. The character of Ulysses has featured in many gravid epic poems, ... ...hesterton. Tennyson. London Hodder & Stoughton, 1906. PDF. Gray, Erik. Tennysons Rapture Transformation in the twee Dramatic Monologue. overnice Studies 50.3 (2008) 541-42. Project MUSE. We b. 21 Feb. 2015. . Nohrnberg, James. Eight Reflections of Tennysons Ulysses. prim Poetry 47.1 (2009) 101-50. Project MUSE. Web. 21 Feb. 2015. . Robbins, Tony. Tennysons Ulysses The Significance of the Homeric and Dantesque Backgrounds. Victorian Poetry Autumn 11.3 (1979) 177-93. JSTOR. Web. 21 Feb. 2015. . Skidmore, Joel. The Odyssey - Background - Detailed Version. Greek Mythology. 1997. Web. 20 Feb. 2015. .