How does tennyson ulysses reflect victorian attitudes?
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Answer: Though it is believed that Tennyson composed Ulysses soon after the death of Arthur Hallamto shake off the deep shock the poem is largely an embodiment Victorian spirit, After Hallam’s death the poet felt the need for going forward and braving the struggle of life but the poem is more than that personal issue. The poet successfully changes the personal feeling into impersonal spirit, by choosing a suitable mythical character. The poet takes the advantage of presenting national philosophy of action and adventure in an objective way.
Tennyson chose Ulysses, the mythical hero, as the speaker of this poem. Ulysses, Returned home after twenty years. But the old warrior who fought in the Trojan War could not enjoy the bliss of family life. His heroic spirit yearned for more knowledge and adventures. So, he made arrangements for a new adventure. This philosophy of action and adventure of Ulysses has been suggested in this poem.
The Victorian period is well-known for its enrichment of knowledge, expansion of empire and growth of economy, the age had this spirit. The mythical Ulysses in this this poem a adequately reflects spirit because he also has an indomitable spirit. His wife, son and kingdom appear dull to him. Life without adventures is equal to self-killing...
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Tennyson, (1809-1892) a great literary titan, is the representative poet of Victorian Age and mirrors the most vital problem of industrial and moral life – “religious doubts, social problems, the revolt of the cultured mind against a corrupt society, pride in a far-flung Empire, the spirit of compromise so characteristic of the Victorian period”. He was, thus, a truly national poet and from a nationalistic view-point declares;
“There is no land like England
Where’re light of day be:
There is no hearts like English hearts,
Such hearts of oak as they be”.
Tennyson himself said that “Ulysses” which was written shortly after Hallam’s death, (September 1832) gave his “feeling about the need of going forward, and braving the struggle of life, perhaps more simply than anything in In Memoriam (1850)”. Ulysses is one of his massive pillars on which Tennyson’s fame mainly rests. It embodies “the modern passion for knowledge, for the exploration of its limitless field, for the annexation of new kingdom of science and thought”.