Ulysses by Alfred Lord Tennyson | Poem Theme | TrueBlueGuide.com

Alfred Lord Tennyson

Theme

"Ulysses" is a poem in 'blank verse' by the victorian poet Alfred Lord Tennyson.It is a popular example of the most renowned poet of the victorian era his Book includes :

• In Memoriam
• The charge of the Light Brigade
• Idylls of the King

                       The poem based on a story from the Greek Mythology. The story is told by Homer in odyssey,Ulysses was the king of Ithaca who fought bravely in the Trojan war. He was a lover of adventure.He wanted to get the Maximum out of his life when the trojan war was over, he wandered long. He met strange adventures .After not like to stay at home. He did not want to waste the remaining years of life in the company of uncivilized people of Ithaca whose only work was to eat, sleep and hoard money. Infact, Ulysses was not prepared to rule idly and waste his life.

                       This poem is not a simple tale of the deeds of Ulysses. The poet conveys some ideas of universal significance through this poem. He says that it is dull to pause and to pause and to make an end of life. LIfe should be spent like Ulysses. A meaningful life, according to Ulysses, consists in hard work, quest of adventure and knowledge. He wa a great warrior and Adventurer.He visited many countries,learnt about their men and matters and saw the working of their government. He had won a great honour for hos heroic deeds.

                      Ulysses asked his son Telemachus to perform the duties of the state. Telemachus was a stay at home type of man. He was affectionate and loyal to his parents and gods. He was centred in the sphere of common duties.He could civilise the  people of his kingdom. He inspired his companions to get ready for another voyage. He wanted to do something worthwhile before death overtakes him. That is why, he decided to go forword to strive, to seek, and not to yield.

Gagandeep Kaur Chahal