Question: Discuss Tennyson's treatment of old legend and myth in his poetry.
Or, Discuss Tennyson's treatment of old legends in his poetry.
Or, What is special about Tennyson's reworking of classical and medieval narratives?
Or, Write on Tennyson's treatment of classical myths in his poems.
Or, Write an essay on Tennyson's use of classical myths and medieval legends.
Or, Write an essay on Tennyson's treatment of the classical
Answer: Alfred Tennyson is the representative poet of the Victorian Age (1832-1901). His treatment of the old legends is remarkable in his poetry. But it must be marked that the legendary characters in his poetry are not like those of Homer. His mythological characters are enriched with the Victorian spirit. He has infused his philosophy of life into his legendary characters. For this reason, Ulysses of Tennyson is more vigorous, gigantic, and spirited than Homer. Now we may question why Tennyson has chosen these mythological characters to relate to his philosophy. Actually, he wants to invigorate his inactive fellow, men. He wishes that the Victorians should be motivated and inspired by the Renaissance spirit. The world is advancing towards prosperity. Why does England lag behind then? So Tennyson expects that the English should be as tameless as Ulysses. They should be as thirsty for knowledge as this Greek hero. As a result, he has chosen the Greek legendary heroes to expose his deep idealism and spirit.
Tennyson has treated the classical myth of Ulysses in his beautiful poem, "The Lotos-Eaters.” The war of Troy is over. The Greek hero Ulysses is returning home along with his fellow mariners. One day in the afternoon, they reached an island. It is a strange land. It seems always afternoon there. A strange lifestyle is seen there. On the island, the inhabitants eat a kind of fruit called lotos. They do not toil hard. They always feel sleepy. They lead their life peacefully and thoughtlessly. They only enjoy the time of leisure. They hear the beautiful music of the island. The music in Lotos-land is extremely soft, sweet, and soothing. Its sound is softer than that of the falling petals of roses. This music is even softer than the sound of the title dew drops falling on the still waters of streams. The lotos-eaters lead a life of melancholy. The soldiers were tired of toiling. They were weak and thirsty. They felt drowsy and sleepy. They no longer wanted to toil more. The languid air is blowing all around the island.
The comrades of Ulysses are tempted-to-eat lotos-fruits. They eat these enchanting fruits. The sailors want to lead a careless and inactive life in this languid land where it is always afternoon. Their attitude is epicurean. They do not want to struggle with the rising wind and waves of the perilous sea. They slumber and dream of luminous things. They think that human struggle means nothing. Death is the final reality. Many of their fellow mariners have already gone to the Elysian valley. In other words, they are dead. Thus in the poem, Tennyson has depicted the inactive view of his age through the story of myth. During the Victorian Age, the conservatives were very much idle. They wanted to live patching only the old things. They dreamt of no change in society. Just to draw this picture aptly, Tennyson has used the Greek myth of the Lotos-Eaters.
“Tithonus” is a famous dramatic monologue. In this poem, Tennyson has excellently treated Greek myth. Eos or Aurora is the goddess of dawn. She falls in love with Tithonus, a handsome young man. As her lover is mortal, she goes to Zeus to ask for the immortality of Tithonus. Her suit is granted and Tithonus becomes immortal. But what Eos forgets to ask is eternal youth for him as well as eternal life. As a result, Tithonus grows older and older but he cannot die. He watches everything live out its time and die ultimately. Vapour falls to the ground. The man comes and works in the fields. He dies at last. He goes on his job till his death and is buried beneath the earth. After many years, the swan dies. It is only Tithonus himself who cannot die. Death is inevitable for everything and everybody but not for him. Immortality is a curse to him. It is very cruel to him. He is unable to bear his over-aging body. Consequently, he wants to die. (Tithonus compares the sweet whisper of his beloved to the music of Apollo)
King Arthur is a legendary king of England. It is believed that he was actually a king of England ruled probably in the 3rd or 6th century A.D. The length of his heroism has got a historical status in England. Many English writers including Thomas Malory use the Arthurian legend. In “Morte D'Arthur”, Tennyson deals with the death of King Arthur. King Arthur receives his fatal wound in the battle of Lyonesse. He is attended by his only surviving knight, Sir Bedivere: He possesses a legendary sword, Excalibur. He fights against evil with this magical sword. He gets it from the Lady of the Lake. In the poem, Tennyson has made the story of the dying king in a very pathetic way. His treatment of the Arthurian legend proves his interest in English Medievalism.
Tennyson has made another legend of an unknown lover and Amy in his beautiful poem, "Locksley Hall”. He presents Locksley Hall as a symbolic place. At Locksley Hall, the speaker of the poem spent his childhood and youth. His father died in a Maratha Battle in India. Then he was brought back to Locksley Hall by his tyrannical uncle. Here he falls in love with his cousin, Amy. But his beloved does not keep her word. Amy is married to another man out the fear of the threat to her parents. The speaker is thus frustrated. He is extremely shocked at her falsehood. After many years, he comes to Locksley Hall and tells us his past story. The poet has treated this imaginary story believably. He makes it a legend of love by his. pictorial depiction.
Thus Tennyson treated Greek mythology and mythological characters to proclaim his philosophy. He is a free thinker of his age. He is a great patriot and wants to enliven his nation. He welcomes the scientific and material advancements of his age. But he is also a religious poet. He chooses the characters of Ulysses, Lotos-Eaters, Aurora, and Tithonus to expose his high thoughts. He treats King Arthur, Sir Bedivere, and Excalibur as legendary characters. He tells us the story of Amy and her cousin like a legend. Tennyson has treated these mythological and legendary characters to highlight the spirit of the Victorian Period. So he invites his fellow men to be inspired by the everlasting youth, freshness, vigor, and spirit in his poetry.
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