Look again at Ulysses and write about Tennysons narrative techniques
A: Look again at "Ulysses" and write about Tennyson's narrative techniques In "Ulysses", Tennyson presents the characteristics and attitudes of the eponymous central character through the dynamic form of the dramatic monologue. Through an adroit blending of literary techniques including those of structure, form and language, he seeks to clarify much of the mystique behind the mythological background of Ulysses, and reveal his persona of desire and heroism, alongside his undesirable traits of contemptuousness and hubristic pride. Throughout the poem, its form and structure allow Tennyson to reveal the character of Ulysses as he wishes him to be portrayed. "Ulysses" takes the form of the dramatic monologue, with Tennyson adapting the persona of his mythical character and using this form to reveal Ulysses' character through his own words. This choice of form, combined with the structural use of unrhymed iambic pentameter, or blank verse, allows the poem to adopt a rhythm that is one of the closest imitators of human speech in verse. This makes the words that Tennyson, writes and Ulysses "speaks" take on a much more personal tone and a deeper meaning, fully disclosing his character and attitude in a way that a more artificial and structured form, for example the Spenserian, simply could not achieve. This effect is added to the by the extensive and contrasted uses of enjambment
Tear, idle tears. analyse, with close reference to the poem, how the author deals with the subject of loss
Tears, idle tears Analyze, with close reference to the poem, how the author deals with the subject of loss. Sadness and despair often accompany loss, particularly if the item lost is held dear to one’s heart. Memories are held all the more dear, as they represent a life that is past, a life that is no more. Vivid images of a past life may create a current of turbulent emotions that sweep one of one’s feet, be it lamenting with bottomless grief or cackling with joy at humorous scenes The former seemed more apparent in the poem, where fond remembrance of the past drives the poet to tears. The tears were described as ‘idle’, suggesting that they were bothersome and viewed with annoyance with the poet, which isn’t surprising, really, as tears were a sign of weakness, a portrayal of emotion often shunned by men. ‘I know not what they mean’, however, seemed to convey that the poet experienced an overwhelming sorrow, that he would not like to experience again, numbing his mind such that he is unable to comprehend what the tears meant .It is also the retort of a wounded angry pride, the poet is ashamed at himself for crying over such a trifle. The tears had ‘depth’, ‘rise[ing] in the heart’ suggesting that the tears weren’t shallow and feigned, the tears weren’t shed without meaning, instead, they were caused by an irrepressible sadness from the depths of
Compare and Contrast Tithonus and Ulysses.
Compare and Contrast Tithonus and Ulysses Alex Williamson 14th February 2001 Tithonus and Ulysses were written by Alfred Lord Tennyson; a poet famous for his representation of Victorianism in his poetry, recognised by the fact that Queen Victoria appointed him as the poet laureate. He wrote Tithonus in 1860 and Ulysses in 1842. Both poems display similar grammatical structure; both are dramatic monologues, that is to say that both are written in the first person with the subject of the poems narrating, a style popular in Victorian poetry as it is a form of the Victorian's favourite genre of writing; the novel; both concern Greco-Roman mythology and the extensions thereof produced in the Middle Ages: there is no record of Ulysses either continuing or wishing to continue his travels after his arrival from Troy, it is generally accepted that this concept was later added to the myth by Dante. Both poems begin in similar fashion; Tithonus begins with the imagery of death and decay; 'The woods decay, the woods decay and fall' due mainly to the fact that he has seen almost everything die away apart from himself, furthermore Ulysses soon depicts imagery of emptiness and desolation; 'among these barren crags, match'd with an aged wife' he not only graphically depicts his discontent but also suggests that he can not engage in procreation as his wife is
