How does Tennyson create a memorable character in Ulysses?
How does Tennyson create a memorable character in Ulysses? This poem is a dramatic monologue spoken by Ulysses, the King of Ithaca. He has just returned to his kingdom after fighting in the Trojan War, but once caught up in his daily routine, he expresses his unhappiness with his life and indifference towards his family and people. Ulysses compares his heroic past to his current state of boredom, and emphasises his desire to revisit his past. Tennyson creates a memorable character in Ulysses, by giving him two sides - a heroic one, and a cowardly one. His desire to flee from Ithaca can be seen as selfish, as he is running away from his family and people, leaving his inexperienced son to take over his role. However, it can also be seen as admirable, as he is following his life long dream and wants to explore the world. Ulysses heroic desire to discover new worlds and to fight life to the end makes him a memorable character. The use of enjambment represents the idea of pushing forward 'beyond the utmost bound of human thought'. Tennyson's constant use of movement verbs, for example 'roaming', emphasises Ulysses desire for travel. The eating and drinking metaphors such as 'hungry heart' and 'drunk delight' represent the idea of fulfilment and Ulysses insatiable appetite for life and adventure. The intensifiers such as 'greatly' and 'much' emphasise this. Ulysses wants to live
A later poet said 'Old men ought to be explorers'. What do you think he meant by that? Do you think he would have approved of the Ulysses who speaks in this poem? What would be your own assessment of Ulysses' character?
Naomi Burrell Year 12 4th March 03 A later poet said 'Old men ought to be explorers'. What do you think he meant by that? Do you think he would have approved of the Ulysses who speaks in this poem? What would be your own assessment of Ulysses' character? Lord Tennyson's Ulysses was written in 1833, which although was actually before the Victorian era began (in 1851 with the year of the Great Exhibition), still contains many of the changes in thought that were common during the time. For the first time publicly, the idea that God created man was essentially questioned through the publication of Darwin's Origin of Species. He explored in depth, the revolutionary theory of 'evolution' and the idea of 'the survival of the fittest'. Not only were there these scientific explorations, but the Victorian era was also a time of huge industrial development, detailed exploration into technology allowing this to be possible. 'Well-educated women' were beginning to go to University (though not yet to be awarded degrees) and were demanding the vote. There is no doubt that these profound changes and discoveries had an influence on the writers and poets of the time, Lord Tennyson included. However, this later poet has made a profound statement about being an 'explorer', where firstly one needs to establish what he may have meant by this word. It seems to me that he may have
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
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
How does Tennyson bring mental pessimism and Victorian optimism in his use of myths and legends?
How does Tennyson bring mental pessimism and Victorian optimism in his use of myths and legends? Ans.: "And we are here as on a darkling plain Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight, Where ignorant armies clash by night." [Dover Beach: Mathew Arnold] "The year is at the spring And day is at the morn, ... God's in heaven, All is right with world." [Pippa Passes: Robert Browning] These above quoted two quotations are from two renowned poets of Victorian arena show the contrast attitudes to their time. Browning is very optimistic of everything because he does not have any mental torment of his age. On the contrary Mathew Arnold is very critical of his age, which he has found barren and sterile dominated by materialistic views and so spiritually degenerated. But Tennyson is almost a mixture of Browning's and Arnold's feelings. In some of his poems he is very happy about everything in which he is passing his life and in some of his poems he is very melancholic about his surroundings. These joys and sorrows are pre-dominated in him due to some of mental crises and the condition of the Victorian age in which he was. Some of the greatest poems created by Tennyson are based on myths and legends. He possessed the talent of giving the myths and legends a very new look just to show how these poems adjust with the people and the crises of his time. These poems
Characters in the play Translations.
While Friel's small group of characters in the play Translations, hold stereotypical qualities and are all citizens of the rural Irish-speaking village of Baile Beag being affected culturally and personally by the Ordance Survey. Each character is carefully delineated with his or her own particular traits as well as being different representatives of particular views and beliefs. At first Sarah who is mute is seen as the stereotypical silent woman. Her loss of tongue and hence loss of identity is symbolic of the powerless, submissive female. "Which should I take Sarah" highlights the patronising, denigrating, and belittling attitudes towards females. Sarah is very much plays the role of society's expected female, "maybe you'd set out the stools," females are merely servants and slaves. However as the play precedes the audiences sees Sarah's developing individuality through her gestures, dress and actions. The name Sarah, maybe deliberately chose by Friel, refers to the Hebrew Sarah - mother of the nation, in this play's case the nation being Ireland. She is not just a mute village folk but also a representation of Ireland as a silenced voice, as it is a nation that does not speak the language of the colonisers. 'You were lovely last night, Sarah is that the dress you got from Boston, Green suits you." This further highlights Sarah's symbolism of Ireland seeing as green is
Of Mice And Men Character Study – George
Of Mice And Men Character Study - George George is a central character in the story. I really like George as a character because he is believable. Lennie is a nice character but I prefer George because I can relate him to real life. When we first meet George John Steinbeck describes him as, "small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features. Every part of him was defined: small, strong hands, slender arms, a thin and bony nose." I think John Steinbeck uses his looks to help portray his character. We learn later that he is strong-minded because he perseveres with things like when he takes the mouse from Lennie and when raising the money for the little house with some land. This characteristic is made clearer by Steinbeck's initial description of George having strong features. George is also a leader. Lennie completely relies upon George and even when he is in trouble or away from George his thoughts return to him. This is shown clearly when he is in Crook's room and he says, "but it ain't no lie. Ever' word's the truth, an' you can ast George." It is also clear at the end when Lennie has run into the bush and all that he is worried about is what George will think. As the story goes on we find that Candy also starts to rely on George. When he finds that Curley's wife has been killed he goes straight to George for assistance and when he
How does Shakespeare present the character of Hamlet?
How Does Shakespeare Present The Character Of Hamlet? The mastery of Shakespeare in depicting his characters is shown in a way that they seem to dominate the spectre of stage, as well as enthralls their audience in captivating mood from the beginning of the play until its climax. The character of Hamlet has perhaps engraved the name of Shakespeare in the realms of English Literature, as this character alone has succeeded in capturing a variety of moods. Hamlet has also mastered the roles of equally different people, their feelings, sentiments and depiction of an equally varied number of situations in an individual's life. The following essay will however limit its discussion on the specific methods used by Shakespeare in order to present Hamlet, and strive to include this character in a different historical perspective. Hamlet's character is observed to make a gradual progression from one that respects and follows a moral order in life to one who is full of revenge. Right from the beginning of the play, Hamlet encounters his father's ghost, saying "To cast thee up again. What does this mean?" the encounter revealing to him that the latter was murdered by his own brother and Hamlet's uncle Claudius. This is also the moment in the play which perhaps serves as the turning point, and also a change in directions for Hamlet as he takes it upon himself to avenge his father's
Romeo and Juliet : Development of Juliet's Character
DISCUSS THE DEVELOPMENT OF JULIET'S CHARACTER This essay is about Juliet's character and I am going to talk about how her behaviour develops towards Romeo, her Nurse, and on her own respectively. In the prologue we are informed that, 'a pair of star crossed lovers take their life,' [line 6, prologue]. This is to make us feel sympathy towards Romeo and Juliet. We also have to remember Juliet is only 13 at the start of the play and little more than a child; but she has potential to mature during the course of the play. Act 1 Scene 5 is the first encounter between the lovers. In this scene I think Juliet is clever just doing enough to keep Romeo interested, 'Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,' [line 99 act 1 scene 5]. She is obviously infatuated with Romeo and behaves coquettishly towards him, 'for saints have hands that pilgrims' hand do touch,' [line 101 act 1 scene 5]. Romeo and Juliet use religious imagery towards one another because in an Elizabethan times religion was their most important thing, 'This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this,' [line 96 act 1 scene 5]. In this scene the religious imagery is used to woo each other and is formed into a sonnet emphasising their love. Act 2 Scene 2 is the famous balcony scene of the lovers. In this scene I feel Juliet appears immature although she is in a difficult situation. 'Romeo, Romeo, wherefore
Educating Rita. How the character of Rita changes.
Critical Essay: Educating Rita. The play "Education Rita" by Willy Russell has a character that undergoes a dramatic change during the course of the play. Rita is a character who changes during the play. It is set in a "Victorian-built university in the North of England, in a book-lined tutorial room." The play is based around Rita White, a hairdresser who is dissatisfied with her work and wants to transform herself. To do so, she goes to an Open University course. The themes surrounding this play are the transformative nature of education, self-discovery and class. In this essay I will show how the writer uses setting and key scenes to show Rita undergoing dramatic changes. One technique the writer uses in the play is the setting. The play is set in a "book-lined tutorial room in a Victorian-built university in the North of England." Rita first arrives like an alien coming from one world to another. We see that she has to overcome obstacles straight away when she struggles to open Frank's tutorial door. "I am comin' in... It's this stupid bleedin' handle on the door." This is symbolic as it means the academic world is not easy to get into. A painting in the room catches Rita's attention. We learn from stage directions that 'Rita is looking at a nude-painting. She becomes aware that Frank is watching her." Rita is not as educated as Frank and describes the painting as
