Alfred lord tennyson

Alfred Lord TennysonAlfred Lord Tennyson1809-18921809-1892

1909-18921909-1892

BackgroundBackground

Born August 6, 1809. at SomersbyBorn August 6, 1809. at Somersby Several men in his family had mental and Several men in his family had mental and

physical problems: epilepsy, insanity, physical problems: epilepsy, insanity, excessive drinkingexcessive drinking

Tennyson’s father was abusive and violentTennyson’s father was abusive and violent

CambridgeCambridge Tennyson attended Trinity Tennyson attended Trinity

College, CambridgeCollege, Cambridge Invited to join The Apostles, an Invited to join The Apostles, an

undergraduate club. undergraduate club. This group included his lifelong This group included his lifelong

friends.friends. Most important friendship was Most important friendship was

with Arthur Hallam. He and with Arthur Hallam. He and Tennyson knew each other for Tennyson knew each other for only four years, but their only four years, but their intense friendship had a major intense friendship had a major influence on the poet. influence on the poet.

Hallam’s death in 1833 when Hallam’s death in 1833 when he was only 22 lead to his best he was only 22 lead to his best poetry, including In Memoriam.poetry, including In Memoriam.

1830 and 1832 Poems1830 and 1832 Poems

In 1830, Tennyson In 1830, Tennyson published Poems, published Poems, Chiefly LyricalChiefly Lyrical

Poems (1832 and Poems (1832 and 1833) were attacked 1833) were attacked by critics as obscure by critics as obscure and affected.and affected.

Criticism kept Criticism kept Tennyson from Tennyson from publishing again for publishing again for another nine years.another nine years.

1842 Poems1842 Poems

Established Established Tennyson’s career as Tennyson’s career as a writera writer

This volume includes This volume includes “The Lady of Shalott,” “The Lady of Shalott,” “The Lotus Eaters,” “The Lotus Eaters,” and “Ulysses.”and “Ulysses.”

In MemoriamIn Memoriam Tennyson’s greatest Tennyson’s greatest

poempoem Published in 1850Published in 1850 Represents his struggle Represents his struggle

with Hallam’s death and with Hallam’s death and with the new with the new developments in developments in astronomy, biology, and astronomy, biology, and geology that were geology that were diminishing man’s stature diminishing man’s stature in the universe.in the universe.

After publication of this After publication of this poem, Tennyson was poem, Tennyson was named Poet Laureate.named Poet Laureate.

Tennyson’s Later PoetryTennyson’s Later Poetry Tennyson’s later poetry Tennyson’s later poetry

follows a narrative stylefollows a narrative style Several poems dealt with Several poems dealt with

national affairsnational affairs By this time, Tennyson By this time, Tennyson

was established as the was established as the most popular poet of the most popular poet of the Victorian period. The Victorian period. The money from his poetry money from his poetry allowed him to purchase allowed him to purchase a house in the country a house in the country and write in seclusion.and write in seclusion.

His appearance His appearance enhanced his notoriety.enhanced his notoriety.

Idylls of the KingIdylls of the King

Large-scale epic Large-scale epic poem that occupied poem that occupied the second half of his the second half of his career.career.

Uses the Arthurian Uses the Arthurian legend to construct a legend to construct a vision of the rise and vision of the rise and fall of civilization.fall of civilization.

Tennyson’s most Tennyson’s most extensive social extensive social vision.vision.

Themes in Tennyson’s PoetryThemes in Tennyson’s Poetry

The divided selfThe divided self Links external scenery to interior states of Links external scenery to interior states of

mind.mind. The historical pastThe historical past The mythological pastThe mythological past Tennyson’s personal pastTennyson’s personal past Geological time and evolutionary historyGeological time and evolutionary history Social and political concernsSocial and political concerns

Themes in Tennyson’s PoetryThemes in Tennyson’s Poetry

Having faith and Keeping faithHaving faith and Keeping faith Faith and loyalty are essentialFaith and loyalty are essential Keeping them is hardKeeping them is hard

• tenuoustenuous• SubjectiveSubjective• irrationalirrational

men and their societies must be founded on men and their societies must be founded on many faiths:many faiths: between ruler and ruledbetween ruler and ruled man and woman to each otherman and woman to each other worshipper and Godworshipper and God In and to one’s selfIn and to one’s self

Themes in Tennyson’s PoetryThemes in Tennyson’s Poetry

Tennyson is sceptical about man's capacity to Tennyson is sceptical about man's capacity to have and keep faith:have and keep faith: the destruction of an ideal when men do not the destruction of an ideal when men do not

keep faith:keep faith:• "The Passing of Arthur,“"The Passing of Arthur,“

makes it quite clear how the Round makes it quite clear how the Round Table failedTable failed

offers some cause for hope:offers some cause for hope:• presents the trials, triumphs, and presents the trials, triumphs, and

conversion of the ordinary man:conversion of the ordinary man:• Sir Bedivere.Sir Bedivere.

Themes in Tennyson’s PoetryThemes in Tennyson’s Poetry

The problem of Science: The problem of Science: In this matter, Tennyson is a typical Victorian:In this matter, Tennyson is a typical Victorian:

deep interest in contemporary science vs. an deep interest in contemporary science vs. an unorthodox, often contradictory, Christian unorthodox, often contradictory, Christian belief.belief.

Tennysonian ideas of evolution:Tennysonian ideas of evolution: Ie: passage from “Idylls…”:Ie: passage from “Idylls…”:The old order changeth, yielding place to new,The old order changeth, yielding place to new,

And God fulfills Himself in many ways,And God fulfills Himself in many ways,Lest one good custom should corrupt the Lest one good custom should corrupt the world, world,

Tennyson’s ReputationTennyson’s Reputation

Tennyson was the most popular poet in Tennyson was the most popular poet in England in his own dayEngland in his own day

He was the target of mockery by his He was the target of mockery by his immediate successors, the Edwardians immediate successors, the Edwardians and Georgians.and Georgians.

Today, many critics consider Tennyson to Today, many critics consider Tennyson to be the greatest poet of the Victorian Age.be the greatest poet of the Victorian Age.

Images of TennysonImages of Tennyson