ULYSSES

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1.Introduction of the Poet

Lord Alfred Tennyson occupies a very important and prominent position in the domain of English Literature. He is the representative poet of Victorian era. He is a prolific poet and has composed a number of poems. Tennyson’s poetry is rich in imagery as that of keats but it lacks the romantic fine of Words Worth and Coleridge.

Introduction of the Poem

Ulysses is a long, magnificent, symbolical and moral boosting poem. The poem is written in the dramatic monologues of the powerful blank verse and tells the story of the most prudent and bravest of the Greek heroes, Ulysses of Homer’s Odyssey. He is the symbol of adventurous spirit, indomitable courage, inexhaustible zeal; unflinching faith; unshakable determination and unquenchable thirst for knowledge. Ulysses wants to set out on a journey of discovery because he believes that it is not too late to find a New World.

Summary

Ulysses was a Greek hero and the King of Ithaca. He had spent most of his life in voyages and was always filled with the spirit of ventures and courage. His life was based on the principle of struggle and courage.

In this speech, Ulysses pays high tribute to his mariners who laboured and worked with him. He reminded them of the past endeavors and motivated them to get prepared for another voyage. Ulysses believed that struggle should continue as long as they lived. They had to prove their eagerness, enthusiasm and the ability to fight even with deities Ulysses invited his sailors to set off for another voyage in the hope of discovering new land in the far west. He was conscious of the dangers and hazards involved in such an exploitation but he was prepared to meet all the challenges.

Ulysses admitted that with the passage of time, the major part of their lives and much of their energies have been used up and they had grown weaker. But their determination was as strong as ever and they do not find them selves lacking in strength and vitality. They find themselves still a force to reckon with. They are always bent upon making ceaseless efforts to discover new lands, and under no circumstances, giving up their struggle until ultimate success is achieved.

Moral

“Struggle is the father of all things … it is not by the principles of humanity that man lives or is able to preserve himself above the animal world, but solely by means of the most brutal struggle.”

- Adolf Hitler

2.Ulysses: A Hero Among Men, A Man Among Heroes The name Ulysses instantly conjures up images of heroism and adventure. Even modern readers who are less versed in classical literature recognize the larger-than-life character, if not the specific details of this legend. It is with these associations in mind that one approaches the poetic monologue “Ulysses” by Alfred Lord Tennyson. Tennyson, however, presents the reader with a man rather than a hero. The Ulysses of his imagination is restless rather than self-satisfied and irresponsible and selfish rather than altruistic. This Ulysses harbors unrepentant contempt for his home and mostly for the people who have cheered him on and anxiously awaited his return from battles. Yet in spite of his faults – indeed because of his faults – Ulysses possesses the venerate power of inspiration. Were he entirely flawless, he would be out of the realm of the reader’s experience, and though we would admire him, we would not see ourselves in him as we do in Tennyson’s poem. Ulysses’ human strengths despite his many weaknesses embodies the will and ability of man, and the audience’s awe-inspired response to his monologue demonstrates the desire of man to elevate and admire the individual who achieves greatness through determination and hard work. The initial contrast between myth and man comes within the first few lines. Ulysses does not gracefully acquiesce to the duties of old age, as every person must eventually do; instead, he whines like a spoiled child. Nothing suits his taste: his homeland is too barren, his wife too old. He treats his loyal subjects, whom he ought to rule with the wisdom that should be learned over the years, with such disrespect and shameful disregard that one might think that they had done some grave disservice to Ulysses to earn such a reputation in the eyes of the king. He describes his subjects as “…a savage race, / That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me” (Lines 4-5). Ulysses maintains his superiority complex throughout the first two-thirds of the poem, and he includes absolutely everyone in his criticism, especially his own son, Telemachus. He devotes lines 33 through 43 to mocking Telemachus’ “slow prudence,” blamelessness, and decency. These traits, he sneers, are harmless but hardly worthy of great men like himself. In addition to his incredulous arrogance, Ulysses possesses a level of irresponsibility which few have the luxury to afford. He spent his entire life on the road, consorting with generals, kings, and even gods, visiting “cities of men / And manners, climates, councils, governments” (Lines 13-14). Yet he seems to have gained nothing from the experience by an unquenchable thirst for more recognition, glory, and power. Ironically, he does not have the will-power to carry out his quotidian responsibilities; though he does have enough strength to endure war and hardship. Furthermore, he cannot muster the emotional strength to endure transitioning into a pleasant retirement because he sees it as a sign of weakness and pathetical uselessness. Ulysses instead yearns for adventure purely for the thrill of it, and he thinks the life of those other than himself too dull to bear. The poem “Ulysses” would have been lost in bathos if Tennyson had left his protagonist stuck in the ruts of pride, arrogance, and restlessness all too common to the nature of man. Fortunately, Tennyson gives Ulysses sufficient charisma to keep him the graces of the reader. He speaks with such confidence and eloquence while describing his past exploits that the reader is almost as convinced of his superiority as he, himself. He casts the consistent abandonment of his family and kingdom in the romantic light of wanderlust that only the most cynical would dare challenge. More significant is Ulysses’ own lack of cynicism. He may be old and unhappy in his present situation, but the unshakable, sincere childlike faith he has in his own fantasies prevents his men and even the reader from questioning the validity of his ideas. Another of Ulysses’ redemptive qualities is his courage. Although he was a fabled soldier in the Trojan War, he exhibits more courage at the time these lines are spoken. The fight he wages this time will not win him medals or fame, nor will it leave him with an adrenaline high after a successful charge. It is, in fact, a fight he cannot win. It is a fight, quite literally, to the death. It is a fight with Death, itself. He rarely alludes to his old age, and the obvious frustration he feels at being forced “to pause, to make an end, / To rust unburnish’d, not to shine in use! / As tho’ to breathe were life!” (Lines 22-24) hints at his fear of facing old age and death. Nevertheless, Ulysses rises to the occasion. The inevitable will certainly come, perhaps even soon, but Ulysses refuses to give Death and old age any power over the way he lives his life. The last third of this powerful monologue serves as a call to arms to his mariners as well as to the reader. He directs the last stanza to his mariners, “Souls that have toil’d, and wrought, and thought with me” (Line 46). This descrition just as easity applies to the reader, who at this point can identify with Ulysses’ imperfections, virtues, and fears. Ulysses draws us in with his charismatic address; each succeeding line swells like the sea, building to a crescendo, until it breaks over the the reader in line 56: “…Come, my friends. ‘Tis not too late to seek a newer world. Push off, and sitting well in order smite The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths Of all the western stars, until I die.” This open invitation to join Ulysses in his last heroic voyage seals the bond between the reader and the speaker, Ulysses. These lines encourage the reader, supplying the courage to fight the battles each individual must face. The reader leaves, inspired, strengthened, and unapologetic: “We are not now that strength which in old days Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are- One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.” (Lines 66-70) Bibliography A Hero Among Men, A Man Among Heroes The name Ulysses instantly conjures up images of heroism and adventure. Even modern readers who are less versed in classical literature recognize the larger-than-life character, if not the specific details of this legend. It is with these associations in mind that one approaches the poetic monologue “Ulysses” by Alfred Lord Tennyson. Tennyson, hwoever, presents the reader with a man rather than a hero. The Ulysses of his imagination is restless rather than self-satisfied and irresponsible and selfish rather than altruistic. This Ulysses harbors unrepentant contempt for his home and mostly for the people who have cheered him on and anxiously awaited his return from battles. Yet in spite of his faults – indeed because of his faults – Ulysses posesses the venerant power of inspiration. Were he entirely flawless, he would be out of the realm of the reader’s experience, and though we would admire him, we would not see ourselves in him as we do in Tennyson’s poem. Ulysses’ human strengths despite his many weaknesses embodies the will and ability of man, and the audience’s awe-inspired response to his monologue demonstrates the desire of man to elevate and admire the individual who achieves greatness through determination and hard work. The initial contrast between myth and man comes within the first few lines. Ulysses does not gracefully acquiesce to the duties of old age, as every person must eventually do; instead, he whines like a spoiled child. Nothing suits his taste: his homeland is too barren, his wife too old. He treats his loyal subjects, whom he ought to rule with the wisdom that should be learned over the years, with such disrespect and shameful disregard that one might think that they had done some grave disservice to Ulysses to earn such a reputation in the eyes of the king. He describes his subjects as “…a savage race, / That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me” (Lines 4-5). Ulysses maintains his superiority complex throughout the first two-thirds of the poem, and he includes absolutely everyone in his criticism, especially his own son, Telemachus. He devotes lines 33 through 43 to mocking Telemachus’ “slow prudence,” blamelessness, and decency. These traits, he sneers, are harmless but hardly worthy of great men like himself. In addition to his incredulous arrogance, Ulysses possesses a level of irresponsibility which few have the luxury to afford. He spent his entire life on the road, consorting with generals, kings, and even gods, visiting “cities of men / And manners, climates, councils, governments” (Lines 13-14). Yet he seems to have gained nothing from the experience by an unquenchable thirst for more recognition, glory, and power. Ironically, he does not have the will-power to carry out his quotidian responsibilities; though he does have enough strength to endure war and hardship. Furthermore, he cannot muster the emotional strength to endure transitioning into a pleasant retirement because he sees it as a sign of weakness and pathetical uselessness. Ulysses instead yearns for adventure purely for the thrill of it, and he thinks the life of those other than himself too dull to bear. The poem “Ulysses” would have been lost in bathos if Tennyson had left his protagonist stuck in the ruts of pride, arrogance, and restlessness all too common to the nature of man. Fortunately, Tennyson gives Ulysses sufficient charisma to keep him the graces of the reader. He speaks with such confidence and eloquence while describing his past exploits that the reader is almost as convinced of his superiority as he, himself. He casts the consistent abandonment of his family and kingdom in the romantic light of wanderlust that only the most cynical would dare challenge. More significant is Ulysses’ own lack of cynicism. He may be old and unhappy in his present situation, but the unshakable, sincere childlike faith he has in his own fantasies prevents his men and even the reader from questioning the validity of his ideas. Another of Ulysses’ redemptive qualities is his courage. Although he was a fabled soldier in the Trojan War, he exhibits more courage at the time these lines are spoken. The fight he wages this time will not win him medals or fame, nor will it leave him with an adrenaline high after a successful charge. It is, in fact, a fight he cannot win. It is a fight, quite literally, to the death. It is a fight with Death, itself. He rarely alludes to his old age, and the obvious frustration he feels at being forced “to pause, to make an end, / To rust unburnish’d, not to shine in use! / As tho’ to breathe were life!” (Lines 22-24) hints at his fear of facing old age and death. Nevertheless, Ulysses rises to the occasion. The inevitable will certainly come, perhaps even soon, but Ulysses refuses to give Death and old age any power over the way he lives his life. The last third of this powerful monologue serves as a call to arms to his mariners as well as to the reader. He directs the last stanza to his mariners, “Souls that have toil’d, and wrought, and thought with me” (Line 46). This descrition just as easity applies to the reader, who at this point can identify with Ulysses’ imperfections, virtues, and fears. Ulysses draws us in with his charismatic address; each succeeding line swells like the sea, building to a crescendo, until it breaks over the the reader in line 56: “…Come, my friends. ‘Tis not too late to seek a newer world. Push off, and sitting well in order smite The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths Of all the western stars, until I die.” This open invitation to join Ulysses in his last heroic voyage seals the bond between the reader and the speaker, Ulysses. These lines encourage the reader, supplying the courage to fight the battles each individual must face. The reader leaves, inspired, strengthened, and unapologetic: “We are not now that strength which in old days Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are- One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.” (Lines 66-70) Word Count: 1051



3."Ulysses" is a poem in blank verse by the Victorian poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–1892), written in 1833 and published in 1842 (see 1842 in poetry) in Tennyson's well-received second volume of poems. An oft-quoted poem, it is popularly used to illustrate the dramatic monologue poetic form. In the poem, Ulysses describes, to an unspecified audience, his discontent and restlessness upon returning to his kingdom, Ithaca, after his far-ranging travels. Facing old age, Ulysses yearns to explore again, despite his reunion with his wife Penelope and son Telemachus.

The character of Ulysses (Greek: Odysseus) has been explored widely in literature. The adventures of Odysseus were first recorded in Homer's Iliad and Odyssey (c. 800–700 BC), and Tennyson draws on Homer's narrative in the poem; most critics, however, find that Tennyson's Ulysses recalls the character Ulisse in Dante's Inferno (c. 1320). In Dante's re-telling, Ulisse is condemned to hell among the false counsellors, both for his pursuit of knowledge beyond human bounds and for his adventures in disregard of his family.

For most of this poem's history, readers viewed Ulysses as resolute and heroic, admiring him for his determination "To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield".[1] The view that Tennyson intended a heroic character is supported by his statements about the poem, and by the events in his life — the death of his closest friend — that prompted him to write it. In the twentieth century, some new interpretations of "Ulysses" highlighted potential ironies in the poem. They argued, for example, that Ulysses wishes to selfishly abandon his kingdom and family, and they questioned more positive assessments of Ulysses' character by demonstrating how he resembles flawed protagonists in earlier literature.

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