ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -Alfred, Lord Tennyson, in full Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson of Aldworth and Freshwater, (born August 6, 1809, Somersby, Lincolnshire, England-died October 6, 1892, Aldworth, Surrey), English poet often regarded as the chief representative of the Victorian age in poetry. He was raised to the peerage in 1884.

Detailed explanation-2: -Tennyson as poet represented the true spirit of his age. He is not only the follower but also an interpreter of the age. His truly representative character made him universally popular in his own age. Alfred, Lord Tennyson was the most highly regarded poet of his period and the most widely read of all English poets.

Detailed explanation-3: -Tennyson uses this spirit of Ulysses to represent the Victorian philosophy of life. Victorian people, like Ulysses, believed in action, not in mere living. They, in fact, thrived in action-in geographical and philosophical explorations. In this poem Tennyson successfully captures that spirit of his period.

Detailed explanation-4: -Tennyson was the grand old man of Victorian poetry, holding the Laureateship for 42 years and famous for In Memoriam A.H.H., The Idylls of The King and Maud, and Other Poems – the last of which includes ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’.

Detailed explanation-5: -We can consider “Ulysses” as a Victorian poem because the poem reflects the Victorian spirit and echoes the political exposition. The poem gives insight into Victorian writing of multiple essence of life, Victorian compromise, impact of Reform Bills of 1832, spirit of inquiry and colonial spirit.