Ulysses by Alfred Lord Tennyson

About the poet
Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) was a leading Victorian poet and England's Poet Laureate: 
Life
Tennyson was born in Somersby, Lincolnshire, England. He was the fourth of 12 children and showed a talent for writing from an early age. He attended Trinity College, Cambridge, where he developed a close friendship with Arthur Hallam. 
Works
Tennyson's poetry is known for its rich imagery, verbal melodies, and metrical variety. His works often dealt with the difficulties of an age when science and modern progress called into question traditional religious beliefs. Some of his best-known works include In Memoriam (1850), Maud (1855), Poems (1842), The Princess (1847), Idylls of the King (1859), and Enoch Arden (1864). 
Recognition
Tennyson's poetry helped Queen Victoria cope with her grief and he was summoned to see her on several occasions. He was a popular and widely acknowledged figure for the rest of his life. 
Legacy
Tennyson is considered one of the greatest poets in modern history and some of his works are considered to be among the best of their time. 
"Ulysses" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson is a renowned poem that explores themes of identity, purpose, and the human condition. Here's a comprehensive analysis:
*Summary*
The poem follows Ulysses, the ancient Greek hero, as he reflects on his life, accomplishments, and future. He expresses his desire to continue exploring and experiencing life, despite his advanced age. Tennyson’s dramatic monologue “Ulysses” tells the story of what happens to the aging hero after he returns home. Ulysses (the Latin name for Greek mythology's Odysseus) is well known as a hero who fought many battles as a young man, spent ten years battling in the siege of Troy, and took a journey of ten additional years to return home to Ithaca. Now, he has been home for some time, and he is troubled.
Ulysses, the poem’s speaker, begins by giving a picture of what his life has been like during the past years. He is an aging king, married to an aging queen, who lives unknown to his subjects. He describes them as “a savage race” who take advantage of all that he does for them without knowing who he truly is. He merely creates laws and rules idly. He is a man who is used to constant movement, so he cannot be expected to be happy living a quiet life.
Ulysses then nostalgically outlines some of his adventures in his younger days. He speaks of battles he fought with his comrades, people he met, and places he saw. All are a permanent part of the man he is today. He greatly misses those days when he traveled to many lands and was “honour’d of them all.” Young Ulysses was not merely a name—he was important to those he knew, unlike today, and they were all important to him, too. He says, “I am a part of all that I have met” and that each adventure, each being, each place remains in his “hungry heart.” He believes that he truly lived life in those days.
Ulysses expresses some regret that his present life is doomed to “rust unburnish’d, not to shine in use.” He longs to do something other than merely breathe in life; he knows that life is meant to be lived, and he does not want merely to exist. He is also keenly aware that as he grows older, he has little time left to live before “that eternal silence” of death takes over. He knows that with each hour that goes by, he has the opportunity to do something great before the final silence. Therefore, Ulysses is determined to follow his desires and stop sitting around waiting for death to overcome him.
He mentions his son, Telemachus, to whom he leaves his kingdom. Telemachus is a different person than his father and will rule in his own way. However, Ulysses is confident that he will do well “to make mild / A rugged people” and help them. Knowing that Telemachus is fit for the task gives Ulysses hope and confidence to continue on to the next part of his own life.
Ulysses next asks his friends, his former fellow mariners, to accompany him on an adventure. He points out the port, the ship, and the sea in an attempt to bring his nostalgia to their hearts as well. He knows he will have a difficult time convincing them to leave, since the journey will involve danger, and it is possible they won’t ever return home. However, he reminds them that if they don’t go now, they will merely sit and wait for death in boredom and inactivity. They may still do something before death: “Death closes all: but something ere the end, / Some work of noble note, may yet be done.” He urges his friends to join him in finding new lands, as they did in their youth. He acknowledges that they are old and do not have the strength and stamina that they used to have but assures them that, if they accept this fact, they can still seek adventure. What will keep them going are their noble hearts and wills, their heroic natures, and the knowledge that death is around the corner. Therefore, they must seize the moment before it’s too late; they must try “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”

*Structure and Style*
Dramatic monologue: A dramatic monologue is a speech given by a single character in a story, play, or poem where they share their thoughts, feelings, or motivations without interruption. The character can speak to other characters or directly to the audience. 
- Blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter)
- Free-flowing, conversational tone
- Rich imagery and symbolism
- Allusions to Homer's Odyssey and classical mythology
*Themes*
1. *The Human Condition*: Ulysses' struggles and desires reflect universal human experiences.
2. *Identity*: Ulysses grapples with his past, present, and future self.
3. *Purpose*: He seeks meaning and direction in life.
4. *Mortality*: Ulysses confronts his own mortality and the transience of life.
5. *Exploration and Discovery*: His desire for new experiences and knowledge.
*Character Analysis*
- *Ulysses*: The protagonist, a complex and introspective character.
    - Representing the human desire for adventure and self-discovery.
    - Struggling with the consequences of his past actions.
    - Seeking redemption and a sense of purpose.
*Symbolism*
- *The Sea*: Represents the unknown, change, and transformation.
- *Ithaca*: Symbolizes home, stability, and the comfort of familiarity.
- *The Sirens*: Embodiment of temptation and the allure of the unknown.
- *The Oars*: Represent Ulysses' control over his destiny.
*Poetic Devices*
- *Metaphor*: Comparing life to a journey.
- *Alliteration*: Emphasizing the musical quality of the poem.
- *Personification*: Attributing human qualities to abstract concepts (e.g., "the sea's insatiable hunger").
- *Enjambment*: Creating a sense of flow and continuity.
*Critical Interpretations*
- *Victorian Values*: Ulysses' character reflects Tennyson's exploration of Victorian ideals.
- *Romanticism*: The poem's emphasis on emotion, imagination, and individualism.
- *Existentialism*: Ulysses' struggle with meaning and purpose in life.