The Lotos-Eaters by Tennyson - 1443 Words

I. Introduction For many years, Tennyson has attracted readers by what Edmond Gosse called the beauty of the atmosphere which Tennyson contrives to cast around his work, molding it in the blue mystery of twilight, in the opaline haze of sunset. He is one of the greatest representative figures of the Victorian Age. His writing incorporates many poetic styles and includes some of the finest idyllic poetry in the language. He is one of the few poets to have produced acknowledged masterpieces in so many different poetic genres; he implemented perhaps the most distinguished and versatile of all the written works in the English language. The first time I read The Lotus-Eaters1, I have to admit that I had a hearty dislike for†¦show more content†¦They conclude, We will not wander more. C. Symbolism I wonder about the symbolism of Odysseus enc ounter with the Lotos-Eaters. After so many years of battle, after so much grief and trauma that Odysseus and his men spent, they need to escape into a dreamlike world in which they may begin their healing. Psychologically, the deeper the pain one has experienced, the more often one is drawn to experiences of ecstasy in order to counter it. On a a deeper level, the Lotophagi experience appears to be an antecedent of the adventures that follow - with the Cyclops, Circe, Calypso, and the Sirens4. There are a lot of images in the poem. There is also a brief hint of foreshadowing; In which[the island of the Lotos-Eaters] it always seemà ¨d afternoon, meaning that when you are in a state of happiness, everything seems the same. That only when you are drugged is that you get in this state of being. His voice was thin...his beating heart did make. This describes a primitive rendition of drug addicts. D. Theme One of the recurring themes in many poems is the conflict between personal fulfillment and public responsibility. That is, often the character in the poem is pulled one way by something he or she wants to do, and another way by a sense of duty or obligation that must be performed. This is the themeShow MoreRelated The Lotos-Eaters By Tennyson Essay1430 Words   |  6 Pages I. Introduction For many years, Tennyson has attracted readers by what Edmond Gosse called quot;the beauty of the atmosphere which Tennyson contrives to cast around his work, molding it in the blue mystery of twilight, in the opaline haze of sunset.quot; He is one of the greatest representative figures of the Victorian Age. His writing incorporates many poetic styles and includes some of the finest idyllic poetry in the language. He is one of the few poets to have produced acknowledged masterpiecesRead More Tennysons Ulysses and The Lotos Eaters Essay1928 Words   |  8 PagesTennysons Ulysses and The Lotos Eaters The great hero Odysseus has captivated readers throughout the ages. It is no surprise that the Victorian poet Tennyson not only read the Odyssey but wrote poetry about Odysseus as well. In the poems The Lotos Eaters and Ulysses, Tennyson remains true to the legends, but he infuses the characters with the ethos of his own day and his own experiences. The Lotos Eaters recalls the Homeric legend that has Odysseus and his men passing throughRead MoreEssay on The Representative Poem1294 Words   |  6 Pagesthis era Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote the well-known poem â€Å"Ulyssses† and it represented how he felt at the time. This poem reveals the determined spirit of everyone that lived in his culture. In the poem Tennyson says that Ulysses has been fighting and journeying for at least twenty years of his life on Earth. Along the way he has observed and learned a lot of things, but he is still not happy with his life. His desire for information is ravenous. In the poem Ulysses Tennyson says, â€Å"How dull it isRead MoreTennyson as a Victorian Poet2765 Words   |  12 PagesTennyson as a Victorian Poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) achieved, what so many poets and writers throughout the centuries were unable to achieve, fame and success during his lifetime. Indeed, in 1850, after the publication of â€Å"In Memoriam†, he was installed to the position of poet laureate. Tennyson not only distinguished himself by his work to date, but also honored with the responsibility of representing the state during its most solemn and celebratory occasions. As Poet Laureate, he representedRead MoreChanging Characteristics of Poetry from Modern to Romantics3272 Words   |  14 Pagesby science and Evolution. The most important poets during Victorian period were Tennyson, Browning and Arnold. The three important movements of the age were these: industrial revolution, the rise of democracy and the rise of evolutionary science and its impact on religion. It was an age in which the democratic spirit was rising and the people were clamoring for equal rights and political freedom. Tennyson represents the Victorian hypocrisy and the spirit of compromise in his treatmentRead MoreRhetorical Devices3007 Words   |  13 Pagessyllables of words that are in close | | |proximity while the consonants differ | | |Breathing like one that hath a weary dream (Tennyson, The Lotos-Eaters) | | |Gun, drum, trumpet, blunderbuss and thunder (Pope, Imitations of Horace) | |consonance |two or more consonants are repeated, but the