Ulysses
Tennyson's 'Ulysses' is a dramatic monologue that captures the restless spirit of the legendary Greek hero Ulysses (Odysseus) as he reflects on his past adventures and contemplates future ones. Dissatisfied with his life as a king, Ulysses yearns for the excitement and challenges of exploration. He sees his life as a continuous journey, where each experience is a gateway to new worlds. The poem contrasts Ulysses' desire for adventure with the domestic responsibilities he leaves to his son, Telemachus. Ulysses' determination to 'strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield' embodies the human spirit's relentless pursuit of knowledge and meaning, even in the face of aging and mortality. The poem's rich imagery and rhythmic blank verse convey a sense of urgency and passion, reflecting Tennyson's own response to personal loss and the universal quest for purpose.
| Word | Easy Meaning | Translation | Pron. |
|---|---|---|---|
| profits | benefits | gains or advantages | prah-fits |
| idle | lazy | inactive or not working | ai-dl |
| hearth | fireplace | the area in front of a fireplace | hahrth |
| mete | measure | to distribute or allot | meet |
| dole | give out | to distribute or share | dohl |
| lees | remains | the sediment at the bottom of a liquid | leez |
| Hyades | rainy stars | a group of stars associated with rain | hai-uh-deez |
| vext | troubled | disturbed or annoyed | vekst |
| unburnish'd | unpolished | not shiny or used | un-bur-nisht |
| sceptre | staff of power | a symbol of authority | sep-ter |
| frolic | playful | full of fun and high spirits | frah-lik |
| wanes | fades | decreases in strength or intensity | waynz |
| smite | hit | to strike with a firm blow | smait |
| furrows | waves | long narrow trenches or grooves | fur-ohz |
| gulfs | deep seas | large areas of sea partially enclosed by land | guhlfz |
| abides | remains | continues to exist | uh-baids |
| yield | give up | to surrender or submit | yeeld |
Alfred Tennyson was an English poet who served as Poet Laureate during much of Queen Victoria's reign. Known for his classical themes and vivid imagery, Tennyson's work remains influential. He is celebrated for poems like 'Ulysses' and 'The Charge of the Light Brigade.'
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