PRAKRUTI B BHATT

TENNYSON

BORN : 6 AUGUST 1809

Died : 6 OCTOBER 1892

TENNYSON AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE VICTORIAN PERIOD “ As a poet who expresses not so much a personal as a national

spirit, Tennyson is probably the most representative literary man of The Victorian era.” - W. J. Long

Tennyson on his country is that she is “a land of settled government where freedom is ever broadening down from precedent to precedent”

ROMANTIC ELEMENTS IN TENNYSON’S POETRY

EXAMPLESRomantic atmosphere of nature: “The lady of shallot”

“The dream of fair woman”

Love of human life : “Gardener’s daughter”“Miller’s daughter”

Romantic poetry was characterized by a note of melancholy. In some of the poems of Tennyson the melancholy can easily be detected. : “Children’s hospital” “In memoriam”

TENNYSON’S LYRICAL EXCELLENCE

“The product of pure poetic energy unassociated with other energies” -John Drinkwater

A lyrical is essentially a spontaneous expression of the powerful feelings surging in poet’s heart

His example of lyricism : “Break-Break-Break” “Mariana”

“Ideal Tears” “Merman And Mermaid”

Even the music of Tennyson’s loveliest songs is somewhat languorous.

“Music that gentlier on the spirit lies Than tir’d eyelids upon tir’d eyes”

Tennyson as an artist

As a metrical artist:-

Tennyson’s mastery of rhythm and metre is commendable

“I sing to him that rest below And , since the grasses round me wave I take the grasses of the grave And make them pipes whereon to blow”

Tennyson as a love poet

The following line from this poem represent Tennyson’s handling of passionate love:-

“O love, O fire ! Once he drew With one long kiss my whole soul thro’ My lips, as sunlight drinketh dew”

Tennyson’s character drawing in poetry

“Tennyson’s character are not living individuals , but incarnate qualities” -Rickett

Example: “Miller’s Daughter” “Gardner’s Daughter”

THANK YOU

SOURCE: STUDIES IN POET: “TENNYSON”

-J.N.MUNDRA