A reflection on Tennyson's In Memoriam.
Throughout the majority of Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem In Memoriam, he is clearly struggling with the idea death. More specifically, he addresses the death of his friend Arthur Hallam. Tennyson's words show the reader that his suffering is almost unbearable, and it seems that parts indicate that Tennyson is flirting with the idea of entering the "door" and ending his life. However, by the end of the poem has seemed to work through his pain and obtained a more optimistic outlook on death. .
In the last few sections of the poem, Tennyson has glorified his friend's death through the beauty of nature. On one hand, it can be argued that Hallams death was a form of a blessing or epiphany for Tennyson. Before his death, Tennyson was blind in a way. He was not aware of the beauty in nature which has surrounded him for his entire life. He finally notices that beauty in his ongoing questioning God's rational for taking his friend, a man that was so young, moral, and intelligent. Throughout the poem he wrestles with the idea of God and faith. He wants to end his life and be with his friend, but he retracts at the same time because he is not totally sure if he will be in heaven with his friend as a result of sinning by taking his own life. However, by the end of the poem he realizes that there is undoubtedly a God. Tennyson can see God in everything in nature that is on this earth. Moreover, if he can see God in all of his natural creations, he can see Hallam in these creations too. He realizes that his friend is not lost. He now has the realization that his friend is everywhere. Hallam, like all others who die, is serving a greater purpose. .
Through out the poem Tennyson compares himself and his experiences to a baby. Perhaps this metaphor serves to illustrate the point that Tennyson has had a re-birth. Now he understands that God, nature, birth, and death are extremely cosmic and transcendental aspects of the universe.
In the book Idylls of the King by Alfred, Lord Tennyson there are many things throughout the different stories that show mist imagery. The significance of mist imagery is important. It could mean something new is coming, represent good, bad, or death. Mist can also help give a sense of feeling. ...
Tennyson was born the fourth child to George and Elizabeth Fytche Tennyson. ... Tennyson was a narrative poet, and a dramatic poet. ... Tennyson only thought of him self as a poet. ... Tennyson said at that time. ... Tennyson no longer had to worry about money. ...
In the first of many lyric units, Tennyson's faith in God and Jesus seems strong. ... This notion of survival of the fittest is extremely disconcerting to Tennyson. ... Tennyson writes: "O life as futile, then as frail! ... The fact that we love, as Tennyson mentioned before, separates us from animals. ... Instead, Tennyson rediscovers his faith through the emotion, saying "I have felt" (124.16). ...
Alfred Lord Tennyson frequently referred to historical events and the past. ... "Politics- only survived because of Tennyson's quality of verse. ... Tennyson used more classical myths in his poetry. ... Tennyson also referred to Dante's "Inferno."" ... Tennyson's poem differs from Dante and Homer's works. ...
Alfred, Lord Tennyson "If one takes the point of view that the job of a poet is to sing, then Tennyson is unrivaled. ... Hallam became Tennyson's closest friend. ... The period of time after Hallam's death was dreadful for Tennyson. ... In this poem, Tennyson was very impressive in his dark moods of pessimism (Bush XIV). ... Tennyson received the Chancellor's prize for his poem "Timbuctoo" (Woods et al. 594). ...
Alfred, Lord Tennyson's "Ulysses," expresses a powerful message about life and time. ... Because the poem was written shortly after Tennyson's close friend, Arthur Henry Hallam, died some may see a connection between Ulysses and Tennyson. ... This idea is supported by Tennyson's comment, from Hallam Tennyson's Alfred, Lord Tennyson: A Memoir, that "Ulysses" revealed his "feeling about the need of going forward, and braving the struggle of life" after Hallam passed away. ... As said before Ulysses is a representation of Tennyson's emotion ...
In 1828, Tennyson enrolled at Trinity College, Cambridge. ... In June 1850, after an engagement of thirteen years, Tennyson and Emily were married. Near the end of his life Tennyson became one of the most highly regarded poets of his time. ... And there is a peaceful transition from daylight to night, which is the sunset, depicting Tennyson's peaceful transition from life to death. ... Yet in "Crossing the Bar"," Tennyson is not scared to pass over his life to the other side. ...
Tennyson is very lost and bewildered by this unexpected death. At this point in the poem Tennyson's faith in God is presented to the reader. ... For answers Tennyson turns his attention to nature. ... Tennyson uses his faith in God to overcome his grief and sorrow. Tennyson now learns to accept his friend death and finds closure. ...