ulysses

            
            
             This poem Ulysses by Tennyson is a great poem to read. The entire poem is spoken by a single character, whose identity is revealed by his own words. The lines are in blank verse, or unrhymed iambic pentameter. This gives a fluid and natural quality to Ulysses" speech. Many of the lines are enjambed, which means that a thought does not end with the line-break; the sentences often end in the middle, rather than the end, of the lines. Finally, the poem is divided into four paragraph-like sections, each of which comprises a distinct unit of the poem.
             In the first stanza, Ulysses declares that there is little point in his staying home "by this still hearth" with his old wife, doling out rewards and punishments for the people who live in his kingdom. He finds staying home especially unsatisfying since these people do not even know who he is now. In the first stanza, it seems as though Ulysses is unsatisfied or bored with his wife because she is old and with his home because it is too different from what he desires. When he says that the hearth is still I think he means that his family is too accepting of the condition they are in.
             Still speaking to himself in the second stanza he proclaims that he "cannot rest from travel" but feels compelled to live life to the fullest and swallow every last drop of life. "He has enjoyed all his experiences as a sailor who travels the seas, and he considers himself a symbol for everyone who wanders and roams the earth. Ulysses has a love for his travel and the experiences he gains by his every endeavor. His travels have exposed him to many different types of people and ways of living. His acquaintances have exposed him to the "delight of battle" while fighting the Trojan War with his men. Ulysses believes he has gained much happiness and knowledge even in the Trojan War. In this poem, Ulysses declares that his travels and encounters have shaped who he is when he says "I am a part of all that I have met.