'The victorian Literature'

Assignment

Name: Kunvarani Nidhi K

Paper: ‘The victorian   Literature’

Unit:  ‘Tennyson and Browning: A study of poets.’

Topic: Tennyson: A study of the poet

S. t. d:  M.A-(sem-2)

Roll.no:  11

Year:  2013

Allotted to:

Respected sir,Dr.Dilip Barad

                        Heenaba Zala

                          &

                ‘Department Of English’

Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavsinhji University

Bhavnagar.                 

·     Tennyson: a study of the poet.

The period of 1820 to 1900 known as the age of ‘victoria’. During this period Queen Victoria developed the much literary forms. So , this age in English literature known  as the ‘victorian Age’

During that period  many great writers gave their best contribution to English age as a gift. , Browning, Dickens, Thackray, Meredith, Carlyle, Macaulay and Ruskin there are some great stars of the age.

Tennyson the great poet of the age. So, now let’s we discussing about Tennyson in detailed. Lord Alfred Tennyson was born in 1809.The son of a clergyman he was born at his father’s living at somersby in Lincolnshire. After some schooling at Louth, Which was not agreeable to him. He was taken  education from the Cambridge.  University, at the university he was a wholly conventional person.

The only mark he made was to win the chancellor’s medal for a poem on Timbuctoo. Then, He left Cambridge without taking a degree.

The history of family is interesting in itself ,but some knowledge of it is also essential for understanding of the themes of his poetry. Madness, Murder, Miserliness, social climbing there are some main themes of the work of Tennyson.

It was surprisable thing that he began writing poetry long before he was sent to school; as did most of his talented brothers and sisters. At the early age of 18 his first volume published ‘poems by two brothers (1827)’.

Most of Tennyson’s early education under his father’s direction. Even then he spent 4 unhappy years at the grammar school. His departure in 1827 to join his elder brothers at Trinity College Cambridge. He was extraordinary handsome intelligent, humorous and gifted as charming personality, he was at the center of an admiring group of young men knows that then he was interested in poetry and conversation.

He left Cambridge before he was published a volume of mediocre verse. During the next 20 years he was passed a tranquil existence.

During that time he met Arthur Henry Hallam.  This was the beginning of 4 years of warm friendship between Tennyson and Hallam.

In 1844 he lost his unlucky speculation, but in nick of the time he received Government pension .He was appointed poet Laureate (1850) in owner to Wordsworth married, and removed to freshwater. Then for the Tennyson ‘Isle of Wight’ became for the next 20 years.

Now let see the poetic career of the Tennyson. At the early age of 18 he collaborated with his elder brother Charles in ‘poems by Two Brothers got the prize.

1). ‘Timbuctoo’ (1829)

2). ‘poems, chiefly Lyricall’ (1830)

‘Isabel and Madeline’  the  pictorial work by Tennyson. His volume of ‘poems (1833)’, which is often referred to as ‘poems (1832)’.In this  collection there are some great poems-

1).’The Lady of shallot’

2). ‘Enone’                                         

3).’The Lotus-Eaters’

4).’The palace of Art’

This collection  through Tennyson got the renowned as a perfect poet. Then in 1842 he produced two another volume of poetry  that set him once and for all among the greater poets of his day. It’s open with ‘Morte’d Arthur’

 And contains ‘Ulysses,  Locksley hall.’ And several other poems through he became star of the age. Later he wrote very long poem. Like-

1).‘The princess’ (1847)

2). ‘In Memoriam’ (1850)

3). ‘Maud and other poems’ (1855)

4). ‘Idylls of the king’ (1859-89)

5).Enoch Arden (1864)

Some major features of his poetic work.1830 to 1842 works lyric and legendry narrative type. And 1842 volume based on ethical interest. His content of the works mirror of feelings and aspirations of his time. And, as a Laureate he produced the occasional poems like the news-paper of the time.

Skill and craftsmanship is also well done of the Tennyson. His method of producing poetry was slowly to evolve the lines in his mind. His poems are based on sound and sense both. And, Alliteration, vowel-music also we can found in the poems of Tennyson. His excellent craftsmanship is also apparent in his handling of English meters, in which he is a tieless experimenter.

As a pictorial poet, he follows the example of Keats. His all poem most probably based on imagery of nature and other natural elements. His description of each line built our-selves to see the magic of his art and surprisable deep and beautiful scene of the picture of the poem.

 Through his all poem he proved himself  as a best poet of the age. His lyrical quality is also best-one. Famous example are-

1). ‘The splendor Falls’

2). ‘Break, break, break’

3). ‘crossing the Bar’ etc…

Through his lyrics he touches the heart of the reader. Let see one example of his great work

“Break, break, break,

          On thy cold gray stones, o sea!

And I would that my tongue could utter

           The  thoughts that arise in me.”

  -‘Break, break,break’ by Tennyson                                                                                                     

Even he used Lyrical monologue, repetition, imagery, Alliteration there are some great elements of the work of Tennyson. He himself known as-

“The clamour of the cry.”

In 1884 he was created a baron, sat in the House of Lords, for a time took himself rather seriously as a politician. Then he died at Aldworth near Haslemere in surrey and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

Really, through the study of poet we can say that he was ‘star poet’ of the age. He  was known as demigod of the age. His greatness and richness of his poems in very early age showed the intellectuality and scholarality in him. His high place in the temple of fame in assured. Tennyson was not only the great poet of the “victorian Age”. But, today also he known as in the category of the best homogenized poet.