Describe Tennyson as a representative poet of his age.
Locksley Hall is a notable literary work by Alfred Lord Tennyson. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Locksley Hall.
Answer
Describe Tennyson as a representative poet of his age.
Or, Write how Tennyson highlights the Victorian spirit in his poems.
The term ‘representative poet’ means a poet who epitomizes contemporary society, art, philosophy, and religion. Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) is regarded as a representative poet of the Victorian age (1837-1901). The Victorian era was a time of rapid change. Factories and railways were built. Scientific discoveries (like Darwin’s Theory of Evolution) were changing how people lived and thought. We can see all these changes in Tennyson’s poems. Let us find out the Victorian qualities in Tennyson’s poems below.
Conflict Between Science and Faith: Victorian people were torn between new scientific ideas and traditional religious beliefs. Tennyson’s poems show this conflict. For example, in “Locksley Hall,” the speaker imagines a world where science will help people build new technologies, like flying machines or “magic sails.” Trade will take place all over the world. But he also feels confused. He fears these changes will make the world more materialistic and cause war. This confusion mirrors the Victorian struggle: people were proud of progress but worried it would destroy old values.
In “Tithonus,” Tennyson uses a Greek myth to talk about the fear of living forever. Tithonus is gifted immortality, but not eternal youth. So, he grows older and older but cannot die. He begs goddess Aurora to take back her gift of immortality. He says,
“Let me go: take back thy gift:”
This poem shows the Victorian fear that science (like new medicine or technology) might create problems instead of solving them.
Thirst for Adventure and Knowledge: Adventure was the soul of the Victorian people. Tennyson’s poems show this thirst for adventure and knowledge. In “The Lotos-eaters,” Odysseus and his sailors arrive at the Lotos land after their long journey. After eating the lotos fruit, the sailors become stuck on that island. They do not want to return to their home andUnlock this study guide now