The Use of Myth and Legend in Tennyson’s Poems.

Answer

Elucidate the use of myth and legend in Tennyson’s poems.

Myths are stories that are based on tradition. Some may have factual origins, while others are completely fictional. The word “legend” has two main meanings. Legends are stories that are set in the past. Legends are designed to teach a lesson about a real person in history. with a few facts dramatically changed. Again, a Legend is an exceptionally famous or notorious person.

Myth and Legend in Tennyson’s Poems: Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) often used myth and legend in his poems to explore deep human emotions and experiences. His works “Ulysses,” “Locksley Hall,” “Oenone,” “The Lotos-Eaters,” and “Tithonus” are prime examples. Here are key points that show how Tennyson used myth and legend in these poems:

Myth of Ulysses: In “Ulysses,” Tennyson reimagines the legendary Greek hero Ulysses (or Odysseus). Ulysses has returned home to Ithaca after twenty years of struggling – in the Trojan War and on the sea. He tells the unidentified audience that he is unwilling to lead a lazy life. He thinks that such household life in Ithaca is not for him. He is naturally adventurous. There is no point in staying home. He declares:

I cannot rest from travel: I will drink

Life to the lees:

Myth of Oenone: “Oenone” is a poem in which Tennyson explores the tragic love story of Oenone and Paris from Greek mythology. Oenone is a nymph. She loves Paris deeply. She is abandoned by him when he chooses Helen over her. The poem portrays Oenone’s grief and despair. Oenone laments,

Dear mother Ida, harken ere I die,

Tennyson uses this myth to explore themes of betrayal, loss, and the consequences of choosing passion over loyalty.

The myth of Tithonus: In “Tithonus,” Tennyson tells the story of Tithonus. He is a mortal lover of Aurora (the goddess of dawn). Tithonus is granted immortality by Zeus but not eternal youth. Tithonus ages endlessly. He wishes for death to relieve him of his endless suffering. Tennyson says,

The woods decay, the woods decay and fall, 

The vapours weep their burthen to the ground.

Through this myth, Tennyson explores the inevitability of ageing. He mentions the loneliness of immortality without eternal youth.

The Myth of Lotos Island: “The Lotos Eaters” is based on the episode from Homer’s Odyssey. Here, Odysseus encounters the land of the Lotus-eaters. They live in a state of dreamy forgetfulness caused by the lotus plant. Tennyson says,

In the afternoon they came unto a land 

In which it seemed always afternoon.

Tennyson uses this myth to explore themes of escapism and disconnected from reality. 

The Myth of Helen and Paris: The myth of Helen and Paris is central to the Trojan War. They appear in Tennyson’s works directly. They influence themes of beauty, desire, and the consequences of passion and betrayal. In the poem Oenone, Paris abandons her for Helen. It brings pain and suffering to Oenone. So, Tennyson often refers to Helen as a symbol of beauty and its destructive power in his poetry.

Materialism as a Giant: In “Locksley Hall”, there is a reference to Orion and Pleiades. In Greek mythology, Orion is a giant who relentlessly pursued the seven Pleiades, daughters of Atlas. Zeus, the king of the gods, changed the Pleiades into stars to put them out of Orion’s reach. Orion may be interpreted as the speaker while the Pleiades as Amy, his beloved. Like the Pleiades, Amy is out of reach to the speaker because of the harsh materialistic society that values money instead of the speaker’s love.

In conclusion, Tennyson’s use of myth and legend in his poetry allows him to explore deep human emotions and experiences. By reinterpreting these ancient stories, he not only connects with the past but also provides insights that remain relevant to modern readers.