Ulysses arriving to find a (now aged) wife. It narrates the story of Ulysses as written at the Odyssey, which I reckon is my all time favourite book. To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.Ī remarkable poem and one in which I find both meaning and solace.Īlfred Tennyson is one of my favourite poets. Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are We are not now that strength which in old days As a person who is beginning to feel age and its limits, it is an encouraging thought that one might continue to matter if “strong in will” The final stanza is one of hope and resolve. The sounding furrows for my purpose holds Push off, and sitting well in order smite Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods.Īnd, so he determines to move forward, not to lie down and die before his time, to live until the absolute end, the last breath, and perhaps beyond. Some work of noble note, may yet be done, Old age hath yet his honour and his toil ĭeath closes all: but something ere the end, He feels he still has things to offer and that he can still accomplish something of worth. Perhaps even more for a man such as Ulysses who has achieved so much in his life, the idea of being subjected to the ineptitude of old age is galling. He finds himself decrying his age and lack of purpose. He feels he still has things to offer and that he can still accomplish something of Alfred Lord Tennyson’s iconic poem Ulysses is a monologue spoken by the man himself, in his old age, and looking backward to his days of triumph in Troy. I cannot rest from travel: I will drink Life to the lees: Perhaps even more for a man such as Ulysses who has achieved so much in his life, the idea of being subjected to the ineptitude of old age is galling.
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Alfred Lord Tennyson’s iconic poem Ulysses is a monologue spoken by the man himself, in his old age, and looking backward to his days of triumph in Troy.