Ulysses feels dissatisfied with his quiet life at home in Ithaca after his long adventures during the Trojan War. He has seen many places and faced many challenges, but still feels there is more to explore and learn. Ulysses wants to devote the rest of his life to seeking new knowledge and experiences, rather than a life of inaction as king. He asks his crew to join him in sailing beyond the known seas on another voyage of discovery before the end of their lives.

1. ULYSSES
BY ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON
Presented by
SUMAN PANIGRAHI
ULYSSES
ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON
SUMAN PANIGRAHI

2. • "Ulysses" is a poem in blank verse
Lord Tennyson (1809–1892), written
1842 in his well-received second
one of those poems on which
now. Though Homeric in origin
Ulysses, is presented by Tennyson
modern Man’s eternal search for
enterprise.
INTRODUCTION
verse by the Victorian poet Alfred,
written in 1833 and published in
second volume of poetry. Ulysses is
which Tennyson’s fame mainly rests
origin the poem. A monologue of
Tennyson as the expression of a
for new learning, adventure and

3. • Ulysses was published in 1842
poetry, which set him once and
poets of the day.
• The poem as noted already,
Tennyson’s grief for Hallam. Its
origin in Homer’s epics. But the
is founded not on Homer but on
• The elopement of Helen, the
the prince of Troy, led to a war
Trojans.
ON THE POEM
SOURCES
1842 in one of the two volumes of
and for all among the greatest
already, was mainly occasioned by
Its materials, however, have their
the central thought of the poem
on Dante’s Inferno XXVI.
the queen of Athens, with Paris,
war between the Greeks and the

4. SOURCES CONTINUED…….
• Ulysses is the hero of Homer’s immortal
of Ithaca, a rock island in Greece
sagacious of the Greek heroes who
fell after then long years. And after
homeward journey along with the
had to wander ten more years in order
his mariners died or were killed.
became the king of Ithaca again.
• Tennyson’s source is Homer but his
ON THE POEM
SOURCES CONTINUED…….
immortal epic Odyssey. He was the king
Greece. He was the most eloquent and
who took part in the Trojan war. Troy
after the fall of troy, Ulysses made his
the crew. His ships were led astray. He
order to reach his home country. All
. And Ulysses returned alone and
Ulysses is his own creation.

5. DATE AND OCCASION
•The poem was written most
death of the poet’s friend
published in 1842 in Tennyson’s
of Poems.
•The poem was largely
grief for his friend, Hallam
breakdown in despair
have accepted here the
earnest.
DATE AND OCCASION
most probably after the
friend Hallam. It was first
Tennyson’s second volume
largely inspired by the poet’s
Hallam. But Tennyson did not
despair. He rather seems to
the struggle of life in right

6. • The poem is a monologue
the undaunted ideal of
course, through, the Homeric
given out here the moral
towering character of
through the poem. As
Tennyson’s treatment of Ulysses
life, it has rightly deserved
TITLE
monologue of Ulysses. It celebrates
this great Greek Hero. Of
Homeric hero, Tennyson has
of a modern man. Yet the
Ulysses is presented all
As the poem deals with
Ulysses and his philosophy of
the title Ulysses.

7. SUBSTANCE
• Ulysses after his return to Ithaca’ feels
his work-a-day life. He finds his life
colourless. The inward urge for exploring
He must travel abroad and make the
• He recalls his great achievements
the wide seas.
• He has wandered much suffered
comrades. He has seen many countries,
and became a famous man. But
very little of this wide world and
knowledge.
SUBSTANCE
feels disguisted with the montony of
life at home unbearably dull and
exploring new lands makes him restless.
the best use of his short life.
achievements on the battlefields of Troy and on
and enjoyed much with his brave
countries, gathered vast experiences
still, as it seems to him, he has seen
and touched only the borders of

8. SUBSTANCE CONTINUED……
• So Ulysses wants to devote every
pursuit of the things unknown. Life
Inaction is equal to death. Mere
that he must spend the rest of his
• He admits that he will shift the duties
to his son, Telemachus, who is better
life.
• He appeals to his comrades to
unknown seas beyond in quest
experiences. They have lost much
and suffering. But have not lost
must sail on and on till they die.
•
SUBSTANCE CONTINUED……
every hour of his remaining life to the
Life means to him ceaseless activities.
breathing is no life. So Ulysses feels
life in ceaseless activities.
duties and responsibilities of kingship
better fitted by nature for this short of
to make another voyage to the
quest of fresh adventures and
much of their vigour because of age
lost their undaunted spirit. And they

9. • Ulysses dislikes to the slothful life of a king (lines 1
• Ulysses pastlife of daring adventures and varied
experiences. (lines 6-17)
• Ulysses’ great idea to utilize every moment of life fruitfully by
gaining new knowledge and new experiences (lines 18
• Difference between Ulysses’s ideal and his son
Telemacheus’s (lines 33-43)
• Ulysses’s request to his crew to set out again for a new
voyage of discovery.
ANALYSIS
Ulysses dislikes to the slothful life of a king (lines 1-5)
of daring adventures and varied
Ulysses’ great idea to utilize every moment of life fruitfully by
gaining new knowledge and new experiences (lines 18-32)
ideal and his son
request to his crew to set out again for a new

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