OU Degree 1st Sem English – Ulysses Poem Questions and Answers & Summary
Comprehension – 1
Answer the following questions In 80-100 words.
Question 1.
Who is the speaker of the poem, and what does he want to do
Answer:
The Greek mythical hero by name Ulysses is the speaker of Alfred Tennyson’s poem ‘Ulysses’. He is the king of Ithaca and has taken part in the Trojan War. After the war, he returned to his kingdom, Ithaca. Being a brave warrior, he has proved his bravery and strength in the war very well. Then, after spending some years only sitting on his Royal seat, he became bored. Though he is an ageing king and worrier, he has an insatiable thirst for adventure and knowledge.
Ulysses is not happy with the life of comfort and certainty and sets off to the final voyage in the intellectual pursuits and the thrills of discovery. Then some grief comes from his mind which forms this dramatic monologue. Ulysses is the poetic persona as well as the speaker of the poem which is in the form of a dramatic monologue, an extended speech by one character in drama or a poem or any other literary text.
Question 2.
How does Ulysses describe Ithaca and its people? What is his attitude towards his subjects?
Answer:
In the very first stanza (32 lines) of the poem, Ulysses makes it clear that he is not happy as being ‘an idle king’ and he thinks being idle he has become a perfect match to ‘his aged wife’ Penelope. He is fed with just administering ‘unequal laws unto a savage race’.
Ulysses refers to his own subjects or people of Ithaca as ‘savage race’ or uncivilised because they prefer a life comfort and certainty over intellectual pursuits and the thrills of discovery. They are content to lead an animal, existence ‘sleep and feed’ and therefore they cannot understand Ulysses’ unquenchable thirst for adventure and knowledge.
Question 3.
Who is Telemachus, and what kind of a person does he seem to be?
Answer:
In the second stanza (11 lines from 3343) of the poem, Ulysses talks about his duty as a father. It becomes clear that he never forgets about the things left behind, although he has a spiritual urge to undertake an adventure. He has given his duties in the rightful hands of his son Telemachus (‘To whom I leave the sceptre and the isle’).
He is confident that his son Telemachus is “most blameless” and does his “common duties” decently. He is entirely devoted to the area of administration, shows acts of tenderness/kindness towards his people, shows adoration to their household gods. Ulysses strongly believes that “When am gone. He works his work, mine’.
Before leaving for the endless and the last voyage of his life, Ulysses Leaves everything in the right order. He never wants to be an example of an irresponsible king In his nation. So, there is no way of judging him as a romantic hero. Based on Ulysses’ description, Telemachus is an abled-son who can prudently take up the father’s responsibility.
Question 4.
‘How dull it Is to pause…not to shine in use!’ How does this statement reflect Ulysses’ attitude to life?
Answer:
Ulysses reminds us of his life experience in the Trojan War and says that he has ‘drunk delight of battle’ with his fellow fighters on the battle fields of Troy, an ancient city in south-western Asia that was the site of the Trojan War. It seems to him that the more he knows the more his hunger for knowledge grows. He can see the “gleams” of the “untravell’d world” before him. It makes him remind of the endless sea of knowledge he is fond of. He prodaims:
How dull it is to pause, to make an end,
To rust unburnish’d, not to shine in use!
It is dull to stop and end this voyage of life when the sea of knowledge constantly calls him to start again. For him life is rust, if not polished or used and not to shine in use.
Question 5.
Explain the meaning and significance of the following lines:
a. Yet all experience Is an arch where through / Gleams that unfravelled world, whose margins fades / For ever and for ever when I move.
Answer:
Ulysses reminds us of his life experience in the Trojan War and says that he has ‘drunk delight of battle’ with his fellow fighters on the battle fields of Troy, an ancient city in south-western Asia that was the site of the Trojan War. It seems to him that the more he knows the more his hunger for knowledge grows. Through the arch of his experience, he can see the “gleams” of the “untravell’d world” before him. He is eager to erase the margins or limits of unknown world. It makes him remind of the endless sea of knowledge he is fond of.
b. Made week by time and fate, but strong in will / To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
Answer:
The speaker (Ulysses) rather infuses the energy of his soul into his fellow mariners. They have to overcome their manifold fears to continue this journey of life. He thinks the way in front of them can be perilous. There can be a threat to their lives. But they had overcome all their fears in the past. In the old days, their vigour has shaken every kingdom.
The repetition of the phrase “we are” in this line, “Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are” refers to their indomitable courage and will force. They are weak and old for the natural process of aging. But, they are “strong in will”. At last, the narrator says they are starting their endless spiritual quest “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”
The poem’s final lines are the most famous. The need “to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield” fits into the Victorian urge to escape the tedious nature of day-to-day life, to achieve a level of mythical fame reached by the classical heroes, to travel “beyond the sunset, and the baths of all the western stars.” Tennyson doesn’t want to conform, he wants to challenge himself, and he wants to break new ground before his inevitable death. Just like Ulysses, Tennyson wants to go out adventuring rather than settle for regular life.
Comprehension – II.
Answer the following questions in 350-400 words.
Question 1.
What is the theme of the poem? How does the poet communicate this to the reader through the images in the poem?
Answer:
Alfred Tennyson’s poem ‘Ulysses’ is about an experienced but ageing king of Ithaca by name Ulysses who has an insatiable thirst for adventure and knowledge. Ulysses is not happy with the life of comfort and certainty and sets off to the second innings for intellectual pursuits and the thrills of discovery. ‘Ulysses’ encompasses many important themes- optimism, pursuit of adventure and knowledge, transition of power, brotherhood, etc.
Theme of Optimism:
The first and foremost theme of the poem is optimism. The poet presents the spirit of hope by using the character of Ulysses. He was old enough for continuing his lifelong voyage. Still, he was persistent. For an optimistic attitude towards life, he started for the sea again. He desperately wants to drink the wine of life to the lees, means that he wants to enjoy the life to the fullest extent, without taking any rest. The speaker is an embodiment of indomitable courage.
There is satisfaction for him while he struggles. He claims that in his life, he has enjoyed greatly and suffered greatly. The enjoying moments can be related to shore and the suffering time can be compared with rainy Hyades. He has seen and known many ‘cities of men and manners, climates, councils, governments’. He says:
I am become a name;
For always roaming with a hungry heart
Pursuit of Adventure:
In the very first stanza of the poem, Ulysses makes it clear that he is not happy as being ‘an idle king’ and he thinks being idle he has become a perfect match to ‘his aged wife’ Penelope. He is fed with just administering ‘unequal laws unto a savage race’.
Ulysses refers to his own subjects or people of Ithaca as ‘savage race’ or uncivilised because they prefer a life comfort and certainty over intellectual pursuits and the thrills of discovery. They are content to lead an animal existence ‘sleep and feed’ and therefore they cannot understand Ulysses’ unquenchable thirst for adventure and knowledge. He announces:
I cannot rest from travel: I will drink
Life to the lee:
For his desire to seek beyond the capacity of men, he has become famous in other nations. And whenever he went, he has been honoured by people. He says, “Myself not least, but honour’d of them all’.
Pursuit of Knowledge :
Ulysses reminds us of his life experience in the Trojan War and says that he has ‘drunk delight of battle’ with his fellow fighters on the battle fields of Troy, an ancient city in south-western Asia that was the site of the Trojan War. It seems to him that the more he knows the more his hunger for knowledge grows. He can see the “gleams” of the “untravell’d world” before him.
It makes him remind of the endless sea of knowledge he is fond of. It is dull to stop and end this voyage of life when the sea of knowledge constantly calls him to start again. For him life is rust, if not polished or used and not to shine in use. He proclaims: I am a part of all that I have met; /…………… / How dull it is to pause, to make an end,/ To rust unbumish’d, not to shine in use!
Ulysses is well aware of the fact that he is old. However, in his heart, he knows being old is just a thought of mind. He says that he saves every hour till the ‘eternal silence’ or death to know ‘new things’. Ulysses feels that he is like a “sinking star” that still has its light left in him. He wants to make use of the light of his soul to seek knowledge that is “Beyond the utmost bound of human thought.” This old man has a long way to go! Ulysses’ grey spirit yearning in desire / To follow knowledge like a sinking stew/ Beyond the utmost bound of human thought.
Transition of Power
In the second stanza of the poem, Ulysses talks about his duty as a father. It becomes clear that he never forgets about the things left behind, although he has a spiritual urge to undertake an adventure. He has given his duties in the rightful hands. He is confident that his son Telemachus is “most blameless” and does his “common duties” decently.
Before leaving for the endless and the last voyage of his life, Ulysses leaves everything in the right order. He never wants to be an example of an irresponsible king in his nation. So, there is no way of judging him as a romantic hero. The poetic persona wants to be a name that will be a source of courage to the world.
Brotherhood
Another important theme of the poem is brotherhood. Ulysses is the greatest example of brotherhood. He never left his companions even if they were old and dropping. In the third and last stanza of the poem, Ulysses begins with the words “Push off”. So, the mood of this part is not an idle one. The speaker (Ulysses) rather infuses the energy of his soul into his fellow mariners. They have to overcome their manifold fears to continue this journey of life.
He thinks the way in front of them can be perilous. There can be a threat to their lives. But they had overcome all their fears in the past. In the old days, their vigour has shaken every kingdom. The repetition of the phrase “we are” in this line, “Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are” refers to their indomitable courage and will force. They are weak and old for the natural process of aging.
But, they are “strong in will”. At last, the narrator says they are starting their endless spiritual quest “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.” Ulysses is almost ready to leave for his last voyage. The poetic persona tells his companions, they have a long way in front of them: Come, my friends, ‘T is not too late to seek a newer world.
He directly addresses his comrades, the mariners whose: Souls that have told, and wrought, and thought with me – and who are Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will I To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. Alfred Tennyson’s Ulysses has multiple themes. The poet doesn’t want to conform, he wants to challenge himself. He wants to break new ground before his inevitable death. Just like Ulysses, Tennyson wants to go out adventuring rather than settle for regular life.
Question 2.
Write a character sketch of the protagonist of the poem.
Answer:
Alfred Tennyson’s poem ‘Ulysses’ is based on the earlier literary works such as Homer’s The Iliad and the Odyssey as well as Dante’s Infemo. Ulysses is a Greek mythical hero who had taken part in the Trojan War. Being a brave warrior, he had proved his bravery and strength in the war very well. After the war, he returned to his kingdom, Ithaca.
Then, after spending some years only sifting on his Royal seat, he became bored. Then some grief comes from his mind which forms this dramatic monologue. Ulysses is the poetic persona as well as the speaker of the poem which is in the form of a dramatic monologue, an extended speech by one character in drama or a poem or any other literary text.
Ulysses is an experienced but ageing king of Ithaca. He has an insatiable thirst for adventure and knowledge. Ulysses is not happy with the life of comfort and certainty and sets off to the final voyage in the intellectual pursuits and the thrills of discovery.
He’s an old man, one who has seen the world and battled against the worst of it. Most of the time, he won. Nowadays, he is matched by his old wife Penelope and ruling his kingdom of Ithaca, doling out “unequal laws unto a savage race”. He considers his subjects as ‘uncivilized’ people who ‘sleep and feed and known not me.”
Ulysses desperately wants to drink the wine of life to the lees, means that he wants to enjoy the life to the fullest extent, without taking any rest. The speaker is an embodiment indomitable courage. There is satisfaction for him while he struggles. He claims that in his life, he has enjoyed greatly and suffered greatly.
The enjoying moments can be related to shore and the suffering time can be compared with rainy Hyades. He has seen and known many ‘cities of men and manners, climates, councils, governments’. He says: am become a name;! For always roaming with a hungry heart. For his desire to seek beyond the capacity of men, he has become famous in other nations. And whenever he went, he has been honoured by people.
He says, “Myself not least, but honour’d of them all”. Ulysses reminds us of his life experience in the Trojan War and says that he has ‘drunk delight of battle’ with his fellow fighters on the baffle fields of Troy, an ancient city in south-western Asia that was the site of the Trojan War. it seems to him that the more he knows the more his hunger for knowledge grows. He can see the “gleams” of the “untravell’d
world” before him. It makes him remind of the endless sea of knowledge he is fond of.
It is dull to stop and end this voyage of life when the sea of knowledge constantly calls him to start again. For him life is rust, if not polished or used and not to shine in use. He proclaims:! am a part of all that I have met;. How dull it is to pause, to make an end, To rust unburnished, not to shine in use!
Ulysses is well aware of the fact that he is old. However, in his heart, he knows being old is just a thought of mind. He says that he saves every hour till the ‘eternal silence’ or death to know ‘new things’. Ulysses feels that he is like a “sinking star” that still has its light left in him. He wants to make use of the light of his soul to seek knowledge that is “Beyond the utmost bound of human thought.” This old man has a long way to go!
Ulysses also talks about his duty as a father. It becomes clear that he never forgets about the things left behind, although he has a spiritual urge to undertake an adventure. He has given his duties in the rightful hands. He is confident that his son Telemachus is “most blameless” and does his “common duties” decently. Before leaving for the endless and the last voyage of his life, Ulysses leaves everything in the right order. He never wants to be an example of an irresponsible king in his nation. So, there is no way of judging him as a romantic hero
In the third stanza of the poem, Ulysses is almost ready to leave for his last voyage. He directly addresses his comrades, the mariners. Being a single unit with a common heart, they thought and fought the odds together. He reminds them of their present situation and tells them that being old does not make everything look still. Movement is life, immobility is death. No matter, they are young or old. If they choose to be ashore, they are dead already. The poetic persona tells his companions, they have a long way in front of them: Come, my friends, “T is not too late to seek a newer world.”
The speaker (Ulysses) rather infuses the energy of his soul into his fellow mariners. He reminds them their past achievements against all odds. The repetition of the phrase “we are” in this line, “Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are” refers to their indomitable courage and will force. They are weak and old for the natural process of aging. But, they are “strong in will”. At last, Ulysses says they are starting their endless spiritual quest “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.” Tennyson’s characterisation of Ulysses showcases the indomitable spirit of human race.
Question 3.
Some modern critics condemn Ulysses for selfishly abandoning his responsibilities-as a husband, father and king- in order to pursue his own goals. In your opinion, is Ulysses a heroic or an unheroic figure?
Answer:
Alfred Tennyson’s poem ‘Ulysses’ is about an experienced but ageing king of Ithaca by name Ulysses who has an insatiable thirst for adventure and knowledge. Ulysses is not happy with the life of comfort and certainty and sets off to his final voyage for intellectual pursuits and the thrills of discovery.
Ulysses is a Greek mythical hero who had taken part in the Trojan War, Being a brave warrior, he had proved his bravery and strength in the war very well. After the war, he returned to his kingdom, Ithaca. Then, after spending some years only sitting on his Royal seat, he became bored. Then some grief comes from his mind which forms this dramatic monologue. Ulysses is the poetic persona as well as the speaker of the poem which is in the form of a dramatic monologue.
Some modern critics condemn Ulysses for selfishly abandoning his responsibilities- as a husband, father and king- in order to pursue his own goals. They debate on whether Ulysses is a heroic or an unheroic figure. Before leaving for the endless and the last voyage of his life, Ulysses leaves everything in the right order. He never wants to be an example of an irresponsible king in his nation.
In the second stanza (11 lines from 33-43) of the poem, Ulysses talks about his duty as a father. It becomes clear that he never forgets about the things left behind, although he has a spiritual urge to undertake an adventure. He has given his duties in the rightful hands of his son Telemachus (‘To whom I leave the sceptre and the isle’). He is confident that his son Telemachus is “most blameless” and does his “common duties” decently.
He is entirely devoted to the area of administration, shows acts of tendemess indness towards his people, shows adoration to their household gods. Ulysses strongly believes that “When I am gone. He works his work, I mine’. Based on Ulysses’ description, Telenachus is an abled-son who can prudently take up the father’s responsibility.
Before leaving for the endless and the last voyage of his life, Ulysses leaves everything in the right order. He never wants to be an example of an irresponsible king in his nation. Ulysses, except as a husband to ageing Penelope, fulfils all his duties as father who takes care of his son Telemachus and groomed him well to take ‘the sceptre and the isle’ from him; and as a king, he places his kingdom in the safe hands of his young son. So, there is no way of judging him as a romantic hero. Therefore Ulysses is a heroic figure.
Ulysses Poem Summary in English
Alfred Tennyson (1809-92) was Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom for much of the Victorian period. He wrote many lyric poems such as ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’, ‘Break, Break, Break’, Ulysses, ‘Tears, Idle Tears’, ‘The Lady of Shalott’. He also authored longer poems such as In Memoriam and Idylls of the King.
A master of rhythm and of rich, descriptive imagery, Tennyson wrote in a variety of poetic styles and on a wide range of subject matters. He has remained popular to this day; his works are frequently anthologised and lines from his poems are often quoted.
Alfred Tennyson’s poem ‘Ulysses’ is about an experienced but ageing king of Ithaca by name Ulysses who has an insatiable thirst for adventure and knowledge. Ulysses is not happy with the life of comfort and certainty and sets off to the second innings for intellectual pursuits and the thrills of discovery.
The earlier literary works such as Homer’s the Iliad and the Odyssey as well as Dante’s Inferno are basis for Tennyson’s poem ‘Ulysses’.
Ulysses is a Greek mythical hero who had taken part in the Trojan War. Being a brave warrior, he had proved his bravery and strength in the war very well. After the war, he returned to his kingdom, Ithaca. Then, after spending some years only sitting on his Royal seat, he became bored. Then some grief comes from his mind which forms this dramatic monologue.
Ulysses is the poetic persona as well as the speaker of the poem which is in the form of a dramatic monologue, an extended speech by one character in drama or a poem or any other literary text. In the very first stanza (32 lines) of the poem, Ulysses makes it clear that he is not happy as being ‘an idle king’ and he thinks being idle he has become a perfect match to ‘his aged wife’ Penelope.
He is fed with just administering ‘unequal laws unto a savage race’. Ulysses refers to his own subjects or people of Ithaca as ‘savage race’ or uncivilised because they prefer a life comfort and certainty over intellectual pursuits and the thrills of discovery. They are content to lead an animal existence ‘sleep and feed’ and therefore they cannot understand Ulysses’ unquenchable thirst for adventure and knowledge. He announces:
I cannot rest from travel: I will drink
Life to the lee:
Ulysses desperately wants to drink the wine of life to the lees, means that he wants to enjoy the life to the fullest extent, without taking any rest. The speaker is an embodiment of indomitable courage. There is satisfaction for him while he struggles.
He claims that in his life, he has enjoyed greatly and suffered greatly. The enjoying moments can be related to shore and the suffering time can be compared with rainy Hyades. He has seen and known many ‘cities of men and manners, climates, councils, governments’. He says:
I am become a name;
For always roaming with a hungry heart
For his desire to seek beyond the capacity of men, he has become famous in other nations. And whenever he went, he has been honoured by people. He says, “Myself not least, but honour’d of them all”. Ulysses reminds us of his life experience in the Trojan War and says that he has ‘drunk delight of battle’ with his fellow fighters on the battle fields of Troy, an ancient city in south-western Asia that was the site of the Trojan War. It seems to him that the more he knows the more his hunger for knowledge grows.
He can see the “gleams” of the “untravell’d world” before him. It makes him remind of the endless sea of knowledge he is fond of. It is dull to stop and end this voyage of life when the sea of knowledge constantly calls him to start again. For him life is rust, if not polished or used and not to shine in use. He proclaims:
I am a part of all that I have met;
Yet all experience is an arch wherethro’
Gleams that untravell’d world whose margin fades
For ever and forever when I move.
How dull it is to pause, to make an end,
To rust unburnish’d, not to shine in use!
Ulysses is well aware of the fact that he is old. However, in his heart, he knows being old is just a thought of mind. He says that he saves every hour till the ‘eternal silence’ or death to know ‘new things’. Ulysses feels that he is like a “sinking star” that still has its light left in him. He wants to make use of the light of his soul to seek knowledge that is “Beyond the utmost bound of human thought.” This old man has a long way to go!
And this grey spirit yearning in desire
To follow knowledge like a sinking star,
Beyond the utmost bound of human thought.
In the second stanza (11 lines from 33-43) of the poem, Ulysses talks about his duty as a father. It becomes clear that he never forgets about the things left behind, although he has a spiritual urge to undertake an adventure. He has given his duties in the rightful hands. He is confident that his son Telemachus is “most blameless” and does his “common duties” decently. Before leaving for the endless and the last voyage of his life, Ulysses leaves everything in the right order.
He never wants to be an example of an irresponsible king in his nation. So, there is no way of judging him as a romantic hero. The poetic persona wants to be a name that will be a source of courage to the world. In the third and last stanza of the poem from lines 44-57, Ulysses is almost ready to leave for his last voyage. He directly addresses his comrades, the mariners whose: Souls that have toil’d, and wrought, and thought with me:-
That ever with a frolic welcome took
The thunder and the sunshine, and opposed
Free hearts, free foreheads – you and I are old;
Old age hath yet his honour and his toil;
Death closes all: but something ere the end,
Some work of noble note, may yet be done,
Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods.
Ulysses the dramatic persona does not want to go alone on the journey. Like before, he needs his friends. They were always there whenever there was any difficulty. Being a single unit with a common heart, they thought and fought the odds together.
He reminds them of their present situation and tells them that being old does not make everything look still. Movement is life, immobility is death. No matter, they are young or old. If they choose to be ashore, they are dead already. The poetic persona tells his companions, they have a long way in front of them.
Come, my friends,
‘T is not too late to seek a newer world.
This world is nothing but a metaphorical reference to the vast sea of knowledge.
In the last part (13 lines from 58-70) of the poem, Ulysses begins with the words “Push off”. So, the mood of this part is not an idle one. The speaker (Ulysses) rather infuses the energy of his soul into his fellow mariners. They have to overcome their manifold fears to continue this journey of life. He thinks the way in front of them can be perilous. There can be a threat to their lives.
But they had overcome all their fears in the past. In the old days, their vigour has shaken every kingdom. The repetition of the phrase “we are” in this line, “Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are” refers to their indomitable courage and will force. They are weak and old for the natural process of aging. But, they are “strong in will”. At last, the narrator says they are starting their endless spiritual quest “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
The poem’s final lines are the most famous. The need “to strive, to seek, to find, arid not to yield” fits into the Victorian urge to escape the tedious nature of day-to-day life, to achieve a level of mythical fame reached by the classical heroes, to travel “beyond the sunset, and the baths of all the western stars.” Tennyson doesn’t want to conform, he wants to challenge himself, and he wants to break new ground before his inevitable death. Just like Ulysses, Tennyson wants to go out adventuring rather than settle for regular life.
Ulysses Poem Summary in Telugu
ఆల్ఫైడ్ టెన్నిసన్ (1809-92) విక్టోరియన్ కాలంలో చాలా వరకు యునైటెడ్ కింగ్డమ్ యొక్క కవి గ్రహీత. అతను ‘ది ఛార్జ్ ఆఫ్ ది లైట్ బ్రిగేడ్’, ‘బ్రేక్, బ్రేక్, బ్రేక్, యులిస్సెస్, ‘టియర్స్, ఐడిల్ టియర్స్’, ‘ది లేడీ ఆఫ్ షాలోట్’ వంటి అనేక గీత కవితలు రాశారు.
అతను ఇన్ మెమోరియం మరియు ఐడిల్స్ ఆఫ్ ది కింగ్ వంటి పొడవైన కవితలను కూడా రచించాడు. లయ మరియు గొప్ప, వివరణాత్మక చిత్రాలలో మాస్టర్, టెన్నిసన్ వివిధ రకాల కవితా శైలులలో మరియు విస్తత విషయాలపై రాశారు. అతను నేదికీ ప్రజాదరణ పొందాడు అతని రచనలు తరచుగా సంకలనం చేయబడ్డాయి మరియు అతని కవితల నుండి పంక్తులు తరచుగా ఉదహరించబడతాయి.
ఆల్(ఫెడ్ టెన్నిసన్ యొక్క ‘యులిసెస్’ కవిత, సాహసం మరియు జ్ఞానం కోసం తీరని దాహం కలిగి ఉన్న యులిస్సెస్ అనే అనుభవజ్ఞుడైన కానీ వృద్ధుడైన ఇతాకా రాజు గురించి. యులిస్సెస్ సౌకర్యం మరియు నిశ్చయతతో కూడిన జీవితంతో సంతోషంగా లేడు మరియు మేధో కార్యకలాపాలు మరియు ఆవిష్కరణ యొక్క పులకరింతల కోసం రెండవ ఇన్నింగ్స్కు బయలుదేరాడు.
హోమర్స్ ది ఇలియడ్ మరియు ఒడిస్సీ అలాగే డాంటేస్ ఇన్ఫెర్నో వంటి మునుపటి సాహిత్య రచనలు టెన్నిసన్ కవిత ‘యులిసెస్’కి ఆధారం. యులిస్సెస్ ట్రోజన్ యుద్ధంలో పొల్గొన్న ఒక గ్రీకు పౌరాణిక వీరుడు. వీర యోధుడు కావడంతో యుద్ధంలో తన శౌర్యాన్ని, బలాన్ని బాగా నిరూపించుకున్నాడు. యుద్ధం తర్వాత, అతను తన రాజ్యమైన ఇతాకాకు తిరిగి వచ్చాడు.
అ తర్వాత కొన్నాళ్లు తన రాయల్ సీటుపైనే కూర్చోవడం వల్ల విసుగు పుట్టింది. అప్పుడు అతని మనస్సు నుండి కొంత దుఃఖం ఈ నాటకీయ ఏకపాత్రాభినయాన్ని రూపొందిస్తుంది. యులిస్సెస్ కవితా వ్యక్తిత్వం మరియు పద్యం యొక్క వక్త, ఇది నాటకీయ మోనోలాగ్ రూపంలో ఉంటుంది, ఇది నాటకం లేదా పద్యం లేదా ఏదైనా ఇతర సాహిత్య వచనంలో ఒక పాత్ర ద్వారా పొడిగించిన ప్రసంగం.
పద్యంలోని మొదటి చరణం (32 పంక్తులు)లో, యులిస్సెస్ తాను ‘నిష్క్రియ రాజు’గా సంతోషంగా లేడని మరియు పనిలేకుండా ఉండటం వల్ల ‘తన వయసులో ఉన్న భార్య’ పెనెలోపకిి సరిగ్గా సరిపోతుందని భావిస్తున్నట్లు స్పష్టం చేశాడు. అతను కేవలం ‘ఒక క్రూరుడైన జాతికి అసమాన చట్టాలను’ నిర్వహించడం ద్వారా ఏోషించబడ్డాడు.
యులిస్సెస్ తన స్వంత వ్యక్తులను లేదా ఇతాకాలోని ప్రజలను ‘అనాగరిక జాతి’ లేదా అనాగరికంగా సూచిస్తాడు ఎందుకంటే వారు మేధోపరమైన సాధనలు మరియు ఆవిష్కరణ యొక్క పులకరింతల కంటే జీవిత సౌలభ్యం మరియు నిశ్చయతను ఇష్టపడతారు. వారు జంతు ఉనికిని ‘నిద్ర మరియు ఆహారం’ నడిపించడంలో సంతృప్తి చెందారు మరియు అందువల్ల వారు సాహసం మరియు జ్ఞానం కోసం యులిస్సెస్ యొక్క అణచివేయలేని దాహాన్ని అర్థం చేసుకోలేరు. అతను ప్రకదిస్తాడు:
నేను ప్రయాణం నుండి విశ్రాంతి తీసుకోలేను: నేను తాగుతాను
లైఫ్ టు ది లీ:
జీవితపు వైన్ని లీస్కి తాగాలని ఉలిస్సెస్ తీ|్రంగా కోరుకుంటాడు, అంటే అతను విశ్రాంతి తీసుకోకుండా జీవితాన్ని పూర్తి స్థాయిలో ఆస్వాదించాలనుకుంటున్నాడు. స్పీకర్ అలుపెరగని ధైర్యానికి ప్రతిరూపం. అతను కష్టపడుతున్నప్పుడు అతనికి సంతృప్తి ఉంది. తన జీవితంలో ఎంతో ఆనందించానని, ఎన్నో కష్టాలు పడ్డానని పేర్కొన్నాడు. ఆనందించే క్షణాలు తీరానికి సంబంధించినవి మరియు బాధ సమయాన్ని వర్షపు హైడేస్తో పోల్చవచ్చు. అతను చాలా ‘పురుషులు మరియు మర్యాదలు, వాతావరణాలు, కౌన్సిల్లు, ప్రభుత్వాల నగరాలను’ చూశాడు మరియు తెలుసు. అతను చెప్తున్నాడు:
నేను ఒక పేరు అయ్యాను
ఎప్పుడూ ఆకలితో ఉన్న హృదయంతో తిరుగుతున్నందుకు
పురుషుల సామర్థ్యానికి మించి వెతకాలనే అతని కోరిక కారణంగా, అతను ఇతర దేశాలలో ప్రసిద్ధి చెందాడు. మరియు అతను వెళ్ళినప్పుడల్లా, అతను ప్రజలచే గౌరవించబడ్డాడు. అతను ఇలా అంటాడు, “నేనే కాదు, వారందరినీ గౌరవిస్తాను”.
యులిస్సెస్ ట్రోజన్ యుద్ధంలో తన జీవిత అనుభవాన్ని మనకు గుర్తుచేస్తూ, ట్రోజన్ యుద్ధం జరిగిన నైరుతి ఆసియాలోని పురాతన నగరమైన ట్రామ్ యొక్క యుద్ధ క్షేత్రాలలో తన తోటి యోధులతో కలిసి ‘యుద్ధం యొక్క ఆనందం’ తాగినట్లు చెప్పాడు. తను ఎంత తెలుసుకుంటే అంత జ్ఞానం పట్ల ఆకలి పెరుగుతుందని అతనికి అనిపిస్తుంది.
అతను తన ముందు “అన్టావెల్డ్ వరల్డ్” యొక్క “గ్లీమ్స్” చూడగలడు. ఇది అతను ఇష్టపడే అంతులేని జ్ఞ్ఞాన సముద్రాన్ని గుర్తు చేస్తుంది. జ్ఞాన సముద్రం అతన్ని మళ్లీ ప్రారంభించమని నిరంతరం పిలుస్తున్నప్పుడు ఈ జీవనయాత్రను ఆపడం మరియు ముగించడం నిస్తేజంగా ఉంది. అతనికి జీవితం తుప్పు, పాలిష్ చేయకపోయినా లేదా ఉపయోగించకపోయినా మరియు ఉపయోగంలో ప్రకాశించదు. అతను ప్రకటిస్తాడు:
నేను కలుసుకున్న అన్నింటిలో నేను ఒక భాగం
అయినా అనుభవమంతా ఒక తోరణం’
మార్జిన్ మసకబారుతున్న ప్రపంచాన్ని అన్ట్రావెల్ చేస్తుంది
నేను కదిలినప్పుడు ఎప్పటికీ మరియు ఎప్పదికీ.
పాజ్ చేయడం, ముగించడం ఎంత నీరసంగా ఉంది,
తుప్పు పట్టడానికి, ఉపయోగంలో మెరుస్తూ ఉండడానికి కాదు!
యులిస్సెస్కు వయసు పైబడిన విషయం బాగా తెలుసు. అయినప్పటికీ, అతని హృదయంలో, అతనికి వృద్ధాప్యం అనేది కేవలం మనస్సు యొక్క ఆలోచన అని తెలుసు. ‘కొత్త విషయాలు’ తెలుసుకోవడం కోసం ‘శాశ్వతమైన నిశ్శబ్దం’ లేదా మరణం వరకు ప్రతి గంటను తాను ఆదా చేస్తానని చెప్పాడు. తనలో ఇంకా వెలుగు మిగిలి ఉన్న “మునిగిపోతున్న నక్షత్రం” లాంటివాడని యులిస్సెస్ భావించాడు. అతను తన ఆత్మ యొక్క కాంతిని ఉపయోగించుకోవాలని కోరుకుంటాడు, అది “మానవ ఆలోచనలకు అతీతంగా ఉంటుంది.” ఈ ముసలి మనిషికి చాలా దూరం వెళ్ళొలి!
మరియు ఈ బూడిద ఆత్మ కోరికతో ఆరాటపడుతోంది
మునిగిపోతున్న నక్షత్రం వలె జ్ఞానాన్ని అనుసరించడానికి,
మానవ ఆలోచన యొక్క అత్యంత పరిమితికి మించి.
పద్యంలోని రెండవ చరణంలో (33-43 నుండి 11 పంక్తులు) యులిస్సెస్ తండ్రిగా తన కర్తవ్యాన్ని గురించి మాట్లాడాడు. అతను సాహసం చేయాలనే ఆధ్యాత్మిక కోరికను కలిగి ఉన్నప్పటికీ, అతను వదిలిపెట్టిన విషయాల గురించి ఎప్పటికీ మరచిపోలేడని స్పష్టమవుతుంది. అతను తన బాధ్యతలను సరైన చేతుల్లోకి ఇచ్చాడు.
తన కుమారుడు టెలిమాకస్ “అత్యంత దోషరహితుడు” మరియు తన “సాధారణ విధులను” మర్యాదగా చేస్తాడని అతను నమ్మకంగా ఉన్నాడు. తన జీవితంలోని అంతులేని మరియు చివరి సముద్రయానానికి బయలుదేరే ముందు, యులిస్సెస్ ప్రతిదీ సరైన క్రమంలో వదిలివేస్తాడు. అతను తన దేశంలో ఒక బాధ్యతారహిత రాజుకు ఉదాహరణగా ఉండాలనుకోడు. కాబట్టి, అతన్ని రొమాంటిక్ హీరోగా అంచనా వేయడానికి మార్గం లేదు. కవిత్వ వ్యక్తిత్వం ప్రపంచానికి ధైర్యాన్ని నింపే పేరు కావాలని కోరుకుంటున్నాను.
44-57 పంక్తుల నుండి పద్యం యొక్క మూడవ మరియు చివరి చరణంలో, యులిస్సెస్ తన చివరి సముద్రయానం కోసం బయలుదేరడానికి దాదాపు సిద్ధంగా ఉన్నాడు. అతను నేరుగా తన సహచరులను సందోధిస్తాడు, వీరిలో నావికులు:
నాతో కష్టపడి, శ్రమించి, ఆలోచించిన ఆత్మలు:-
అది ఎప్పుడో ఉల్లాసంగా స్వాగతం పలికింది
ఉరుము మరియు సూర్యరశ్మి, మరియు వ్యతిరేకించబడింది
ఉచిత హృదయాలు, ఉచిత నుదిటి-మీరు మరియు నేను వృద్ధులం్ష్మ
వృద్ధాప్లానికి అతని గౌరవం మరియు అతని (శర ఉంద్ష్మి
మరణం అన్నిందినీ మూసివేస్తుంది: కానీ ఏదో ముగింపు ఉంది,
ఉదాత్తమైన కొన్ని పనులు, ఇంకా పూర్తి కావచ్చు,
దేవుళ్లతో పోరాడే అనరులు కాదు.
యులిసెస్ నాటకీయ వ్యక్తి ప్రయాణంలో ఒంటరిగా వెళ్లడానికి ఇష్టపడడు. మునుపటిలాగే, అతనికి అతని స్నేహితులు కావాలి. ఎప్పుడు ఏ కష్టం వచ్చినా అక్కడే ఉండేవారు. ఉమ్మడి హృదయంతో ఒకే యూనిట్ కావడంతో, వారు కలిసి అసమానతలను ఆలోచించారు మరియు పోరాడారు.
అతను వారి ప్రస్తుత పరిస్థితిని వారికి గుర్తు చేస్తాడు మరియు వృద్ధాప్యం వల్ల ప్రతిదీ నిశ్చలంగా కనిపించదని వారికి చెప్పాడు. ఉద్యమమే జీవితం, నిశ్చలత్వమే మరణం. చిన్నవారైనా, పెద్దవారైనా సరే. వారు ఒడ్డుకు ఎంచుకుంటే, వారు అప్పటికే చనిపోయారు. కవిత్వ వ్యక్తిత్వం తన సహచరులకు చైబుతుంది, వారి ముందు వారికి చాలా దూరం ఉంది.
రండి, నా మిత్రులారా,
‘టి కొత్త ప్రపంచాన్ని వెతకడానికి చాలా ఆలస్యం కాదు.
ఈ ప్రపంచం విశాలమైన జ్ఞాన సముద్రానికి రూపక సూచన తప్ప మరొకటి కాదు.
పద్యం యొక్క చివరి భాగంలో (58-70 నుండి 13 పంక్తులు), యులిసెస్ “పుష్ ఆఫ్” పదాలతో ప్రారంభమవుతుంది. కాబట్టి, ఈ భాగం యొక్క మానసిక స్థితి నిష్క్రియమైనది కాదు. స్పీకర్ (యులిస్సెస్) తన తోటి నావికులలో తన ఆత్మ యొక్క శక్తిని నింపుతాడు. ఈ జీవిత ప్రయాణాన్ని కొనసాగించడానికి వారు తమ అనేక రకాల భయాలను అధిగమించాలి.. వారి ముందు మార్గం ప్రమాదకరంగా ఉంటుందని అతను భావిస్తాడు.
వారి ప్రాణాలకు ముప్పు వాటిల్లే అవకాశం ఉంది. కానీ వారు గతంలో తమ భయాలన్నిందినీ అధిగమించారు. పాత రోజుల్లో, వారి శక్తి ప్రతి రాజ్యాన్ని కదిలించింది. ఈ పంక్తిలో “మేము ఉన్నాము” అనే పదం యొక్క పునరావృతం, “కదిలిన భూమి మరియు స్వర్గం, మనం ఉన్నాము, మనమే” అనే పదం వారి అణచివేత ధైర్యాన్ని మరియు బలాన్ని సూచిస్తుంది. అవి వృద్ధాప్యం యొక్క సహజ ప్రక్రియ కోసం బలహీనమైన మరియు పాత. కానీ, వారు “సంకల్పంలో బలంగా” ఉన్నారు. చివరగా, కథకుడు వారు తమ అంతులేని ఆధ్యాత్మిక అన్వేషణను ప్రారంభిస్తున్నారని చెప్పారు “ప్రయత్నించటానికి, వెతకడానికి, కనుగొనడానికి మరియు లొంగకుండా ఉండటానికి.”
పాత రోజుల్లో ఉన్న బలం ఇప్పుడు మనం కాదు
కదిలిన భూమి మరియు స్వర్గం, మనం ఉన్నాము, మనం్ష్మ
వీరోచిత హృదయాల యొక్క ఒక సమాన స్వభావం,
సమయం మరియు విధి ద్వారా బలహీనమైనది, కానీ సంకల్పంలో బలంగా ఉంది
ప్రయత్నించడం, వెతకడం, కనుగొనడం మరియు లొంగిపోకూడదు.
పద్యం యొక్క చివరి పంక్తులు అత్యంత ప్రసిద్ధమైనవి. దైనందిన జీవితంలోని దుర్భరమైన స్వభావాన్ని తప్పించుకోవడానికి, శాస్త్రీయ కథానాయకులు చేరుకున్న పొరాణిక కీర్తి స్థాయిని సాధించడానికి, ప్రయాణించడానికి విక్టోరియన్ కోరికకు “ప్రయత్నించడం, వెతకడం, కనుగొనడం మరియు లొంగకపోవడం” అవసరం.
“సూర్యాస్తమయం దాటి, మరియు అన్ని పశ్చిమ నక్షత్రాల స్నానాలు.” టెన్నిసన్కు అనుగుణంగా ఉండటం ఇష్టం లేదు, అతను తనను తాను సవాలు చేసుకోవాలనుకుంటున్నాడు మరియు అతని అనివార్యమైన మరణానికి ముందు అతను కొత్త పుంతలు తొక్కాలని కోరుకుంటాడు. యులిస్సెస్ మాదిరిగానే, టెన్నిసన్ సాధారణ జీవితంలో స్థిరపడకుండా సాహసోపేతంగా వెళ్లాలని కోరుకుంటాడు.
Ulysses – Alfred Tennyson
It little profits that an idle king,
By this still hearth, among these barren crags,
Matched with an aged wife, I mete and dole
Unequal laws unto a savage race,
That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me.
I cannot rest from travel: I will drink
Life to the lees: Ail times I have enjoyed
Greatly, have suffered greatly, both with those
That loved me, and alone, on shore, and when
Thro’ scudding drifts the rainy Hyades
Vexed the dim sea: I am become a name;
For always roaming with a hungry heart
Much have I seen and known; cities of men
And manners, climates, councils, governments,
Myself not least, but honour’d of them all;
And drunk delight of battle with my peers,
Far on the ringing plains of windy Troy.
I am a part of all that I have met;
Yet all experience is an arch where through
Gleams that untravelld world, whose margin, fades
For ever and for ever when I move.
How dull it is to pause, to make an end,
To rust unburnished, not to shine in use!
As though to breathe were life. Life piled on life
Were all too Little, and of one to me
Little remains: but every hour is saved
From that eternal silence, something more,
A bringer of new things; and vile it were
For some three suns to store and hoard myself,
And this grey spirit yearning in desire
To follow knowledge like a sinking star,
Beyond the utmost bound of human thought.
This my son, mine own Telemachus,
To whom I leave the sceptre and the isle—
Well-loved of me, discerning to fulfil
This labour, by slow prudence to make mild
A rugged people, and through soft degrees
Subdue them to the useful and the good.
Most blameless is he, centred in the sphere
Of common duties, decent not to fail
In offices of tenderness, and pay
Meet adoration to my household gods,
When I am gone. He works his work, I mine.
There lies the port; the vessel puffs her sail:
There gloom the dark broad seas. My mariners,
Souls that have toiled, and wrought, and thought with me –
That ever with a frolic welcome took
The thunder and the sunshine, and opposed
Free hearts, free foreheads – you and I are old;
Old age hath yet his honour and his toil;
Death closes all: but something ere the end,
Some work of noble note, may yet be done,
Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods.
The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks:
The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs: the deep
Moans round with many voices. Come, my friends,
‘Tis not too late to seek a newer world.
Push off, and sitting well in order smite
The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until I die.
It may be that the gulfs will wash us down:
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.
Though much is taken, much abides; and though
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts.
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
Glossary:
barren crags: the rocky island of Ithaca, Ulysses’s kingdom
aged wife: Ulysses’s wife, Penelope
mete and dole / Unequal laws: govern the inhabitants of the island. The word ‘unequal’ here may be a reference to how laws are enforced inconsistently depending on social status.
savage race: Ulysses refers to his people as uncivilised (‘savage’) because, as the next line makes clear, they prefer a life of comfort and certainty over intellectual pursuits and the thrills of discovery.
hoard, and … know not me: The people of Ithaca are content to lead an animal existence and therefore cannot understand ULyssess unquenchable thirst for adventure and knowledge. to the lees: to the fullest extent
scudding drifts: fast-moving rain clouds
Hyades: a group of stars that were associated with rainy weather
ringing plains: open land resounding with the noise of battle
Troy: an ancient city in southwestern Asia that was the site of the Trojan War; described as ‘windy’ because it was near the sea
eternal silence: death vile; shameful
some three suns: the few years left of his life bound: limit
sceptre: a staff canied by rulers as a symbol of power and sovereignty
discerning: clear-sighted and understanding
prudence: showing care and thought
centred in the sphere: entirely devoted to the area of
offices of tenderness: acts of kindness towards his subjects
meet: proper or fitting
wrought: worked
frolic: joyous or playful
free hearts, free foreheads: These men are free because they think for themselves (rather than follow the herd) and chase what their hearts desire.
men that strove with Gods: According to the Iliad, the gods took sides in the Trojan War.
sounding furrows: waves that splash and make a sound the baths … stars: the western horizon
Happy Isles: the Elysian Fìek, where the Greeks believed the virtuous went after death; supposed to be at the western end of the ocean
Achilles: a mythical Greek hero and the foremost Greek warrior at the battle of troy
abides: remains
temper: condition of mind
Though much … yield: The lines reflect Tennyson’s firm faith in the strength of the indomitable will of humanity.
