Tithonus Poem Summary, Questions and Answers
Tithonus Poem Long Answer Questions
Question 1.
Attempt a critical appreciation of Tennyson’s Tithonus
Or
Question 2.
“Why should a man desire in any way / To vary from the kindly race of men” Discuss how the burden of age tortures Tithonus.
Or
Question 3.
How does the “cruel immortality” affect Tithonus.
Answer:
Published in 1860, Tithonus is one of a set of four works that Tennyson wrote shortly after the death of Arthur Henry Hallam in 1833. The death of Hallam however. shattered the young poet and he continues to search for the appropriate meaning of life. Tithonus facilitates ‘ the poet to realize that life does not mean to remain inactively alive but continue moving ahead like Ulysses.
In this sense, Tithonus symbolizes the futility of eternal life which the eponymous hero longs to renounce and be the part of the natural world where man “comes and tills the field and lies beneath”. To begin with, Tithonus laments the curse of his immortality to his lover Eos or Aurora, the goddess of dawn.
While Eos grows beautiful, renewing her beauty every morning, Tithonus is reduced to a “white hair’d shadow roaming like a dream” He thus, makes a pathetic plea to Eos to take back the gift of immortality and regrets his desire to “vary from the kindly race of men”. In other words, Tithonus realises that his demand to avert the fate of common mass is going against the ordain of nature which ensures nothing but endless sorrow.
Life however was once beautiful when Tithonus was young. During those days, he used to enjoy the beautiful leap of dawn, the charm of which is over now like the charm of enjoying endless kisses from someone other than Eos. Tithonus thus, begs Eos to release him from the east where she rises anew each morning. The sight of her cheeks turning red, her bright eyes overpowering the light of stars and her team of horses turning the twilight into bright crimson light of dawn is no more appealing to Tithonus.
He now longs to die and escape the torturous sight of Eos renewing her beauty every day. Tithonus finally realises that happy are those men that have the power to die. He thus, stands as a sharp contrast to Hallam since he is granted immortality without youth and Hallam was granted youth without immortality. Tithonus yarn echoes Faustus’s dangerous desire to crave more than what ‘heavenly power permits.’
Question 4.
Consider Tithonus as a dramatic monologue.
Answer:
As M. H. Abrams has it, dramatic monologue is a “type of lyric poem’ having the following features:
1. a single person, who is patently not the poet, utters the speech that makes up the whole of the poem in a specific situation at a critical moment.
2. This person addresses and interacts with one another or more other people, but we know of the auditor’s presence, and what they say and do, only from the clues in the discourse of the single speaker.
All these features of the dramatic monologue go on well with Tithonus, which explores the consequence of man’s desire to “vary from the kindly race of men”. Tithonus’ demand of immortality ensures nothing but endless sorrow as he grows old and never reaches the threshold of death. Tennyson however intends to establish that the meaning of life is not to remain inactively alive but continue moving ahead like Ulysses.
Tithonus laments the curse of his immortality to his lover Eos or Aurora, the goddess of dawn. While Eos grows beautiful, renewing her beauty every morning, Tithonus is reduced to a “white haired shadow roaming , like a dream”. He thus, makes a pathetic plea to Eos to take back the gift of immortality and regrets his desire to “vary from the kindly race of men”.
In other words, Tithonus realises that his demand to avert the fate of common mass is going against the ordain of nature which ensures nothing but endless sorrow. Life however was once beautiful when Tithonus was young. During those days, he used to enjoy the beautiful leap of dawn, the charm of which is over now like the charm of enjoying endless kisses from someone other than Eos. Tithonus thus, begs Eos to release him from the east where she rises anew each morning.
The sight of her cheeks turning red, her bright eyes overpowering the light of stars and her team of horses turning the twilight into bright crimson light of dawn is no more appealing to Tithonus. He now longs to die and escape the torturous sight of Eos renewing her beauty every day. Tithonus finally realises that happy are those men that have the power to die. His story echoes Faustus’s dangerous desire to crave more than what ‘heavenly power permits.’
Tithonus Poem Short Answer Questions
Question 1.
Describe in brief how Eos renews her beauty every morning.
Answer:
Eos in Greek mythology is presented as a rosy-fingered goddess of the dawn. She is the daughter of the Titans, Hyperion and Theia, the sister of the sun god Helios and the moon goddess Selene. Every morning she leaps up from the river Okeanos (Oceanus) and with her rays of light dissolves the night to hail a beautiful morn.
Tennyson however gives a succinct picture of how Eos renews her beauty which grieves the heart of Tithonus all because of being destined to “dwell in presence of immortal youth”. Tithonus observes how the tender light of dawn slowly illumes the earth as Eos begins to renew her beauty.
Her cheeks slowly turn red and her bright eyes overpower the light of the stars. Moreover, her team of horses awakes and converts the twilight into bright crimson light of dawn that spreads over the eastern sky. In a way, the picture that Tennyson represents in the poem is replete with sensuous images and establishes his aesthetic sense of beauty.
Question 2.
Who is Tithonus? How the grant of immortality affects him?
Answer:
In Greek mythology, Tithonus is the son of Laomedon, the king of Troy, and of Strymo, daughter of the river Scamander. He was loved by the goddess of dawn, Eos, who obtained him “the gift of immortality”, from the gods. But, Eos forgets to ask for eternal youth and Tithonus grows old and never reaches the threshold of death.
Throughout the poem, Tithonus bemoans for being immortal despite craving for it during his youth. He blames his beloved goddess for approving his immortality which seems like a mindless favour of a rich philanthropist who donates without considering the consequence.
Tithonus is thus, forced to “dwell in presence of immortal youth” of Eos which deeply troubles him. He whines that life was so beautiful before he met Eos. The company of some unidentified woman was so enjoyable with caresses and kisses from her.
Hence, he begs Eos to release him from the east where she rises anew each morning. After all men should not desire to “vary from the kindly race of men”. Men are destined to tilt the “field and lie beneath”. A deviation from the law of nature will ensure nothing better than “cruel im¬mortality” which Tithonus realises of late.
Tithonus Poem Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Question 1.
Tithonus is the son of ………….
a. Zeus
b. Priam
c. Laomedon
d. Hercules
Answer:
c. Laomedon
Question 2.
Eos is the goddess of ………….
a. Twilight
b. Night
c. Noon
d. Dawn
Answer:
d. Dawn
Question 3.
The other name of Eos is. ………….
a. Aphrodite
b. Aurora
c. Venus
d. Diana
Answer:
b. Aurora
Question 4.
Eos renews her beauty ………….
a. at night
b. at noon
c. at dawn
d. at twilight
Answer:
c. at dawn
Question 5.
Eos gifted Tithonus …………
a. immortal youth
b. immortal age
c. healthy life
d. infected life
Answer:
b. immortal age
Question 6.
The chariot of Eos is driven by ……………….
a. elephants
b. four horses
c. leopard
d. dove
Answer:
b. four horses
Question 7.
The tears in Eos eyes reminds Tithonus of the age-old maxim which states that …………..
a. God can recall their gift
b. god cannot recall their gift
c. god has no power to grant anything to humans
d. god recalls their gifts if they are misused by humans
Answer:
b. god cannot recall their gift
Question 8.
Tithonus requests Eos to …………..
a. take back the gift of immortality
b. grant him immortal youth
c. leave him alone
d. to allow him to enjoy his old age
Answer:
a. take back the gift of immortality
Question 9.
Tithonus’ youth was full of …………..
a. misery
b. hurdles
c. adventure
d. sensuous delight
Answer:
d. sensuous delight
Question 10.
Tithonus lives in the company of Eos in the……………
a. north
b. south
c. west
d. east
Answer:
d. east
Question 11.
Tithonus finally realises that happy are those men who have…………..
a. money
b. immortal youth
c. the power to die
d. the blessings of god to remain immortal
Answer:
c. the power to die
Question 12.
Tithonus is written in the form of …………
a. monologue
b. dramatic monologue
c. sonnet
d. internal monologue
Answer:
b. dramatic monologue
Tithonus Poem Summary
Tithonus Poem Introduction
Tithonus is one of a set of four works that Tennyson wrote shortly after the death of Arthur Henry Hallam in 1833. The other three poems being Tires/as; Morte d’ Arthur, and Ulysses. The poem was published in 1860. Like Ulysses, the poem is written in the form of a dramatic monologue. The speaker here is Tithonus, a mythical figure, who laments the curse of his immortality to his lover Eos or Aurora, the goddess of dawn.
Tithonus Poem Summary
Tithonus begins with the lament of the eponymous hero for the immortality granted to him by Eos, the goddess, of dawn. Though Tithonus’ wish was granted by his goddess-beloved, yet he remains sad realising the dreadful. consequence of such favour. While Eos grows beautiful, renewing her beauty every morning, Tithonus is reduced to a “white hair’d shadow roaming like a dream”.
He thus, makes a pathetic plea to Eos to take back the gift of immortality as men shouldn’t “desire in any way / To vary from the kindly race of men, / Or pass beyond the goal of ordinance.” In other words, Tithonus realises that; his demand to avert the fate of common mass is going against the ordain of nature which ensures nothing but; endless sorrow.
The dark world brightens up as Eos renews her beauty. Her cheeks slowly turn red, her bright eyes overpower the light of the stars and her team of horses awakes and converts the twilight into bright crimson light of dawn that spreads over the eastern sky. Tithonus whines, feeling miserable under the burden of his age.
The silence of Eos terrifies him as he is reminded of the age old maxim which states that even God themselves have no power to recall their gifts. But, life however was once beautiful when he was young. During those days, Tithonus used to enjoy the beautiful leap of dawn, the charm of which is over now like the charm of enjoying endless kisses from someone other than Eos.
He remembers the silhouetting figure of this mysterious woman, the curls in her hair the long session of love with faces strewn with passionate kisses while lying down together. The lady would whisper to him “wild and sweet” melodies, like the music of Apollo’s lyre, which accompanied the construction of Iion.
Tithonus begs Eos to release him from the east where she rises anew each morning. His awful form sharply contrasts with Eos’ beauty which saddens his heart. He now longs to die and forget the painful burdens of old age. Even he longs to escape the sight of Eos riding on the chariot of silver, renewing her beauty every morning. Tithonus finally realises that happy are those men that have the power to die. The story of Tithonus thus, echoes Faustus’s dangerous desire to crave more than what ‘heavenly power permits.’
Tithonus Poem Paraphrase
Lines 1 to 10 :
The poem opens with Tithonus monologusing the curse of his immortality. He draws a contrasting comparison of the natural phenomenon of decay in every objects of world with his immortality. The woods in the forest decay, in the course of time, man works on the earth, dies and is buried underground. But, Tithonus mourns to Eos, the goddess of the dawn that he grows old slowly in her arms and is reduced to a mere shadow.
Lines 11 to 31:
Once Tithonus was a handsome young man. Eos fell in love with him and sanctioned his demand of eternal life. Tithonus bemoans that his desire for immortal life was fulfilled like a wealthy philanthropist who donates without considering the consequence. While other gods were against his whim, Eos approves of his desire, without realising the consequence her lover will face as he grows old.
Tithonus, is now doomed with the burden of his age and forced to live under Eos’ charismatic presence. This saddens his heart and he appeals to his divine ladylove to take back the gift of immortality. Why should a man demand something unnatural only to avert the fate of common mass? Death is what nature has ordained for us. Tithonus’s demand for perpetual life is going against nature.
Lines 32 to 42 :
The tender light of dawn slowly illumes the earth where Tithonus was born. The sight of Eos overwhelms him as she renews her beauty her cheeks slowly turns red and her bright eyes overpower the light of the stars. Moreover, her team of horses awakes and converts the twilight into bright crimson light of dawn that spreads over the eastern sky.
Lines 43 to 49 :
Tithonus whines that while Eos remains perpetually beautiful, he grows ugly day by day. The curse of immortality plagues him down. Eos’ silence, her tears in her eyes terrifies him. Tithonus is reminded of the age old maxim which states that even God themselves have no power to recall their gifts.
Lines 50 to 63:
Life was once so various and new. Tithonus once enjoyed the beautiful leap of dawn during his youth. The charm is over now like the charm of enjoying endless kisses from someone other than Eos. He remembers the silhouetting figure of this mysterious woman, the curls in her hair the long session of love with faces strewn with passionate kisses while lying down together. The lady would whisper to him “wild and sweet” melodies, like the music of Apollo’s lyre, which accompanied the construction of Iion.
Lines 64 to 76 :
Tithonus begs Eos to release him from the east where she rises anew each morning. His awful form sharply contrasts with Eos’ beauty which saddens his heart. He now longs to die and forget the painful burdens of old age. Even he longs to escape the sight of Eos riding on her chariot of silver, renewing her beauty every morning. Tithonus finally realises that happy are those men that have the power to die.
Tithonus Poem Annotations with Comments
Tithonus: In Greek mythology, Tithonus is the son of Laomedon, the king of Troy, and of Strymo, daughter of the river Sca mander. He was loved by the goddess of dawn, Eos, who “obtained the gift of immortality”, from the gods for Tithonus.
But, Eos forgets to ask for eternal youth and Tithonus grows old and never reaches the threshold of death. The burden of old age. was ultimately released when Tithonus was transformed into a grasshopper after he pleads with his goddess lover to grant him death. Tithonus’s story echoes Faustus’s dangerous desire to crave more than what heavenly power permits.
Eos: The goddess of dawn, Eos is also called Aurora by the Romans. She loved Tithonus and “obtained the gift of immortality from the gods but forgets to ask for eternal youth for Tithonus”
Lines 1 to 10 :
The woods decay … fall : the idea is that every thing in this world is subject to mortality. Nothing is frozen in time.
vapours : clouds and mist
butrthen : burden of moisture.
lies beneath : buried
After many …. swan : after enjoying a long life, the swan finally dies
Cruel immortality : as the curse of immortality causes lots of trouble to Tithonus
thine arm quite limit of the : refer to Eos or Aurora the goddess of dawn
world : refers to the eastern horizon, the home of Eos.
a white-hair’d shadowed : refers to the immortal Tithonus, who has grown old enough to die
a white hair’d dream : a pathetic description of the burden of age.
the ever silent space ….east : refers to the tranqul Eastern region. The time is dawn.
far-folded mists: mists in the far off the eastern sky
Gleaming halls of morn: bright eastern sky at the approaching of day.
Comment:
A white-hair’d ….. dream: a pathetic description of the burden of age. Tithonus has grown too old to die. Yet he is immortal due to Eos’ favour. Hence, he has grown unsubstantial like a dream. The figure of speech employed here is simile.
Lines 11 to 26 :
Grey shadow : refers to Tithonus. Grey is the symbol of death.
thy : refers to Eos
thy choice : Eos choosing Tithonus as her lover
thy chosen : chosen as a lover
mine : refers to Tithonus
mine asking : at Tithon us’s request
like wealthy …. give : like a rich philanthropist having enough money to give charity without thinking twice.
strong hours : refers to the goddess accompanying Eos
indignant : angry
worked their wills : had way with Tithonus
Beat me down …. me : wearied Tithonus and destroyed his glamorous
Could not end me : maim’d:
Immortal youth : youth of Eos; to dwell …
immortal youth : could not put an end to his (Tithonus’) life disfigured Tithonus refers to the immortal Tithonus moans for living in presence of Eos’ immortal youth, when he himself has grown ugly due to the burden of age. His physical ugliness is contrasted with the eternal beauty of Eos
immortal age : it means that Tithonus is subject to immortality
and all I was in ashes : now all his erstwhile beauty is lost forever and what remains is the ashes of his youth;
make amends : compensate Tithonus for the loss of his charismatic beauty of youth
close over us : near us
silver star : refers to Venus, the morning star
thy guide : Venus announces the arrival of dawn
shine in those with tears : Tithonus interprets the twinkling light of the morning star as the eyes of Eos brimmed with tears, after hearing his pathetic condition.
Lines 27 to 31:
To her me : Tithonus here addresses Eos
let me go : let me die
to vary : to be different from
kindly race : of the same kind
goal of ordinance : limit of human existence where all should
pause : where all should stop when reached to the destined limit as is most meet
for us : as is allowed to us. We should not desire to live beyond the limit destined for us.
Lines 32 to 42:
Fans that cloud apart : blows away the cloud in the sky
dark world : refers to the world where Tithonus is born a mortal
Steal from : spreads from
thy cheek : refers to the cheeks of Eos which was turning red. It is conceived that Eos was renewing her beauty at early dawn. And the whole process of her renewal of immortal beauty is watched by Tithonus
thy sweet…. the stars : Eos’ scintillating eyes growing bright enough to overpower the light of the stars
wild team : refers to the team of horses that drew the chariot of Eos.
And shake … fire : the team of horses awakes and converts the twilight into bright crimson light of dawn that spreads over the eastern sky.
Lines 43 to 49:
Ever : each day break
before thine answer given : before giving your (Eos) answer
deparest : he (Tithonus) leaves before she could reply to him
scare : frighten seeing her tearful eyes, Tithonus fears that Eos would not be able to recall her gift.
Saying : common maxim And make me
gifts : seeing her tearful eyes, Tithonus recalls the age-old maxim that the God themselves have no power to recall their gifts.
Lines 50 to 63:
if I be that watched : Tithonus is now so old that he cannot believe that he is the same man once full of youth
the lucid outline …….. thee : refers to the shadowy figure of Eos which was becoming clear
the dim …….. rings : refers to the dark hair of Eos (the eastern clouds) that was slowly becoming brighter
portal : eastern sky
blamier : softer
whispering I … and sweet : whispering to Tithonus some enigmatic words;
Apollo sing : refers to the lute of
Apollo (the Classical mythological figure).
Illlion : Troy.
Lines 64 to 76:
Hold me not : do not force me (Tithonus) to live
How can my … thine : how could Tithonus be endured by Eos, when he has grown too old and Eos still sustaining her eternal beauty
coldly thy … me : Tithonus now feels no longer excited seeing the eternal beauty of Eos
cold : he (Tithonus) remains cold to her beauty
the glimmering threshold : the eastern sky brightening with the slow approach of daylight
steam : vapour
barrows : graves; release me …. ground : make me free out of your gift and allow me to die in the earth like the mortals there; Thou
will … morn by morn : every morning you (Eos) will come and renew your beauty
Court : the court (eastern sky) of Eos.
silver wheel : the chariot of Aurora which is Silver.