Alfred, Lord Tennyson
1809-1892
Tennyson
Tennyson was the most popular poet of the Victorian age. He expressed the period’s
moral earnestness, religious doubts, and fears & hopes about science and democracy
more completely than his peers did.
He was a great lyrical poet: he had an impressive ability to express emotion, especially
melancholy emotions of grief and loss & loneliness, in a musical and memorable way.
“We still look to the earlier masters for supreme excellence in particular directions:
Wordsworth for sublime philosophy, to Coleridge for ethereal magic, to Byron for
passion, to Shelley for lyric intensity, to Keats for richness. Tennyson does not excel
each of these in his own field, but he is often nearer to the particular man in his
particular mastery than anyone else can be said to be, and he has in addition his own
special field of supremacy. What this is cannot be easily defined; it consists, perhaps,
in the beauty of the atmosphere which Tennyson contrives to cast around his work,
molding it in the blue mystery of twilight, in the opaline haze of sunset: this
atmosphere, suffused over his poetry with inestimable skill and with a tact rarely at
fault, produces an almost unfailing illusion or mirage of loveliness” (“Tennyson”).
•Father was a clergyman, but it “drove him to drink”. People tried to explain his behavior
by saying he had epilepsy, and also said some of the children had it, but, really, he was an
alcoholic and the entire family was rather “eccentric”.
•There were 12 children in his family.
•In 1827 he and two of his brothers published a book of poetry, but one of the brothers
was embarrassed to be associated with it. It was called “Poems by Two Brothers”.
•At Cambridge, he formed a close friendship with Arthur Henry Hallam, whose death he
mourned in his famous elegy, “In Memoriam” (1850).
•Arthur Hallam introduced him to Emily Sellwood, the love of his life. Hallam himself
became engaged to Alfred’s sisters. They didn’t marry, but when she married someone
else, she named her son Arthur Henry Hallam Tennyson Jesse…
•The same year Arthur Henry Hallam died, Alfred’s brother was admitted to a mental
asylum, where he stayed until his death.
(Levi)
•Hallam’s death (combined with a hostile review in 1830) sent him into severe
melancholy. For ten years, he published nothing.
•In 1839 Alfred and Emily were officially engaged. By 1840, they were officially
unengaged because her father had put a stop to it – supposedly because Alfred was
too poor to marry. He was also unhappy because his other daughter, Louisa, was very
unhappily married to Alfred’s brother Charles (who was an opium addict).
•In 1842 Tennyson decided that his health was bad and he let his doctors talk him into
not writing for two years. He always had hypochondriac tendencies, but chainsmoking and a bottle of port every day didn’t help.
•Between 1874 and 1879, he wrote several plays. None of them was terribly good,
but one ran for 67 nights, probably because the Prince and Princess of Wales liked it
so much. His eyesight had gotten very bad, but he had always composed his poems in
his head, so he had Emily act as secretary.
(Levi)
•When he reappeared and published two volumes of poetry, his reputation became
secure. In 1850 he was named Poet Laureate. In his latter years, he was a national
institution: he acquired a large country estate, received a doctorate from Oxford and
received a peerage from Queen Victoria.
•In 1849 his brother Charles reconciled with his wife (Emily’s sister); the next year,
Tennyson and Emily married in great secrecy. They had two boys – Hallam Tennyson
(1852) and Lionel Tennyson (1954). He was a doting father and it was said that though
he loved being Poet Laureate, his family was his top priority.
•He died in 1892, peacefully, apparently of gout, with his wife and son by his side. He’d
outlived most of the great writers of his time. At his request, his poem “Crossing the
Bar”, an epitaph of sorts, is always printed last in any collection of his works.
(Levi)
Poet Laureate
• In 1616 Ben Jonson was named England’s first poet
laureate; however, the title didn’t become an official
royal office until 1668. Since that time, the office has
been awarded for life. The poet laureate is
responsible for composing poems for court and
national occasions. At the time of each laureate’s
death, the prime minister nominates successors and
the king or queen chooses the “winner”. William
Wordsworth’s death opened the door for Tennyson
(“Poet Laureates”).
Consider This…
• What sacrifices must a person make to be a poet,
artist, scientist, or scholar? We all have emotional
needs. Can we really make these sacrifices? What
happens when we fail?
• Each of us lives partly in a world of make-believe,
much of it inherited from our families and our
cultures. What happens when it is challenged
and/or we choose to discard it?
Poetry Test
Tennyson (“Lady of Shallot”; “Ulysses”
Browning (“My Last Duchess”)
Barrett-Browning (“How Do I Love
Thee?” and “A Man’s Requirements”
Poet Biographies
• You will need to know the key details about
each poet: his or her focus, what he or she is
most known for, the themes s/he develops
and key characteristics of his / her poetry.
• Also, know about his or her politics,
philosophy and life (as we discussed in class).
The Questions
• There will be several short-response questions
about the poetry. Be sure you understand
each poem, that you understand the
questions we discussed in class and that you
can demonstrate your understanding.
Allegory
• A fictional literary narrative or artistic expression that conveys
a symbolic meaning parallel to, but not distinct from, and
more important than, the literal meaning. The symbolic
meaning is expressed through figurative language and
symbols.
• Allegory can be used as a technique for critical interpretation,
even of works that were not originally intended to be
allegorical.
• Even beliefs that the author wasn’t aware of (consciously) can
help us understand the culture from which the piece comes.
• Read “The Lemons”
• Allegories, Parables, Fables & Symbols: What’s The
Difference?
• http://web.cn.edu/KWHEELER/documents/Parable_Allegory.pdf
Allusions
• King Arthur was a legendary king in England in the Middle
Ages. His life has been retold many times over the centuries;
hence, most of the incidents in his life have several versions.
• He established a brilliant court at Camelot, where he gathered
around him the greatest and most chivalrous warriors in
Europe, the Knights of the Round Table.
• Lancelot, Galahad, Percival and Gawain were notable knights.
Other characters associated with the legends were Merlin,
Morgan le Fay and Queen Guinevere.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
1806 - 1861
• During her lifetime, Mrs. Browning was considered a better poet than her
husband, Robert Browning. Today, her life and personality excite more interest
than her work.
• She is widely known for her treatment of social injustice in her poetry. Her
political and personal sympathies touch on such issues as slave and child
labour as well as the repression of women, earning her status as an early
feminist.
• She is also well known for her highly individual gift for lyric poetry and
evidence of classical training in her works of poetry.
• Although she lived most of her life as a reclusive invalid, she established and
maintained a popularity among critics and the public that made it clear that
“no female poet was held in higher esteem among cultured readers in both
the United States and England than Elizabeth Barrett Browning during the
nineteenth century.” (“Elizabeth Barrett Browning”)
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
A Brief History . . .
• The oldest of twelve children, she is born into a wealthy family and begins
writing poetry as early as 8 years old. (“E. B. Browning – A Chronology”)
• By the time she was ten, she had read the complete works of Shakespeare,
Pope and Milton and had studied the works of prominent classical writers in
their original languages. She had also read the entire Old Testament in
Hebrew.
• In 1821, she injures her spine attempting to saddle her horse and begins
taking opium by prescription. She develops a lifelong habit.
• Her mother dies in 1828 and not long after, due to financial loss, the Barretts
are forced to move to a more modest home, one of three moves until the
family finally settles at 50 Wimpole Street in London.
• Elizabeth bursts a blood vessel in 1837, affecting her lungs. From this, she
develops a chronic cough and coupled with the injury to her spine, Elizabeth
suffers a long period of invalidism.
(“Poet’s Corner
– Elizabeth Barrett Browning”)
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
A Brief History . . .
• Although a prolific writer, her works draw no critical attention to speak of until
the publishing of The Seraphim and Other Poems. This marks the beginning of
her successful literary career as critics name her one of England’s most gifted
and original poets. (“Poet’s Corner”)
• She begins corresponding with such prominent literary figures as Wordsworth,
Carlyle and Edgar Allan Poe.
• In 1838, Browning moves to Torquay to improve her health. Here, she is
accompanied by family members, most often by her favorite brother (“Bro”).
During this time in Torquay, Elizabeth’s uncle dies and brings her financial
security.
• “Bro” drowns in Babbacombe Bay off Torquay in 1840. This deeply impacts
Elizabeth and her grief and guilt is the subject of “De Profundis”, published
after her death.
(“Elizabeth Barrett Browning – A Chronology”)
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
A Brief History . . .
• Barrett Browning demonstrates a passion about such issues as slave and child
labour and the repression of women. These sentiments are the driving force
behind such poems as “The Cry of the Children” (written in 1840) , which is
favorably reviewed and very popular. This poem helps to bring about the
regulation of child labour.
• Robert Browning begins writing to Elizabeth in praise of her poetry in 1845.
He then visits her and writes a letter declaring his love the following day.
• Robert Browning begins writing to Elizabeth in praise of her poetry in 1845.
He then visits her and writes a letter declaring his love the following day.
• Elizabeth begins work on a book of poetry called Sonnets from the Portuguese
titled after Robert Browning’s pet name for her, “my little Portuguese.”
(“Elizabeth Barrett Browning – A Chronology”)
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
A Brief History . . .
• Despite her father having strictly forbidden marriage for any of his children,
Elizabeth and Robert elope in 1846 in London and then move to Italy where
she becomes involved with the cause of political unity. Her father disinherits
her.
• Elizabeth’s health improves greatly and she has a son in 1849 – Robert
Weideman Barrett-Browning (“Pen”).
• In 1850, she is mentioned in a literary journal as the leading candidate to
succeed Wordsworth as poet laureate.
• In 1857, Elizabeth’s father dies and Aurora Leigh is published – “a novel in
verse.” It is met with much praise but also draws attacks for “its sympathetic
treatment of a woman as independent, an artist, and an unmarried mother.”
(“E. B. B. – A Chronology”)
• Her health declines in 1860 and she dies the following year in Florence where
she is buried.
(“Elizabeth Barrett Browning – A Chronology”)
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
A Brief History . . .
• Barrett Browning demonstrates a passion about such issues as slave and child
labour and the repression of women. These sentiments are the driving force
behind such poems as “The Cry of the Children” (written in 1840) , which is
favorably reviewed and very popular. This poem helps to bring about the
regulation of child labour.
• Robert Browning begins writing to Elizabeth in praise of her poetry in 1845.
He then visits her and writes a letter declaring his love the following day.
• Robert Browning begins writing to Elizabeth in praise of her poetry in 1845.
He then visits her and writes a letter declaring his love the following day.
• Elizabeth begins work on a book of poetry called Sonnets from the Portuguese
titled after Robert Browning’s pet name for her, “my little Portuguese.”
(“Elizabeth Barrett Browning – A Chronology”)
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
A Brief History . . .
• Despite her father having strictly forbidden marriage for any of his children,
Elizabeth and Robert elope in 1846 in London and then move to Italy where
she becomes involved with the cause of political unity. Her father disinherits
her.
• Elizabeth’s health improves greatly and she has a son in 1849 – Robert
Weideman Barrett-Browning (“Pen”).
• In 1850, she is mentioned in a literary journal as the leading candidate to
succeed Wordsworth as poet laureate.
• In 1857, Elizabeth’s father dies and Aurora Leigh is published – “a novel in
verse.” It is met with much praise but also draws attacks for “its sympathetic
treatment of a woman as independent, an artist, and an unmarried mother.”
(“E. B. B. – A Chronology”)
• Her health declines in 1860 and she dies the following year in Florence where
she is buried.
(“Elizabeth Barrett Browning – A Chronology”)
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
A Brief History . . .
• “De Profundis” is published posthumously in Last Poems in 1862.
• Emily Dickinson and Virginia Woolf credit Elizabeth Barrett Browning
with giving a voice to female poets. Dickinson says that her work is
deeply affected and informed by Barrett Browning’s sensibilities.
(Everett & Isaacs).
“One thing is certain, however, her
immortality is assured – she stands
already crowned. As long as one human
heart throbs for another she will be held
in high esteem.” (Smith).
Robert Browning
“How sad and bad and mad it was - /
But then, how it was sweet!”
1812-1889
Biography
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Rebelled from school, as he was later to rebel from London University. He was
mainly taught by his father and a series of tutors and masters in Greek, Latin,
French, Music and Italian.
He mostly learned through all the reading he did.
He very much wanted to become a significant and recognized person. He wanted
to escape from the ideas of the middle-class, chapel-going, and business world in
which he found himself.
His home was an oasis in a desert of materialism and smug provincialism.
His family supported hi until his marriage at 33, as well as paid for the publication
of most of his poetry (he had had to persuade his family that he should become a
poet).
His wife, Elizabeth Barrett, was a successful poet and they lived off her income.
He was a man of talent – was extremely well-informed, a man of business and was
entertaining company.
When she died in 1861, Browning and his 13 year old son moved home to England
(from Italy).
•In 1863-64 he became more successful.
•He had an immense gusto for life and was determined to find out the deepest
motives of men.
•He is known for the development of the dramatic monologue, his anaylsis of the
passion of love, and for his refreshing diction.
•He had a cheery & comic view of life: he was the expression of the healthy, active,
courageous man.
“Grow old with me, the best is yet
to be.”
Heroic Couplets: iambic pentameter rhythm within
rhyming couplets.
• Meter helps to create emotional power; this poetic
form also provides compression and restraint so that
the character of the Duke is subtle and yet highly
charged.
• As a result of the use of poetry, the story is
controlled, yet forceful and intense.
• The rhyme isn’t obvious because Browning makes
the pauses occur in the middle of the lines, not at
the end of the second line, which emphasizes the
rhyming effect.
Heroic Couplets: iambic pentameter rhythm within
rhyming couplets.
• Meter helps to create emotional power; this poetic
form also provides compression and restraint so that
the character of the Duke is subtle and yet highly
charged.
• As a result of the use of poetry, the story is
controlled, yet forceful and intense.
• The rhyme isn’t obvious because Browning makes
the pauses occur in the middle of the lines, not at
the end of the second line, which emphasizes the
rhyming effect.