Written in 1833 and published in 1842, Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s poem “Ulysses” remains one of the poet’s most celebrated works. Inspired by Homer’s The Odyssey and Dante’s Inferno, Tennyson composed an intricately layered poem to deal with the grief and heartbreak he experienced after losing his close friend, Arthur Henry Hallam. Hallam’s death influenced much of Tennyson’s poetry, including “Tithonus” (1860) and especially In Memoriam A. H. H. (1850).
The protagonist of Tennyson’s “Ulysses” is the legendary mythical Greek hero and King of Ithaca (also known as Odysseus) who reflects on the need to push through hard times. Tennyson’s “Ulysses” exhibits the human desire for progress, knowledge, and perseverance. At the same time, the poem offers an introspective reflection on the passage of time and aging, insinuating that one can press on and achieve one’s...
2618 words
Citation: Shaaban, Dana Aicha. "Ulysses". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 07 January 2025 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=10617, accessed 09 June 2026.]
