Alfred Tennyson, Maud, and other Poems

Marion Shaw (University of Loughborough)
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This was the first volume of poems Tennyson published after

In Memoriam

in 1850 and after becoming Poet Laureate, also in 1850. The volume was dominated by the long monodrama,

Maud

, though its considerable popularity as a volume probably owed more to one of the other poems, “The Brook”, which became a Victorian favourite. This tells the tale of Katie Willows, whose father's farm stands where the brook of the title meets its parent river. Katie is wooed by her cousin but his courtship is impeded by the incessant chatter of her father, whose “daylong chirping” gets in the way of a lovers' reconciliation. All ends well in this lyrical and humorous idyl (as Tennyson called his poems of English rural scenes), and the poem is memorable for the brook's song, with its famous refrain:…

2190 words

Citation: Shaw, Marion. "Maud, and other Poems". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 18 December 2002 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=3678, accessed 19 March 2024.]

3678 Maud, and other Poems 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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