Notes of April, 16th 2012

Victorian Poetry (1830-1880)

During this period poets tended to use the dramatic monologue in their production. As the name itself suggest, it comes from the theatre monologue and it is characterized by the fact that the voice speaking does not coincide with the author's voice.

The voice speaking belongs to the dramatis personae, who speaks about itself or about a situation which has a relevant importance for him or she.

The language used is very closed to the everyday speech; indeed, the poet uses colloquial forms of language such as fillers ( well, by the way) or deities, which contributes to built up a situation.

The major poets of the Victorian Age are Robert Browning and Lord Alfred Tennyson, who was also asked to compose some verses to celebrate special events or occasions for his nation.

Lord Tennyson's dramatic monologue is titled Ulysses. It was written short time after the death of a very closed friend of Tennyson, that wrote this monologue in order to remember to himself that he should go on even if the life is not always easy to live.

Differently from others Ulysses ( Dante's one, Joyce's one etc), Tennyson character is old and unsatisfied by what he found once he came back.  He did not like the idea to spend his last time in an island where people are considered "savage" to divide his goods with his wife (who is no longer attractive) and with people only interested in profits. Even if he was at home, he did not feel at home!

Ulysses could not rest from travel, an activity that he had always enjoyed greatly. He faced lots of problems and he lived lots of adventures that made him famous and well-known. To express that Ulysses said " I am become a name". The choice is not grammatically correct, but using it Tennyson wanted to underline the existential dimension, the essence of his own character.

Even in the selection of verbs, Tennyson made references to the going and coming, which implies a reflection and privileged the existential side of life.

The expression " hungry heart" related to Ulysses shows how passionate he is. Furthermore he is also a great comprehension of body and mind.

Tennyson remains consistent with the idea of Ulysses as someone who is looking for knowledge.
The character also demonstrates to be aware that there are two different dimensions in each individual: the dimension of relationship and the dimension of the relation with themselves.