ALFRED LORD TENNYSON, Ulysses

  The poet resumes at the same time both the ancient hero of Homer and Dante's Ulysses. (Inferno, Canto XXVI).
Ulysses was a cultural icon and a romantic symbol of the struggle against the conformity of the middle class, demonstration of this is the last line of the poem, "to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield".
Tennyson's Ulysses is driven by the desire to reach the unexplored, to go beyond the boundaries of knowledge, which is an inherent desire in humans.

  The poem is a dramatic monologue: the entire poem is spoken by a single character, whose identity is revealed by his own words. The poem is composed of three sections.

The first section informs the reader about who is Ulysses and his psychology. The speaking voice is Ulysses, now old, who had just returned to Ithaca. He dislikes the place and the idea of stasis. In the first place he underlines that he lived immensely, enjoying adventures and suffering greatly; come at the end of his being, he is living it in its powerful essence. As a result of the multiplicity of experiences lived, Ulysses is aware of his "plural identity": he is a part of all he has met.

The second section is very short and it has the function to introduce the figure of Telemachus, his son. Telemachus will act as his successor while the great hero resumes his travels. He speaks about his son's capabilities as a ruler, praising his prudence, dedication, and devotion to the gods. Ulysses deeply admires his son and knows that his kingdom will be left in good hands. He also emphasizes the difference between the character of the son and his ("he works His work, I mine").

The final section is addressed to a silent listener. Ulysses addresses the mariners with whom he has worked, traveled, and weathered life's storms over many years. He declares that although he and they are old, they still have the potential to do something noble and honorable before "the long day wanes." He encourages them to make use of their old age because " 'tis not too late to seek a newer world." He declares that his goal is to sail onward "beyond the sunset" until his death.