Symbolism

Tennyson uses different symbols for referring to the greater structure. The poetic persona uses
“still hearth” and “barren crags” as a symbol of an idle life. There are two important symbols in
the poem. The first one is “sea.”

In the poem, the sea has a different symbolic meaning. It refers to adventure, mystery, and
mobility. Whereas the poet uses the symbol of land to signify the opposites. It depicts love, care,
relationship, immobility, and idleness.

In the poem, Ulysses belonged to ancient Greece. The poet also belonged to an age when
immobility was compared to death. The sea and the land reflected a similar kind of symbolic
meaning in Ulysses’ time as well as in the Victorian era.

Character of Ulysses
This poem is about a heroic character named Ulysses. In his current state, he is a king and a
soldier, a man approaching retirement with one journey left to make. He’s an old man, one who
has seen the world and battled against the worst of it. Most of the time, he won. Nowadays, he is
ruling his kingdom of Ithaca, doling out “unequal laws unto a savage race.”

But now, as he looks back over his life spent “always roaming with a hungry heart,” He begins to
take stock of what his adventuring has done to him. As he works through his memories and
considers his current position, he gets more and more agitated, more and more passionate. By the
finale, he has convinced himself that he still has enough fight left in him, that he is not yet ready
to become just another “idle king.”
From the domestic memories of the opening, Ulysses convinces himself of the value of battle.
Throughout the piece, readers learn that his character will never be truly satisfied unless he is
facing off against a foe. He hopes, in earnest, “to strive” and never “to yield.” If he never gave
up in battle, why should he give up and settle for a simple home life now?

Historical Context
Tennyson makes use of literary works that came long before him. Both Homer’s the Iliad and
the Odyssey are used, as well as Dante’s Inferno, in which Ulysses makes an appearance. As we
learn in Homer’s work, before Ulysses can return home after his epic voyage, he will undertake
one last voyage. While readers don’t know exactly what Homer had in mind, readers do know
what Dante thought the voyage might entail.

In Dante’s Inferno, Ulysses discovers that he has a strong urge to see the world after growing
restless at home in Ithaca. Dante paints him as a tragic figure, one who dies when sailing out too
far, perishing while trying to satiate his desire for adventure. Tennyson builds on this, picturing
the character at home in Ithaca, having become the “idle king” he loathes, yearning to return to
the sea.

By taking the legend, Tennyson explores feelings from his own life. Just after the death of his
friend, Arthur Henry Hallam in 1833, Tennyson found himself thrust into the role of Ulysses.
Confronted by the death of his friend, Tennyson noticed a sudden urge to drive forwards in life
and not settle for the commonplace. As stated in the poem, “Death closes all,” enlightening the
poet to the need to make the most of his life before it escapes him.

FAQs
How does Ulysses feel about Telemachus in ‘Ulysses’?
Ulysses trusts his son, Telemachus, to whom he can leave the scepter. He knows
Telemachus can rule Ithaka well. Besides, he loves his son as he loves his comrades.
What is “dull” for Ulysses?
It is dull to pause or make an end to the everlasting journey of life. According to
Ulysses, a sword, a metaphor for life, starts to rust if it remains unburnished. It is
useless if it does not shine in use.
What are the characteristics of Ulysses in Tennyson’s poem?
Ulysses is courageous and he has thirst for knowledge. For him, old age is nothing but
a mental state and he wants to set out for another journey before his death. So, he is
unafraid of death.
What does Ulysses think of his wife?
In the first few lines, Ulysses says, he is “Match’d with an aged wife.” Penelope, his
aged wife, is compared to idleness and immobility. He loves his wife. But, to pass his
time with an “aged” individual, is not in his blood though he is physically old.
What does Ulysses yearn for?
He yearns to follow knowledge like a “sinking star” that is beyond the imagination of
human beings. The thirst for knowledge and the zeal to discover the unknown is his
yearning.
What does Ulysses say about age?
According to him, “Old age” has its honor and toil. It means though they are old, they
are honored for their courage and toil they did for their country. The speaker and his
compatriots are regarded for their courage and heroism in their homeland.
What does “I am a part of all that I have met” mean?
In this line, the first-person speaker (old Ulysses) says he is a part of all that he has met
in the past. It means that he is made of all the experiences he had in the past.
What is the tone of ‘Ulysses’ poem?
The tone of the poem is optimistic, emotive, thoughtful, and reflective. It helps readers
to understand the mindset of the speaker.