Tennyson as a Victorian Poet

Tennyson as a Victorian poet

Lord Alfred Tennyson is a prominent figure in composing poetry in the Victorian Age who was born in 1809 at Somersby Rectory, Lincolnshire, England. As a poet, Tennyson could portray all the tendencies, hopes, aspirations, philosophy of the the people of the Victorian society in his compositions. Sincerely he devoted his life in presenting all the aspects of that particular age in which he lived. He minutely observed the different minds of the Victorian people and incorporate them in his writings in order to be aware of the problems and find solutions for them. He is the reflection of his age, what he sees is seen in his creations. Tennyson started composing poems for the first time in the collaboration with his elder brother while he was seventeen years old. His poems can be divided in three sages i.e. immature stage and mature stage and the stage of perfection. In first stage he composed many poems like 'Timbuctoo' in 1829, 'Chiefly Lyrical' in 1830, 'Isabel', 'Madeline' etc. which lacks enough maturity. Later he developed his poetic skills and techniques and composed some other beautiful poems like 'The Lady of Shallott', 'The Lotus Eaters', 'The Palace of Art', 'Ulyses', 'Locksley Hall' etc. which are full of maturity though the perfection is still yet be touched. After 1942, the perfection in Tennyson is clearly seen through his superb compositions like 'The Princess' in 1847 which carries two outstanding lyrics i.e. 'Tears, Idle Tears' and 'The Splendour Falls', 'In Memoriam' in 1850, 'Maud' in 1855, '[Enoch Arden' in 1864 etc. which really prove his brilliant poetic art and greater excellence. In his all creations he devotedly tried to depict the rural life of England, medieval romances, classical legends, the death and immortality, the mysteries of life at the backdrop of Victorian society during the age which was full of rapid industrialization and scientific revolution in England.

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