৪৯তম বিসিএস ⎯ ইংরেজি [১২১]

This line is from his poem "In Memoriam", and is considered one of his most famous and well-known quotes. 
Why other options are incorrect:
"Miles to go before I sleep": This line is from the poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost.
"The best-laid schemes of mice and men": This line is from the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck.
"How do I love thee?": This line is from the sonnet "Sonnet 43" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

Classical Allusion: Tennyson’s poem "Ulysses" is a dramatic monologue spoken by Ulysses (Odysseus), a character originating from Homer's epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey. The poem heavily draws on these classical sources and Dante's depiction in the Inferno.
Elevated Language: Epic and classical literature often employs a formal, elevated style, which is reflected in Tennyson's "Ulysses".
Heroic Themes: The poem explores themes such as heroism, adventure, and the pursuit of knowledge, all common in classical epics.

The poem reflects the Victorian era's emphasis on pushing boundaries, seeking new knowledge, and continuing to strive despite age or past achievements. Ulysses's desire to "strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield" perfectly encapsulates this spirit.

Tennyson was known for his masterful use of language to create beautiful, often melancholic, soundscapes and vivid pictures in the reader's mind. His poetry often has a musical quality, and he paid great attention to meter, rhythm, and the aesthetic appeal of words.

Ulysses's Character: In the poem, Ulysses (the Roman name for Odysseus) is an aging king who has returned home after his epic journey described in Homer's Odyssey. However, he finds his settled life with his wife and son to be unfulfilling and stagnant. He yearns for new adventures, knowledge, and experiences.
The Desire for Continued Endeavor: The line "To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield" is Ulysses's declaration of his unyielding spirit.

"To strive": To make great efforts to achieve or obtain something; to struggle or contend. This speaks to the effort required for new ventures.
"To seek": To attempt to find something; to search for. This refers to the pursuit of knowledge and new experiences.
"To find": To discover or perceive after a search. This is the reward, the new understanding or destination.
"And not to yield": This is the core of his resolve – never to give up, never to surrender to old age, weariness, or the comfort of a settled life. It's a defiant statement against complacency.

Victorian Spirit: As we discussed, this line also strongly reflects the Victorian spirit of exploration and progress. It's an affirmation of the human desire to constantly push boundaries, explore the unknown, and never be content with past achievements, no matter how great. It's about living life to the fullest until the very end.

So, when Ulysses speaks this line, he is essentially rallying his old mariners for one last voyage into the unknown, driven by an insatiable hunger for experience and discovery, even if it leads to their demise. It's a powerful statement about the human spirit's capacity for endless ambition and resilience.

Characteristics of dramatic monologue:

Single Speaker: Only one character speaks throughout the entire poem.

Implied Audience: The speaker is addressing someone (or several people) who are present in the scene but do not speak themselves. We learn about these listeners through the speaker's words.

Revelation of Character: The primary purpose of a dramatic monologue is to reveal the speaker's temperament, personality, and often their moral character, often unknowingly to themselves.

Specific Situation: The poem is set in a specific time and place, and the speech arises from a particular situation.
In "Ulysses," Ulysses is the single speaker, and he is addressing his mariners, urging them to embark on a new journey. Through his words, we gain deep insight into his restless spirit, his thirst for adventure, and his dissatisfaction with a life of idleness.

A choric song is a song sung by a chorus, and in Tennyson's poem "The Lotos-Eaters," the sailors on Odysseus' ship sing a song while on the island of the Lotos-eaters. 
Key points about the other options:

"In Memoriam": This poem is an elegy, a poem of mourning, written by Tennyson to commemorate the death of his friend Arthur Hallam. It does not include a choric song. 

"Mariana": This poem by Tennyson depicts a lonely woman waiting for her lover to return. It is a poem of solitude and longing, not featuring a choric song. 

"Locksley Hall": This poem by Tennyson tells the story of a rejected lover and his reflections on his life. It is a narrative poem, not including a choric song. 

At the beginning of the poem, Ulysses expresses dissatisfaction with his current situation while he is:

খ) On his throne in Ithaca, governing his people

He describes his life there as idle and unfulfilling after all his grand adventures. He feels he is "matched with an aged wife" and is "an idle king, by this still hearth, among these barren crags." He finds no joy in doling out "unequal laws" to a "savage race" that knows him not.

Ulysses' primary desire or motivation expressed throughout the poem is: To continue his journey of exploration and seek new experiences. He explicitly states his longing to -
"sail beyond the sunset, and the baths 
Of all the western stars, until I die."
He feels that 
"all experience is an arch where thro'
Gleams that untravell'd world whose margin fades
For ever and for ever when I move."
He cannot simply rest after his past adventures; his spirit demands continuous striving and discovery. 

Ulysses characterizes Telemachus's rule as one that will
"by slow prudence make mild
A rugged people."
This suggests Telemachus's approach to governance is:

খ) Patient and diplomatic

"Slow prudence" implies careful, thoughtful, and unhurried judgment.
"Make mild" suggests a gentle, pacifying, and civilizing influence.
Together, these phrases depict Telemachus as someone who will govern with wisdom, tact, and a gradual approach to bring order and calm to his people, rather than through force or impulsiveness.

His dismissive tone arises from his perception that his people are not on his intellectual or adventurous level. He sees them as focused on mundane tasks ("hoard, and sleep, and feed") and unable to comprehend or appreciate the kind of grand experiences and knowledge he craves. He feels no connection to their daily lives and finds their concerns trivial compared to his own insatiable desire for exploration and greater understanding.

"Death closes all: but something ere the end,
Some work of noble note, may yet be done."
This reflects Ulysses's desire for:
খ) A meaningful purpose in the face of inevitable mortality

This quote perfectly captures Ulysses's refusal to simply fade away. He acknowledges the inevitability of death ("Death closes all"), but he seeks to defy its finality by achieving something significant ("some work of noble note") before it arrives. His motivation isn't merely fame, but a profound desire to live a life of purpose, action, and continued striving, making the most of the time he has left, rather than passively awaiting the end.

Adventure and Peril: Ulysses's speech emphasizes his thirst for new experiences and the exploration of the unknown. The "glooms" represent the inherent risks and darker aspects associated with these adventurous journeys.
The Uncharted: It evokes the darkness and mystery of unknown territories and the moral complexities that arise from encountering different cultures and making difficult decisions in the course of their travels.
Literary Context: In the context of Tennyson's poem, Ulysses reflects on his past adventures and the desire to continue exploring, despite the challenges that lie ahead. The "glooms" represent the dangers, both physical and moral, that they encountered and will continue to face on their voyages.

"Grey" symbolizes old age. Ulysses is no longer a young hero but an old man who has returned from his grand adventures.
The "spirit yearning in desire" shows that despite his physical aging, his soul remains restless and ambitious. He is discontent with his idle life in Ithaca and longs for one last voyage of discovery.
"To follow knowledge like a sinking star" highlights Ulysses's insatiable quest for new experiences and wisdom. He wants to push beyond the known world, chasing knowledge and adventure until his death, just as a star sinks beyond the horizon. 

Tennyson's poem directly draws from Homer's Odyssey, specifically the episode where Odysseus's men land on the island of the Lotus-Eaters and, after eating the lotus fruit, lose all desire to return home, preferring to remain in a state of blissful, forgetful idleness. Tennyson expands on this episode, exploring the psychological effects and temptations of giving in to such a state.

While the monologue reveals much about Ulysses's inner state, it never names a precise place where he intends to travel. He speaks of a desire "To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths / Of all the western stars," and mentions the possibility of reaching "the Happy Isles". However, this is described in mythic, not geographic, terms. 

Here's why the other options are explicitly addressed in the poem:
His feelings about his son, Telemachus: Ulysses directly addresses his son, acknowledging his administrative competence but implying a difference in spirit: "He works his work, I mine".

His dissatisfaction with his life in Ithaca: This is the central motivation of the entire monologue. Ulysses expresses discontent with being an "idle king" who metes "unequal laws unto a savage race".

His enduring spirit of adventure: The monologue strongly expresses his "hungry heart" and "gray spirit yearning in desire / To follow knowledge like a sinking star". The poem demonstrates his undiminished thirst for new experiences, even in old age. 

In Homer's epic The Odyssey, Penelope is most renowned for Her unwavering loyalty and cleverness in delaying suitors. While her husband, Ulysses (Odysseus), was gone for 20 years, she was a symbol of constancy and a match for his own famous cunning. 
 
Penelope's clever delaying tactics:
Facing immense pressure from over 100 suitors who occupied her home and vied for her hand in marriage, Penelope employed her intelligence to resist. 

Her most famous stratagem involved a burial shroud:
She declared she would choose a new husband only after she had finished weaving a shroud for her elderly father-in-law, Laertes.
For three years, she would weave the shroud during the day and secretly unravel her work at night, effectively stalling the suitors.
This act of deception bought her valuable time until a disloyal maid revealed her trick. 
Even upon Odysseus's return, she uses her wits for one final test. She pretends to order a servant to move their marriage bed, which Odysseus had carved from a living olive tree, a secret only they knew. When he reacts with anger, she knows she is speaking to her true husband. 

Tennyson's description of the land is very vivid and sensory, immediately setting the languid, dream-like atmosphere:

"Courage!' he said, and pointed toward the land,
'This is the place. We are come to the Land of the Lotos-eaters.'
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing,
And deep content, and sweet forgetfulness.
A land where all things always seemed the same!
Long-leaved flowers that did not change with seasons,
And heavy-drooping blooms, as if asleep,
And over them the sun did always gleam,
A land of streams and quiet rivers flowing
Through meadows with no sound; and trees that grew
Like living pillars, with a constant shade."

Tennyson took the story of Lotus eaters from Homeric epic The Odyssey, when the sailors eat the lotus offered by the inhabitants of the island, They fall into a dreamlike state. The lotus fruit has a narcotic effect, causing them to lose all desire to return home. 

Blissful forgetfulness: The most significant effect of the lotus is that it makes the sailors forget their long and difficult journey, as well as their homeland and families. This loss of memory erases their motivation to continue the voyage.
Peaceful apathy: Instead of wanting to sail away, the men who eat the lotus become perfectly content to remain on the island and continue eating the fruit. They are completely overcome with a serene laziness.
Overcoming the temptation: The lotus poses a significant threat to Odysseus's quest to return home. He must forcefully drag his men back to the ship, tie them up, and set sail immediately to prevent others from succumbing to the fruit's effects. 

The mariners' initial reaction to the land of the Lotus-Eaters is one of:

গ) Weariness and longing for rest

They are described as "weary, toiling in the brine," "all day long," and their first desire is to lie down and rest. The land itself, with its tranquil and somniferous atmosphere, amplifies this longing for repose and an end to their arduous journey. The lotus fruit then compounds this desire into an irresistible temptation for perpetual idleness and forgetfulness.

In the opening lines of the poem, the narrator describes the sailors arriving at the island. The text states, "In the afternoon they came unto a land / In which it seemed always afternoon".
This creates a perpetual, lazy, and languid atmosphere, symbolizing a state of timeless rest and dreamy inaction. The afternoon sun is often associated with a sleepy or lazy feeling, and this image perfectly captures the sense of drowsy forgetfulness that the lotus-eaters and the sailors experience after eating the fruit.
It serves as a stark contrast to the grueling, action-filled journey of Ulysses and his men, making the island a tempting escape from their endless toil. 

This description highlights their passive, sleepy, and sorrowful disposition, which stands in stark contrast to the adventurous and toilsome life of Ulysses' mariners. Upon eating the lotos, the mariners themselves begin to adopt this same weary, dreamlike melancholy. 

The sailors' core argument in "The Lotus-Eaters" is that  "All things have rest," so they should too. They have grown weary from their endless, toilsome journey and feel that their suffering is unjustified compared to the rest of the natural world. 
This argument is expressed in the poem's "Choric Song," where the mariners voice their desires and complaints. They note that natural things like leaves and flowers live their lives and then cease from their work, but humans are condemned to perpetual labor. 

 In the "Choric Song" section of the poem, the sailors contrast their own life of toil with the easy existence of the gods. They imagine the gods-
"live and lie reclined
On the hills like Gods together, careless of mankind," enjoying nectar while ignoring the "wasted lands" and "sinking ships" of humanity.

 "The Lotos-Eaters" is about the temptation to give up on a difficult journey and succumb to a life of inaction and escapism. In contrast, "Ulysses" is about the indomitable human spirit and the relentless pursuit of adventure and knowledge, even in old age. The two poems represent opposite responses to the challenges of life: retreat versus forward motion.

The central theme of "The Lotos-Eaters" is the seductive allure of inaction and the desire to detach from the harsh realities of life. The sailors, weary from their long voyage, find the lotus-induced state of forgetfulness and rest so appealing that they are tempted to abandon their responsibilities and duties. 

The effect of the lotus fruit goes beyond physical lethargy; it also alters the sailors' mental state, providing a rationale for abandoning their journey. They question the meaning of life, noting that "all things have rest" and arguing against a life of endless toil and sorrow.

Tithonus, who was granted immortality without eternal youth, suffers from continuous aging. Each morning, he sees his immortal lover, Aurora (the goddess of the dawn), renew her vibrant youth, while he only withers further. Her beauty and the renewal of the day serve as a constant, tragic contrast to his own irreversible decay.

In the poem, Tithonus laments his "cruel immortality" by comparing it to the natural cycle of death and decay. He points out that even the swan, a symbol of long life and grace, eventually dies. By noting that "after many a summer dies the swan," he highlights the peace that comes with a mortal life and its natural end. 

Tithonus understands that his gift of immortality has become a curse. He views the natural human life cycle, which includes death, as "kindly" and desirable. He asks Aurora to "restore me to the ground" and allow him to complete his natural life, instead of his immortal but decaying existence. He wishes to be mortal again, capable of a natural end. 

Tithonus's desire for immortality, though fueled by love for Aurora, was a form of ambition that overstepped mortal bounds. He sought to defy the natural order of life and death, but failed to foresee the disastrous outcome. His wish, granted imperfectly, traps him in a state of eternal decay, highlighting the tragic and ironic consequences of his ambition.

The poem's first line immediately establishes a contrast between the constant, natural processes of decay and renewal in the world and Tithonus's unnatural, unending existence. It sets the stage for his lament, as he envies the woods and other mortal things that are allowed to complete their cycle and find rest in death.

Tithonus describes himself as a "shadow" to emphasize his physical decay and insubstantiality. He is no longer a living man but a ghost of his former self, a mere shade consumed by the relentless passage of time. The phrase "roaming like a dream" adds to the sense of his disconnected, unearthly existence.

In the poem, Tithonus explicitly refers to himself as a "white-hair'd shadow roaming like a dream." This vivid and pathetic image encapsulates his plight as an immortal being trapped in an aged, withered body, haunted by his memories.

The central irony of the poem hinges on this missing element. Aurora, the goddess of the dawn, grants Tithonus's wish for immortality but forgets to ask for eternal youth. This oversight condemns Tithonus to a curse of eternal aging, slowly withering away beside his eternally youthful lover.

"Tithonus" is a dramatic monologue, where Tithonus addresses his eternal lover, Aurora, directly. He speaks of his regrets and suffering, contrasting his relentless aging with her eternal youth. Her silent, tearful presence serves as a constant reminder of his fate.

"Tithonus" is a classic example of a dramatic monologue. The entire poem is a single, uninterrupted speech delivered by a character (Tithonus) to a silent listener (Aurora), revealing his thoughts, feelings, and tragic situation.

The full title of the poem is "In Memoriam A.H.H.," with the initials referring to Arthur Henry Hallam. Hallam was Tennyson's close friend from Cambridge, and his sudden death in 1833 was a major personal and creative crisis for the poet.

 The unique quatrain with an ABBA rhyme scheme, used consistently throughout the 131 cantos of In Memoriam A.H.H., has become known as the "'In Memoriam' Stanza."

This line was spoken by Ulysses. It is a declaration in the poem Ulysses reflecting on the wisdom and identity gained through his extensive travels. The quote,
"I am a part of all that I have met; 
Yet all experience is an arch where thro' 
Gleams that untravell'd world,"
signifies that his experiences have shaped him while simultaneously fueling his desire for continued exploration. 
The quote, "I am a part of all that I have met," from Tennyson's poem "Ulysses," signifies the transformative power of experience. Ulysses, the poem's speaker, is a seasoned traveler who believes that every encounter and journey contributes to his identity. 
The line is a concise expression of the idea that one's self is not static but is continually shaped by interactions with the world. Ulysses suggests that his character is not solely defined by his origins or inherent traits, but also by the people, places, and events he has encountered. His travels and experiences have become integral parts of who he is. 
The second part of the quote,
"Yet all experience is an arch where thro' 
Gleams that untravell'd world," further explains this. It suggests that even after his extensive travels, there is still more to discover. Experience, in this context, is not an end in itself but a gateway to new possibilities and further exploration. The "untravell'd world" represents the unknown and the potential for continued growth and self-discovery. 

"In Memoriam A.H.H." is famous for its distinctive "In Memoriam Stanza," which is a four-line stanza (quatrain) with an ABBA rhyme scheme and iambic tetrameter. So, while it's rhyming quatrains, the specific rhyme scheme is ABBA, not ABAB.
However, among the given options, Rhyming quatrains (ABAB) is the closest description if we are to choose one, as it still captures the essence of a four-line rhyming structure. But to be precise, it's ABBA.

Tennyson grappled with the implications of new scientific theories, particularly those related to geology and evolution, which seemed to challenge traditional religious beliefs and the established understanding of the world. This conflict between faith and emerging scientific knowledge is a central theme in "In Memoriam A.H.H."

"An infant crying in the night": The "night" symbolizes the darkness of spiritual doubt and the absence of clear answers about life and death. The crying infant represents the poet's own feeling of being small, vulnerable, and completely lost in his overwhelming grief.
"An infant crying for the light": The infant's cry for "light" represents the poet's yearning for divine truth, spiritual illumination, or simply a clearer understanding of the purpose behind his friend's death. It reflects his struggle to find meaning in his suffering.
"And with no language but a cry": This phrase emphasizes the depth of the poet's pain. His grief is so profound that words seem inadequate to express it. He feels that his carefully constructed poetic verses are ultimately just a form of "crying," an instinctive, unrefined expression of sorrow, rather than a fully articulated argument or source of consolation. 
This powerful simile captures the core of Tennyson's crisis of faith and grief, illustrating his feeling of being helpless and confused in the face of immense loss.

The poem "In Memoriam" directly engages with the scientific advancements and theories of its time, such as geology and early evolutionary ideas. This engagement often leads the speaker to question: 
ক) The existence of God and the purpose of human life. 

Victorian Crisis of Faith: The mid-19th century, when Tennyson was writing, was a period of significant scientific advancements, particularly in geology and evolutionary theory, that deeply troubled many Victorians and challenged traditional Christian beliefs. This intellectual upheaval, combined with the personal trauma of losing his close friend Arthur Henry Hallam, forms the central spiritual conflict of the poem.
Geology and Deep Time: Charles Lyell's Principles of Geology (1830–1833) demonstrated that the Earth was far older than the 6,000 years suggested by biblical chronology. This concept of "deep time" is reflected in the poem, where Tennyson wrestles with the vast, seemingly random scales of geological history, as seen in the lines, "From scarpèd cliff and quarried stone".
Early Evolutionary Ideas: Pre-Darwinian ideas of evolution and extinction, such as those presented in Robert Chambers's Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation (1844), troubled Tennyson. He saw a universe where life and death were part of a brutal, indifferent natural process, famously captured in the phrase, "Nature, red in tooth and claw".
Searching for Meaning: These scientific ideas cause the speaker to question the ultimate purpose of human life and the fate of the individual soul in the face of a seemingly vast and uncaring universe. The poem documents Tennyson's struggle to find a way to hold onto his faith in a higher power despite scientific evidence that seems to contradict it. He questions whether humanity, "Man, her last work, who seemed so fair," will ultimately "Be blown about the desert dust, Or sealed within the iron hills?".
Reconciling Faith and Science: In the end, Tennyson does not fully abandon his faith. Instead, he finds a way to reconcile it with science, emphasizing the importance of faith over what can be empirically proven. As the speaker says, "'Believing where we cannot prove'". The poem ultimately argues for a kind of spiritual evolution, where humanity progresses toward a "One far-off divine event / To which the whole creation moves". 

Reflecting the Process of Grief: The poem's 133 individual cantos were written over a 17-year period as Tennyson processed his grief over the death of his friend, Arthur Henry Hallam. This prolonged and fragmented composition process is mirrored in the poem's structure, which consists of many separate, dated sections rather than a single, unified narrative.
Mimicking a Personal Chronicle: Many of the cantos reference specific times of the year, such as the anniversaries of Hallam's death and Christmas, giving the work a chronological, journal-like feel. This structure allows the reader to follow the speaker's emotional journey over time, observing the ebb and flow of his grief and intellectual struggles.
Intimate and Fragmented: Literary critic T.S. Eliot famously called In Memoriam "the concentrated diary of a man confessing himself". This description highlights the poem's intimate and personal nature, as the fragmented sections capture the varied and often contradictory emotions that a person experiences during mourning. It allows the reader to feel as if they are peeking into the poet's private thoughts, making the experience more visceral and authentic. 

Addressing the Victorian Crisis of Faith: In Memoriam was written during a period of immense scientific discovery that challenged traditional religious beliefs in the Victorian era. Tennyson's speaker grapples with how to reconcile Christian faith with emerging scientific ideas in geology and early evolutionary theory. This makes the poem a profound intellectual and spiritual dialogue with the anxieties of its time.
Beyond Personal Grief: While the poem is rooted in the personal sorrow of losing his friend Arthur Henry Hallam, Tennyson expands his reflection into broader philosophical questions about life, death, and faith. He explores whether human life has a greater purpose in the face of a seemingly indifferent universe governed by natural processes.
A "Microcosm of an Epoch": The poem's shift from private lament to public contemplation of these weighty issues is what cemented its significance. It became a powerful touchstone for Victorians struggling with the same intellectual and spiritual dilemmas, acting as a "microcosm for the suffering being endured by nineteenth-century men and women". 

The poem is composed of 133 individual cantos (or sections), along with a prologue and an epilogue.
The cantos were written over a 17-year period, from 1833 to 1850, as Tennyson processed his grief over the death of his friend, Arthur Henry Hallam.
Each canto explores different facets of mourning, doubt, and eventual acceptance, but they are not presented as a single linear narrative. Rather, they function as a series of reflections that collectively trace the speaker's emotional journey. 

Start of composition: The first verses were written in 1833, following the sudden death of his close friend, Arthur Henry Hallam.
End of composition: The poem was published in 1850, a full seventeen years after Hallam's death.
Process of grief: The long period of composition reflects the gradual and complex process of Tennyson's grief, doubt, and eventual reconciliation with his faith. He did not write the poem in a linear fashion, but rather composed the 133 individual cantos (or sections) over time, as his memories and feelings arose. 

A move from sorrow to hope: The poem, an elegy for Tennyson's friend Arthur Henry Hallam, chronicles the poet's long journey through grief, doubt, and philosophical searching. The Epilogue shifts the tone entirely, moving from mourning to celebration.
A new beginning: It describes the marriage of the poet's sister, Cecilia, to Edmund Lushington, an event that symbolizes new life and the continuation of the family line, triumphing over the profound loss experienced earlier.
The culmination of the poet's spiritual journey: The Epilogue shows the poet's arrival at a place of renewed faith and understanding. He is able to find joy and hope, suggesting that love, even in the face of death, is a powerful force that moves humanity toward a higher, divine purpose. The wedding of his sister acts as the final confirmation of this positive outlook. 

A spiritual awakening: The poem In Memoriam does not end in despair. Instead, it documents Tennyson's gradual progression from profound sorrow to a state of acceptance and renewed faith. He comes to believe that his love for Arthur was not a fleeting human emotion but a spiritual connection that transcends death.
Love as a "guiding spiritual force": In the end, Tennyson sees Arthur's memory as a permanent and guiding influence in his life. The love he shared with his friend becomes a source of moral and spiritual growth, rather than just a painful memory.
Transcendence of sorrow: While the journey through grief is painful, the final message is that this love and loss ultimately lead to a deeper understanding of love's purpose. This perspective is famously captured in the line, "'Tis better to have loved and lost / Than never to have loved at all".