Alfred Lord Tennyson Essay Example

his impact is undeniable. Coming from a middle-class Tennyson family with a noble and royal ancestry, Tennyson's father was George Clayton Tennyson (1778-1831) who served as rector of Somersby (1807-1831), Benniworth and Bag Enderby and also vicar of Grimsby (1815).

Rev. George Clayton Tennyson was a country clergyman who possessed various skills such as architecture, painting, music and poetry. He managed his finances wisely and provided for his large family, affording them summer holidays at Mablethorpe and Skegness on the eastern coast of England. Alfred Tennyson's mother was Elizabeth Fytche (1781-1865), daughter of Stephen Fytche (1734-1799) who served as the vicar of St.

James Church was the rector of Louth and Withcall, serving in 1764 and 1780 respectively. He prioritized his children's education and ensured they received quality training. When Alfred and two older brothers displayed an interest in poetry as teenagers, a local publication featured a collection of their works. Among these siblings was Charles Tennyson Turner, who later married Louisa Sellwood - the younger sister of Alfred's future wife. The third brother was Frederick Tennyson.

Tennyson had a brother named Edward who was institutionalized at a private asylum and was considered dead. Tennyson attended Louth Grammar School for four years from 1816 to 1820, followed by Scaitcliffe School, Englefield Green and King Edward VI Grammar School, Louth. He then went to Trinity College, Cambridge in 1827 where he became a member of a secret society called the Cambridge Apostles. During his time in Cambridge, he met Arthur Henry Hallam, who became his closest friend. Tennyson's first publication was Poems by Two Brothers, which included his and his elder brother Charles' early works. The collection was

published in 1827. Tennyson's talents were recognized in 1829 when he won the Chancellor's Gold Medal at Cambridge for his work "Timbuctoo".

According to reports, winning the chancellor's gold medal at the age of twenty was considered a great honor. In 1830, Tennyson published his first collection of poems called Poems Chiefly Lyrical. This collection included "Claribell" and "Mariana," which went on to become some of his most famous works and drew the attention of writers like Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Despite some critics calling his poems overly sentimental, Tennyson's popularity grew. Unfortunately, in 1831, Tennyson's father passed away forcing him to leave Cambridge before completing his degree. He returned home to Lincolnshire to live with his widowed mother and assist in caring for the family.

During the summer, Arthur Hallam visited and became engaged to Emilia Tennyson, sister of the poet. In 1833, Tennyson's second collection of poetry was published and included his renowned work "The Lady of Shalott". Unfortunately, the volume received harsh criticism, leading Tennyson to refrain from publishing for ten years despite continuing to write. The same year, Hallam passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in Vienna from a cerebral haemorrhage. This event deeply affected Tennyson and served as inspiration for several of his finest works, such as "In the Valley of Cauteretz" and In Memoriam A.

The "Way of the Soul" is the subject of H.H., a lengthy poem. Tennyson and his family resided in the rectory and then moved to High Beach, Essex, around 1837 before departing in 1840. Unfortunately, an imprudent investment in an ecclesiastical woodcarving venture resulted in a significant loss of the family's wealth.

After residing at Chapel House, Twickenham for

a while, Tennyson relocated to London along with his wife Emily (1813-1896) and their sons Hallam (1852-1928) and Lionel (1854-1886). During this time in 1842, while leading a humble lifestyle in London, Tennyson released two Poems volumes. The first one comprised already existing works, whereas the second volume primarily featured new poems. These volumes were an instant success. Locksley Hall, "Tithonus", and "Ulysses" are some of the poems from this collection that have continued to garner fame. Additionally, The Princess: A Medley, which was a satire on women's education and published in 1847, was also well-received for its lyrics.

After reaching the pinnacle of his career in 1850 with the publication of his masterpiece, "In Memoriam A.," Tennyson's work was later adapted and parodied twice by W. S. Gilbert, in "The Princess" (1870) and "Princess Ida" (1884).

In dedication to Hallam, Tennyson was appointed Poet Laureate, taking over from William Wordsworth in the same year. Tennyson also married Emily Sellwood, whom he had known since childhood, on June 13 in the village of Shiplake. They became parents to two sons, with one named Hallam Tennyson, born later on. The entire text is enclosed within the

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In 1853, Tennyson rented Farringford House on the Isle of Wight and bought it in 1856. He named his sons Hallam (b. 11 August 1852) after his friend and Lionel (b. 16 March 1854). Although Tennyson moved to "Aldworth" in West Sussex in 1869 due to the inconvenience of starstruck tourists who pestered him in Farringford, he retained ownership of it and returned regularly during winters.

Following the death of Wordsworth in 1850, Tennyson was chosen as Poet Laureate over

Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Leigh Hunt. He held this position for the longest period of any laureate to date until his death in 1892. While Tennyson's writings were often lacking inspiration, they fulfilled the requirements of his role, however he did produce notable works such as "The Charge of the Light Brigade" which pays tribute to British cavalrymen during the Crimean War. Other celebrated works created during his tenure include Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington and Ode Sung at the Opening of the International Exhibition.

Despite initially declining a baronetcy twice, Tennyson eventually accepted a peerage in 1883 at Gladstone's request.

Baron Tennyson was granted his title by Victoria in 1884, with the official name being Baron Tennyson of Aldworth in Sussex and Freshwater on the Isle of Wight. On March 11th of that same year, he began his tenure as a member of the House of Lords. Despite being known for his political poetry, some notable examples including "Form, Riflemen, Form" concerning the French crisis of 1859 and "Steersman, be not precipitate in thine act/of steering" criticizing Gladstone's Home Rule Bill. A play called Freshwater was also created by Virginia Woolf featuring Tennyson as a host to Julia Margaret Cameron and G.F.

Watts states that Tennyson was the inaugural British writer to be conferred with a peerage, although he wasn't entirely at ease in his new position due to his idiosyncrasies. It is commonly believed that Tennyson accepted the title primarily to secure a promising future for his offspring Hallam. Edison captured sound recordings of Tennyson reciting his own poems during the writer's later years.

Within this collection are recordings of The Charge of

the Light Brigade, as well as selections from various other pieces such as "The Splendour Falls" (from The Princess), "Come Into the Garden" (from Maud), "Ask Me No More", "Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington", and "Lancelot and Elaine". Although the sound quality is typical of wax cylinder recordings, some insight can be gleaned from Tennyson's later years, particularly regarding his unconventional religious beliefs which leaned towards agnosticism and pandeism. Tennyson's well-known quote from In Memoriam, "There lives more faith in honest doubt, believe me, than in half the creeds," suggests his skepticism towards traditional religious dogma. Similarly, Maud contains the provocative statement, "The churches have killed their Christ," while Locksley Hall Sixty Years After addresses how "Christian love among the churches look'd the twin of heathen hate." Both works reflect Tennyson's criticisms of organized religion and its divisive nature. In his play Becket, Tennyson portrays humans as uncertain creatures who may unwittingly mix their personal prejudices with their piety and devotion.

Tennyson's Diary, specifically on page 127, documented his belief in a particular form of Pantheism. His son's biography added further insight, revealing that Tennyson was not a conventional Christian and admired the works of Giordano Bruno and Spinoza. On his deathbed in 1892, Tennyson expressed that Bruno's perception of God aligned with his own views. Despite his age, Tennyson continued to write throughout his eighties.

At the age of 83, Alfred Lord Tennyson passed away on 6 October 1892 in Aldworth. His final resting place is Westminster Abbey, and a memorial was constructed in All Saints' Church, Freshwater. According to his last words, he wished to be featured in the press. Following

his death, his son Hallam took over as the 2nd Baron Tennyson and authored an official biography of his father in 1897. Hallam eventually became the second Governor-General of Australia.