UNIT 2 ALFRED LORD TENNYSON-2

Structure 2.0 Objectives 2.1 Introduction 2.2 The Victorian Age and Tennyson 2.3 ‘The Splendour Falls’ 2.3.1 Poem 2.3.2 Glossary 2.3.3 Discussion 2.3.4 Appreciation 2.4 ‘The Lady of Shallot’ 2.4.1 Poem 2.4.2 Glossary 2.4.3 Critical Summary 2.4.4 Appreciation 2.5 Let Us Sum Up 2.6 Answers to Check Your Progress 2.0 OBJECTIVES In this Unit we shall discuss one lyric ‘Splendor Falls’ and one long poem, ‘The Lady of Shallot’ by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. After you have read this unit you should be able to: ●● analyse both these poems; ●● assess Tennyson as a lyric writer; ●● assess his techniques of narration as well as ●● discuss the poetic techniques of Tennyson 2.1 INTRODUCTION Why do we study poetry? Try to think about this for a moment. Naturally your reasons may be different from the next person’s. Some of us enjoy poetry for its ‘vision’. Poetry, like all great literature is the ‘best that has been thought and said’ over the ages. Others savour poetry for its sheer rhythm and use of language. Whatever be our reasons, poetry is meant to be enjoyed, an enjoyment that is heightened by our understanding of the poem and the various ways in which it relates to our own experiences, our joys and sorrows, hopes and fears, loves and passions. 2.2 THE VICTORIAN AGE AND TENNYSON We have already spoken about the ethos of the Victorian Age in the previous Unit . It would be sufficient here to say that the Victorian Age was an age of great progress and of the consolidation of the powers of England. Naturally, a poet of this age is expected to be full of optimism. But Tennyson could see

BEGC-110_3rd Proof.indb 139 6/21/2021 11:41:03 AM Victorian Poetry-I beyond the political and economic achievements of his times. He studiously followed the advances of contemporary science which moved Victorian men and women to scrutinize the Biblical story of the origin of the creation on a rational basis. This instilled doubts in the realm of religion. In view of such a spiritual crisis it would not be easy to sum up the Victorian age in a neat phrase. It was an age of prosperity, but also an age of gloomy forebodings; it was an age of imperial expansion, but also an age of colonial uprisings; above all it was an age of peace, but there was an undercurrent of sick hurry and divided aims. Lord Tennyson is called a representative poet of the Victorian age. When we say this we mean that he is one poet in whose works the basic nature of the age--- its achievements, doubts and fears--- are best reflected. In the previous unit we have already spoken about his life and works. He is one poet who chose a number of medieval and Greek legends as subjects for his works. But in all his works he tried to interpret the life of his times. In other words, the sense of historical continuity gives his perception of modern issues a sharper edge. His poetry makes the readers feel that there exists a sure fusion between the past and the present. Extensive travels in England and other parts of Europe sharpened his vision. After a fulfilled life of a prolific poet, he died in 1892 at the age of 83. 2.3 ‘THE SPLENDOUR FALLS’ This lyric prescribed for you is an extract from The Princess, a poem that Tennyson wrote in his mature years when British political and social issues began to interest him seriously. It is said that The Princess covers a number of prominent issues related to women─their status, their field of action, their educational and political rights, legal rights of marriage and property. The protagonist of the poem is Ida, a princess who holds extreme feminist views. She has raised an academy for the training of women. Tennyson’s characterization of Ida gives a clue to his attitude towards women. Ida is independent minded but in her zeal she has developed attitudes and a temper that make her unfit for the reforms that she wishes to carry. ‘The Splendour Falls’ is a song that occurs after the narrator and others have had a magnificent view of the palace that the princess has shown them. The narrator is simply charmed by this view. 2.3.1 Poem THE SPLENDOUR FALLS The splendour falls on castle walls And snowy summits old in story: The long light shakes across the lakes, And the wild cataract leaps in glory. Blow, bugle, blow, set the wild echoes flying, Blow, bugle; answer, echoes, dying, dying, dying. O hark, O hear! how thin and clear, And thinner, clearer, farther going! O sweet and far from cliff and scar 140

BEGC-110_3rd Proof.indb 140 6/21/2021 11:41:03 AM The horns of Elfland faintly blowing! Alfred Lord Tennyson-2 Blow, let us hear the purple glens replying: Blow, bugle; answer, echoes, dying, dying, dying. O love, they die in yon rich sky, They faint on hill or field or river: Our echoes roll from soul to soul, And grow forever and forever. Blow, bugle, blow, set the wild echoes flying, And answer, echoes answer, dying, dying, dying. 2.3.2 Glossary Splendour : grand and impressive beauty Cataract : large steep waterfall Elfland : an imaginary country where elves – small creatures with magical powers – are supposed to live Glen : narrow valley 2.3.3 Discussion The lyric is an essay in landscape painting. The scene is that of sunset transforming a castle and its surroundings. The speaker notices not only the fall of sunlight but also of a fall of splendour, of a glorious hue, on the walls of the castle. This initial perception is in itself a cause of ecstasy. But this is not all. Each moment that succeeds brings in bright vistas of everything around. The bright light makes the snowy towers of the castle shine gloriously and then travels to the lakes and the cataracts in course of which its dynamism is revealed. It shakes the waters of the lakes and makes the cataract leap in joy. So happy is the speaker in the enjoyment of this scene that he wants the bugle to be sounded, allowing a synchronization of light and sound to follow. The important thing, you should notice, is the impact of this scene on the speaker. We see not only the light adding beauty and glory to the castle but also creating absolute cheerfulness. It is this cheerfulness that sharpens observation and stirs the speaker for further activity. The second stanza hints at the presence of someone else who is asked to hear, by the speaker, the faintly blowing horns of the Elfland. The sounds are at first thin and clear, then thinner and clearer whose echoes can be heard in the fields lying across. There is apparently nothing to suggest a time- interval. But the thin sound and the Elfland point to the onset of twilight – the light is there still, but like sounds it is also dying, taking leave of the world. The identity of the listener is finally revealed in the third stanza – the speaker is addressing his beloved. He asks her now to enjoy the fainting sound of the echoes. But he also asks her to observe how the echoes move not only from hill to field or to river, but from soul to soul where they grow eternally. This is a unique experience of something transient, acquiring eternity by sheer beauty. 141

BEGC-110_3rd Proof.indb 141 6/21/2021 11:41:03 AM Victorian Poetry-I 2.3.4 Appreciation The world of Nature maintains a course of life which is quite independent of an individual’s way of life and experiences. And yet at times there may be an identity between the two. Tennyson captures such moments in his lyrics beautifully. A number of his lyrics are good examples of pathetic fallacy, of the world of Nature reflecting the moods of the poet or the persona. You must take note of the role of the dynamic verbs which Tennyson uses to describe the moment-to-moment changes in the scene – falls, shakes, leaps, flying, dying, blowing, replying, flying. The light and the sounds are not static. They have their own natural movement which, in turn, affects the objects within their range. But more important is the impact they have on the speaker. Check Your Progress 1 i) Describe the scene of the poem in your words...... ii) Identify three lines of the poem in which there is use of alliteration...... (Check your answers with those given at the end of this Unit.) 2.4 ‘THE LADY OF SHALOTT’ Tennyson, like many other Romantic and Victorian poets, often based his poems on medieval stories. Here the poet refers to the story of the legendary King Arthur. Developed in the Middle Ages, the story tells of the noble and generous king and his knights of the Round Table, all of whom are famous for their chivalry. But gradually the perfect scenario is somewhat disturbed by court intrigues and the illicit affair of Arthur’s wife Guinevere, with his trusted knight Sir Lancelot. In this poem, reference is made to Camelot, the Court of King Arthur and to Sir Lancelot who was the most famous knight in Arthurian legends. But before we start reading the poem, let us give you an idea of what the whole poem is about. The poem tells us of the life and death of the beautiful Lady of Shalott, who lives all alone on a secluded island. In Part I, the background is described in some detail and we are told about the castle situated on an island in the middle of the river, in which the mysterious Lady of Shalott lives. Part II tells of how the lady spends her time observing the reflection of the outside world in a mirror and weaving her impressions in a colourful magic web. There is a strange curse on the lady according to which she is forbidden from looking out of her window and observing the real world directly. In part III we get to know that temptation to break 142

BEGC-110_3rd Proof.indb 142 6/21/2021 11:41:03 AM this rule and look out of the window comes in the splendid shape of Sir Alfred Lord Tennyson-2 Lancelot who one day goes riding past towards Camelot. This part describes Sir Lancelot; his shield, his bugle, his saddle and his stately demeanor. It is at this point that Part III ends, as you can see. What happens after this? In part IV the dreaded curse befalls the lady, her mirror ‘cracks from side to side’ and the magic web flies out of the window. The lady goes down to the riverside, writes her name ‘The Lady of Shalott’ on a boat, lies down in it, setting it adrift. By the time the boat passes by the palace of King Arthur, the lady is dead. Sir Lancelot and his merrymaking fellow knights merely watch the mysterious lady with interest and awe. The Lady of Shallot is a narrative poem and was first published in 1832. It was revised and included in the two-volumes of Poems of 1842. Let us now read the poem, aloud if you can. A glossary provides you with explanations of certain difficult words and phrases. 2.4.1 Poem The Lady of Shallot Part I On either side the river lie Long fields ofbarley and of rye, That clothe the wold and meet the sky; And thro’ the field the road runs by To many-tower’d Camelot; And up and down the people go, Gazing where the lilies blow Round an island there below, The island of Shalott. Willows whiten, aspens quiver, Little breezes dusk and shiver Thro’ the wave that runs for ever By the island in the river Flowing down to Camelot. Four gray walls, and four gray towers, Overlook a space of flowers, And the silent isle imbowers The Lady of Shalott. By the margin, willow veil’d, Slide the heavy barges trail’d By slow horses; and unhail’d The shallop flitteth silken-sail’d Skimming down to Camelot: But who hath seen her wave her hand? Or at the casement seen her stand? 143

BEGC-110_3rd Proof.indb 143 6/21/2021 11:41:03 AM Victorian Poetry-I Or is she known in all the land, The Lady of Shalott? Only reapers, reaping early In among the bearded barley, Hear a song that echoes cheerly From the river winding clearly, Down to tower’d Camelot: And by the moon the reaper weary, Piling sheaves in uplands airy, Listening, whispers “ ‘Tis the fairy Lady of Shalott.” Part II There she weaves by night and day A magic web with colours gay. She has heard a whisper say, A curse is on her if she stay To look down to Camelot. She knows not what the curse may be, And so she weaveth steadily, And little other care hath she, The Lady of Shalott. And moving thro’ a mirror clear That hangs before her all the year, Shadows of the world appear. There she sees the highway near Winding down to Camelot: There the river eddy whirls, And there the surly village-churls, And the red cloaks of market girls, Pass onward from Shalott. Sometimes a troop of damsels glad, An abbot on an ambling pad, Sometimes a curly shepherd-lad, Or long-hair’d page in crimson clad, Goes by to tower’d Camelot; And sometimes thro’ the mirror blue The knights come riding two and two: She hath no loyal knight and true, The Lady of Shalott. But in her web she still delights To weave the mirror’s magic sights, 144

BEGC-110_3rd Proof.indb 144 6/21/2021 11:41:03 AM For often thro’ the silent nights Alfred Lord Tennyson-2 A funeral, with plumes and lights And music, went to Camelot: Or when the moon was overhead, Came two young lovers lately wed: “I am half sick of shadows,” said The Lady of Shalott. Part III A bow-shot from her bower-eaves, He rode between the barley-sheaves, The sun came dazzling thro’ the leaves, And flamed upon the brazengreaves Of bold Sir Lancelot. A red-cross knight for ever kneel’d To a lady in his shield, That sparkled on the yellow field, Beside remote Shalott. The gemmy bridle glitter’d free, Like to some branch of stars we see Hung in the golden Galaxy. The bridle bells rang merrily As he rode down to Camelot: And from his blazon’d baldric slung A mighty silver bugle hung, And as he rode his armour rung, Beside remote Shalott. All in the blue unclouded weather Thick-jewell’d shone the saddle-leather, The helmet and the helmet-feather Burn’d like one burning flame together, As he rode down to Camelot. As often thro’ the purple night, Below the starry clusters bright, Some bearded meteor, trailing light, Moves over still Shalott. His broad clear brow in sunlight glow’d; On burnish’d hooves his war-horse trode; From underneath his helmet flow’d His coal-black curls as on he rode, As he rode down to Camelot. From the bank and from the river 145

BEGC-110_3rd Proof.indb 145 6/21/2021 11:41:03 AM Victorian Poetry-I He flash’d into the crystal mirror, “Tirra lirra,” by the river Sang Sir Lancelot. She left the web, she left the loom, She made three paces thro’ the room, She saw the water-lily bloom, She saw the helmet and the plume, She look’d down to Camelot. Out flew the web and floated wide; The mirror crack’d from side to side; “The curse is come upon me,” cried The Lady of Shalott. Part IV In the stormy east-wind straining, The pale yellow woods were waning, The broad stream in his banks complaining, Heavily the low sky raining Over tower’d Camelot; Down she came and found a boat Beneath a willow left afloat, And round about the prow she wrote The Lady of Shalott. And down the river’s dim expanse Like some bold seër in a trance, Seeing all his own mischance— With a glassy countenance Did she look to Camelot. And at the closing of the day She loosed the chain, and down she lay; The broad stream bore her far away, The Lady of Shalott. Lying, robed in snowy white That loosely flew to left and right— The leaves upon her falling light— Thro’ the noises of the night She floated down to Camelot: And as the boat-head wound along The willowy hills and fields among, They heard her singing her last song, The Lady of Shalott. Heard a carol, mournful, holy, 146

BEGC-110_3rd Proof.indb 146 6/21/2021 11:41:03 AM Chanted loudly, chanted lowly, Alfred Lord Tennyson-2 Till her blood was frozen slowly, And her eyes were darken’d wholly, Turn’d to tower’d Camelot. For ere she reach’d upon the tide The first house by the water-side, Singing in her song she died, The Lady of Shalott. Under tower and balcony, By garden-wall and gallery, A gleaming shape she floated by, Dead-pale between the houses high, Silent into Camelot. Out upon the wharfs they came, Knight and burgher, lord and dame, And round the prow they read her name, The Lady of Shalott. Who is this? and what is here? And in the lighted palace near Died the sound of royal cheer; And they cross’d themselves for fear, All the knights at Camelot: But Lancelot mused a little space; He said, “She has a lovely face; God in his mercy lend her grace, The Lady of Shalott.” 2.4.2 Glossary PART I barley and rye : cereals used as food clothe : cover wold : open upland country many-towered : having buildings with many towers Camelot : seat of King Arthur’s court lilies : large white or reddish or purplish, usually spotted flowers on tall stems (usually grows near water). blow : bloom willows whiten : the leaves of the willow trees shaken by the wind look white from a distance. aspens quiver : aspens are a kind of poplar (with leaves that shake easily in the breeze). Here again the reference is to the effect of the breeze on leaves. dusk and shiver : darken and break the waves in the river. imbowers : enclose in an inner room. 147

BEGC-110_3rd Proof.indb 147 6/21/2021 11:41:03 AM Victorian Poetry-I margin : edge of the river willow-veil’d : covered with willows barges : flat-bottomed, boats for carrying freight (goods) across rivers-may or may not have sails. unhail’d : unnoticed shallop : small boat flitteth : passes lightly and rapidly skimming : passing lightly over casement : window bearded barley : here, it means ripe grain ready for harvest. sheaves : bundles uplands airy : higher parts exposed to the winds PART II shadows of the : reflections world highway : main road eddy : small whirlpool surly : rude village churls : peasants (archaic) market girls : girls going to the market place a troop of : a group of cheerful girls damsels glad abbot : head of monastery where monks (men under religious vow) live. ambling pad : easy-paced horse curly shepherd- : curly-haired shepherd boy lad mirror blue : Is the mirror blue? No, it is probably a clear reflection of the blue sky. she hath no loyal : she had no true lover. knight and true : plumes : decorative bunches of feathers. half sick : fed up PART III a bow-shot : the distance an arrow might travel when fired from a bow. bower-eaves : the rooftop above where the lady resides. greaves : items of clothing or armour that protect the lower legs. lancelot : one of the principal knights of the Grail (the sacred, holy vessel). gemmy bridle : glittering bridle used to control the horse. baldric : a diagonal belt worn over the shoulder for attaching weapons or instruments. 148

BEGC-110_3rd Proof.indb 148 6/21/2021 11:41:03 AM bearded meteor : prominent shooting star with a slow trail. Alfred Lord Tennyson-2 tirra lira : a joyful exclamation of no particular meaning. loom : the frame or apparatus on which weaving is done. PART IV prow : the front end of a boat. seër : a visionary or mystic. carol : a song. In medieval times not necessarily associated with Christmas. gallery : a long room, in this context located within a prestigious building or castle. dead-pale : a lifeless body wharfs : wooden jetties or platforms constructed between the shore and water. burgher : prominent or leading townsman or citizen. grace : a state of favour or forgiveness. A blessing of sorts. Discussion As we read the poem aloud, we are struck by the rhythmic quality of the verse. How is this effect achieved? As we have seen, each part has 4 stanzas. Each stanza has 7 lines. The first four lines rhyme and so do the last three. However, the rhyme ending of the last three lines is different from the first. There is a refrain after the first group of 4 lines and the second group of 3 lines, right? So the rhyme scheme is: aaaa b ccc b 2.4.3 Critical Summary: In the first part, the poet presents the background in some detail. This helps to create the atmosphere and the mood that follows, as we are transported from a mundane existence into a remote and isolated world where anything can happen. And so when we are finally introduced to the strange castle with its mysterious inmate, we are hardly surprised. The poet describes a river that runs towards Camelot and the towers of which are visible in the distance. The river is flanked on either side by fields through which runs a road. As people go up and down this road, they can see an island in the river full of flowers and a grey castle where the Lady of Shalott lives. No one has ever seen her. Her existence is only confirmed by her song that can sometimes be heard by reapers late at night. The busy road and the boats plying in the river suggest a normal life which is in direct contrast to the complete seclusion of the island. As you must have observed, we are not told anything directly about the lady. Yet we can form an initial impression about her. What is your impression and can you say how it emerges? After giving us a panoramic view of the scene, by means of detailed description, contrast and suggestion, Tennyson has already established the mysterious atmosphere of the island. The poet then takes us inside the castle in Part II. Here we can ‘see’, so evocative is the description, a lady weaving a colourful magic web. The figures and scenes in the web represent the reflections of the outside world that she can see in the mirror that hangs on the wall opposite her window. She is vaguely aware of the fact that a strange 149

BEGC-110_3rd Proof.indb 149 6/21/2021 11:41:03 AM Victorian Poetry-I curse would befall her if she ventures to look out of her window. And so, she continues to weave ‘steadily’, having accepted her strange condition. But then one day she bursts out: ‘I am half sick of shadows’. Have these stanzas developed her sense of frustration or does this statement come as a surprise? In Part III we are given a description of Sir Lancelot who rides by the tower where the Lady of Shallot is imprisoned. His appearance is described in detail. From his shield to his glittering bridle which is compared to the stars, his silver bugle, his shining saddle and helmet all add to his charm. His broad forehead and curly black hair make him a sight worthy of admiration. The Lady of Shallot sees his reflection in her mirror as he passes by singing a ditty. She is so moved by the handsome picture that he presents, that she throws caution to the winds and rushes to the window to see him clearly— hardly caring that she would be cursed for this act. The description in Part 4 are in total contrast to the previous parts as even nature seems to take on the characteristics of the ominous events that are bound to follow. The sky becomes dark and a storm arises. The Lady of Shallot who is now totally aware of her dark destiny rushes down to the river and gets into a boat. She writes her name on the prow of the boat and lies down in it—allowing herself to drift down the river to Camelot. She sings a song which would perhaps be her last because before she reaches Camelot— we are told— she dies. As her boat reaches Camelot, the knights and Lords come down to look at the boat and wonder who the mysterious lady is. When they realize that she is dead they make the sign of the cross. The tragedy is that Lancelot for whom she invited the curse upon herself merely spares a glance at her and comments that she has a lovely face and that God should grant her mercy. Through this one indifferent sentence he shows the utter futility of the sacrifice that the Lady of Shallot had made for his sake. 2.4.4 Appreciation What are some of the features of this poem that immediately arrest your attention? If you read the poem aloud, we are sure that you would have been drawn into the rhythm and melodious quality of the verse. In fact, all Tennyson’s poetry must be read aloud if we are to appreciate its word music. Tennyson himself would often read passages from his poems to his friends and as D.G. Rossetti (1828-82) the English poet and painter has recorded: ‘Whilst the fiery passages were delivered with a voice and vehemence which Tennyson alone of living men could compass, the softer passages and the songs made tears course down his cheeks’ (Charles Tennyson, Six Tennyson Essays London: Cassell & Co., 1954, p. 189) Along with the musical quality, we are also struck by the rich details of the descriptions. Moreover, Tennyson’s skill as a narrator is evident from the way he sets the stage for the intriguing story of the mysterious Lady of Shalott. The Victorians, while acknowledging the sensuous musical and pictorial qualities of Tennyson’s verse, often complained that his poetry lacked any real meaning. Do you agree with this view? Is this poem simply a beautiful fairy tale? Or do you think it says something about the human condition? In short, what is the theme of the poem?

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BEGC-110_3rd Proof.indb 150 6/21/2021 11:41:03 AM As we know, the story ends with a curse befalling the unfortunate lady. On Alfred Lord Tennyson-2 one level the lady’s existence can be seen to represent a world of dreams which is shattered when it comes face to face with reality. On another, the lady’s activity can also be seen as symbolic of the artist’s vision destroyed by a callous world. In addition, the poem may be read as a comment on the restrictions that society can impose upon women. Once the woman steps outside the boundaries imposed upon her, she will be doomed. What in your opinion is the main idea expressed? It is clear that human beings cannot live in isolation—to do so is unnatural—and anything that is unnaturally imposed cannot continue for long. Thus the lady, in spite of the curse, chooses death rather than a life of unnatural captivity. : Check Your Progress 2 i) Explain with reference to the context the following lines: Only reapers, reaping early In among the bearded barley Hear a song that echoes cheerly From the river winding clearly, Down to tower’d Camelot, And by the moon the reaper weary Piling sheaves in uplands airy, Listening, whispers ‘Tis the fairy Lady of Shalott’? ...... ii) Explain with reference to the context the following lines: Who is this? and what is here? And in the lighted palace near Died the sound of royal cheer; And they cross’d themselves for fear, All the knights at Camelot: But Lancelot mused a little space; He said, “She has a lovely face; God in his mercy lend her grace, The Lady of Shalott.” ...... 151

BEGC-110_3rd Proof.indb 151 6/21/2021 11:41:03 AM Victorian Poetry-I ...... (Check your answers with those given at the end of this Unit.) 2.5 LET US SUM UP In this unit we studied: ●● the salient features of the Victorian age ●● the lyric ‘The Splendor Falls’ ●● the narrative poem ‘The Lady of Shallot’. 2.6 ANSWERS TO CHECK YOUR PROGRESS Check Your Progress 1 i) The scene is that of sunset transforming a castle with its dying rays. ii) Line 2: snowy summits; line 3: long light; line 5: Blow bugle blow. Check Your Progress 2 We can: a) start by saying which poem the lines are taken from and who is the author—one may briefly mention something about the specific characteristics of that poet’s techniques. b) explain the background of the poem and how these lines fit into its overall context: c) paraphrase the lines and d) in conclusion make some remarks about the style of the poem.

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