12th English : Ulysses
Unit 4.2 > Ulysses
Glossary
- drink life to the lees – drink to the very last drop; here ‘live life to the fullest’
- scudding – moving rapidly because of the wind
- Hyades – a group of stars in the constellation Taurus often associated with rain
- vext – (past tense of ‘vex’) upsetto rust
- unburnish’d – to let go waste, without being used
- three suns – three long years
- Telemachus – son of Ulysses
- smite – strike Glossary
- furrow – mark made in the water by the ship
- baths – outer ocean or river that the Greeks believed to surround the flat earth
- Happy Isles – a fortunate island situated in the Atlantic Ocean, popularly known as Greek Paradise
- Achilles – the greatest of Greek warriors (as an infant his mother dipped into the river Styx, which made him invulnerable everywhere but the feet by which she held him)
1. Complete the summary of the poem, choosing words from the list given below.
Lines 1 to 32
Ulysses is (1) unwilling to discharge his duties as a (2) king, as he longs for (3) travel. He is filled with an (4) unquenchable thirst for (5) adventure and wishes to live life to the (6) fullest. He has travelled far and wide gaining (7) knowledge of various places, cultures, men and (8) matters. He recalls with delight his experience at the battle of Troy. Enriched by his (9) experience he longs for more and his quest seems endless. Like metal which would (10) rust if unused, life without adventure is meaningless. According to him living is not merely (11) breathing to stay alive. Though old but zestful, Ulysses looks at every hour as a bringer of new things and yearns to follow knowledge even if it is (12) unattainable.
| fullest | unquenchable | unattainable | experience | knowledge | king |
| matters | rust | adventure | unwilling | travel | breathing |
Lines 33 to 42
Ulysses desires to hand over his (1) kingdom to his son Telemachus, who would fulfil his duties towards his subjects with care and (2) prudence. Telemachus possesses patience and has the will to civilise the citizens of Ithaca in a (3) tender way. Ulysses is happy that his son would do his work blamelessly and he would pursue his (4) quest for travel and knowledge.
| prudence | kingdom | quest | tender |
Lines 44 to 70
Ulysses beckons his sailors to (1) gather at the port where the ship is ready to sail. His companions who have faced both (2) thunder and sunshine with a smile, are united by their undying spirit of adventure. Though death would end everything, Ulysses urges his companions to join him and sail beyond the sunset and seek a newer (3) world, regardless of consequences. These brave hearts who had once moved (4) heaven and earth, may have grown old and weak physically but their spirit is young and (5) undaunted. His call is an inspiration for all those who seek true knowledge and strive to lead (6) meaningful lives.
| world | thunder | meaningful | gather | undaunted | heaven |
2. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences each.
a) ‘Ulysses is not happy to perform his duties as a king.’ Why?
Ulysses does not want to be an idle king who would meet the people to talk to them about the laws. He knows that he cannot retire from travel.
b) What does he think of the people of his kingdom?
He thinks that the people of his kingdom are savage people.
c) What has Ulysses gained from his travel experiences?
He has seen and known people of many cities. He has come to know the manner, climate, councils and governments of different cities.
d) Pick out the lines which convey that his quest for travel is unending.
“Yet all experience is an arch wherethro’
Gleams that untravell’d world whose margin fades
e) ‘As tho’ to breathe were life!’ – From the given line what do you understand of Ulysses’ attitude to life?
Ulysses does not like to stay in a place; he is always for adventures. For him life is not merely for breathing.
f) What does Ulysses yearn for?
Ulysses yearns for knowledge; he looks at every hour as a bringer of new things.
g) Who does the speaker address in the second part?
He addresses the sailors who are willing to join him for adventure.
h) Why did Ulysses want to hand over the kingdom to his son?
Ulysses wanted to hand over his kingdom to his son Telemachus, because he wanted to go with the sailors to experience new adventures.
i) How would Telemachus transform the subjects?
Telemachus would fulfil his duties towards his subjects with care and prudence. Telemachus possesses patience and has the will to civilise the citizens of Ithaca in a tender way.
j) ‘He works his work, I mine’ – How is the work distinguished?
Ulysses’ work is to go to different places and Telemachus, his son’s work is to rule his kingdom.
k) In what ways were Ulysses and his mariners alike?
Ulysses and his mariners were old but they had the honour of the old age. They were closer to death but they wanted to do some noble work before their end.
l) What could be the possible outcomes of their travel?
The sea in Gulf may wash them down and they may reach the Happy Isles which are known as Greek Paradise. They may see the great Achilles.
3. Identify the figures of speech employed in the following lines.
a) “Thro’ scudding drifts the rainy Hyades
Vext the dim sea..”.
eg. ‘Personification’ is employed in the above lines.
b) “For always roaming with a hungry heart”
Personification.
c) “And drunk delight of battle with my peers”;
Personification.
d) “…..the deep
Moans round with many voices”.
Personification.
e) “To follow knowledge like a sinking star”.
Simile.
f) “There lies the port the vessel puffs her sail”
Personification
4. Read the sets of lines from the poem and answer the questions that follow.
a) “… I mete and dole
Unequal laws unto a savage race,
That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me”.
i. What does Ulysses do?
Ulysses meets people and talks to them about the laws.
ii. Did he enjoy what he was doing? Give reasons.
He did not enjoy what he was doing. His main goal was to travel for adventure. He called his people a savage race.
b) “Yet all experience is an arch wherethrough
Gleams that untravell’d world, whose margin fades
For ever and for ever when I move”.
i. What is experience compared to?
Experience is compared to an arch through which one can see the unknown world.
ii. How do the lines convey that the experience is endless?
When we see through the arch, the end fades away and immediately a new sight will emerge. So the experience is endless.
c) “Little remains: but every hour is saved
From that eternal silence, something more,
A bringer of new things; and vile it were”
i. How is every hour important to Ulysses?
Ulysses wants to utilise whatever time is left with him. So every hour is important to him.
ii. What does the term ‘Little remains’ convey?
He is already old so only little time is left with him.
d) “This is my son, mine own Telemachus,
To whom I leave the sceptre and the isle
Well-loved of me”,
i. Who does Ulysses entrust his kingdom to, in his absence?
Ulysses entrusts his kingdom to his son, Telemachus in his absence
ii. Bring out the significance of the ‘sceptre’.
Sceptre is the decorated staff carried by kings. It is the symbol of kingly power.
e) “That ever with a frolic welcome took
The thunder and the sunshine, and opposed”
i. What do ‘thunder’ and ‘sunshine’ refer to?
‘Thunder’ and ‘sunshine’ refer to the easy and difficult situation they meet when they travel.
ii. What do we infer about the attitude of the sailors?
Sailors are ready to accept any situation on the way. They have positive attitude.
f) “Death closes all: but something ere the end,
Some work of noble note, may yet be done,
Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods”.
i. The above lines convey the undying spirit of Ulysses. Explain.
Ulysses has a strong and determined mind to travel. He will not be frightened of any difficult situation on the way.
ii. Pick out the words in alliteration in the above lines.
ere – end; noble – note.
g) “…………………for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until I die”.
i. What was Ulysses’ purpose in life?
Ulysses’ purpose in life was to travel to unknown lands which might lay far away from him.
ii. How long would his venture last?
His venture would last till his death.
h. “One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield”.
i. Though made weak by time and fate, the hearts are heroic. Explain.
Ulysses and the sailors may be weak due to the age and their fate but they all have a very strong will.
ii. Pick out the words in alliteration in the above lines.
heroic – hearts; weak – will; strive – seek.
5. Explain with reference to the context the following lines. (ERC)
a) “I cannot rest from travel: I will drink
Life to the lees”:
Reference:-
These lines are taken from the poem, ‘Ulysses’ written by Alfred Tennyson.
Context:-
The poet expresses the longing of Ulysses who wants to live his life to the fullest.
Explanation:-
In the poem he describes his intention to travel to unknown places to gain knowledge and experience. Though he is a king he does not show any interest to rule his kingdom. He says he cannot take rest from travel. He wants to live life to the fullest. He gets the fullest satisfaction only from travel
b) “I am become a name;
For always roaming with a hungry heart”
Reference:-
These lines are taken from the poem, ‘Ulysses’ written by Alfred Tennyson.
Context:-
The poet explains what fame Ulysses has gained so far and what he aspires.
Explanation:-
In the poem, ‘Ulysses’ he describes his intention to travel to unknown places to gain knowledge and experience. His ship may drift from one place to another because of strong wind. He has earned a name for himself a constant traveller. He always roams around with a hungry heart. Hungry heart stands for his strong desire to travel to unknown places.
c) “How dull it is to pause, to make an end,
To rust unburnished, not to shine in use”!
Reference:-
These lines are taken from the poem, ‘Ulysses’ written by Alfred Tennyson.
Context:-
The poet utters these words to stress that Ulysses does not want to spend quiet days.
Explanation:-
In the poem, ‘Ulysses’ he describes his intention to travel to unknown places to gain knowledge and experience. He does not want to stop his travel to unknown places. It will be boring for him to give a short gap between travels. He wants to travel continuously. If he stops his travel his life will be rusted like the unused swords become rusted. Only when we use the swords do they shine. In the same way his life will shine only when he travels.
d) “To follow knowledge like a sinking star,
Beyond the utmost bound of human thought”.
Reference:-
These lines are taken from the poem, ‘Ulysses’ written by Alfred Tennyson.
Context:-
The poet expresses Ulysses’ wish to gather knowledge.
Explanation:-
In the poem, ‘Ulysses’ he describes his intention to travel to unknown places to gain knowledge and experience. His quest for knowledge goes beyond ordinary people. He wants to follow knowledge like a sinking star. The expression ‘sinking star’ is ambiguous. Ulysses wants to chase after knowledge and try to catch it as it sinks like a star. Or it may mean Ulysses himself who is moving closer to death. So he is sinking like a star. He wants to gain knowledge which may be beyond the human thoughts.
e) “He works his work, I mine”.
Reference:-
This line is taken from the poem, ‘Ulysses’ written by Alfred Tennyson.
Context:-
The poet expresses that Ulysses wants to follow his own way
Explanation:-
In the poem, ‘Ulysses’ he describes his intention to travel to unknown places to gain knowledge and experience. Though he is a king he does not want to rule over his kingdom. He has decided to pass the responsibility of ruling the people to his son, Telemachus. Then Ulysses would be free to undertake his journey to different places. Telemachus will do his work as a king and Ulysses will do his work as a traveller.
f) “….you and I are old;
Old age hath yet his honour and his toil”;
Reference:-
These lines are taken from the poem, ‘Ulysses’ written by Alfred Tennyson.
Context:-
Here Ulysses address his fellow sailors.
Explanation:-
In the poem, ‘Ulysses’ he describes his intention to travel to unknown places to gain knowledge and experience. In the last part of the poem Ulysses addresses his fellow sailors. They faced the easy and difficult situations alike. Now all have become old. In their old age they still maintain honour and they have the strength to work hard. This shows the determination of Ulysses and his men.
g) “The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs: the deep
Moans round with many voices”.
Reference:-
These lines are taken from the poem, ‘Ulysses’ written by Alfred Tennyson.
Context:-
Ulysses talks about his last days and he wants to travel before his death.
Explanation:-
In the poem, ‘Ulysses’ he describes his intention to travel to unknown places to gain knowledge and experience. In the last part of the poem Ulysses addresses his fellow sailors. Light fades, and the day wanes. Ulysses calls out that it is not too late to discover a “newer world.” He knows that the old age might have made all of them weak but still they have the determination to travel. The sea is waiting for them to take another venture. Ulysses observes the sunset and the arrival of night, but it seems like he’s thinking about his own death as well. It reminds us of people mourning a death.
h) “It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And see the great Achilles, whom we knew”.
Reference:-
These lines are taken from the poem, ‘Ulysses’ written by Alfred Tennyson.
Context:-
In the last part of the poem the poet brings in the idea of Ulysses’ death.
Explanation:-
In the poem, ‘Ulysses’ he describes his intention to travel to unknown places to gain knowledge and experience. In the last part of the poem Ulysses addresses his fellow sailors.They can leave this shore and sail beyond the sunset, exploring until he dies. Perhaps they even will reach the Happy Isles and meet Achilles. Although they are weak in age, much vigour remains; they still have “heroic hearts” Happy Isles means Greek Paradise. Achilles was the greatest Greek warrior. It is believed that Achilles spent his time in Happy Isles after his death.
i) “We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven”;
Reference:-
These lines are taken from the poem, ‘Ulysses’ written by Alfred Tennyson.
Context:-
In the last part of the poem the poet brings in the physical weakness of Ulysses in his old age.
Explanation:-
In the poem, ‘Ulysses’ he describes his intention to travel to unknown places to gain knowledge and experience. In the last part of the poem Ulysses addresses his fellow sailors. He accepts that they have become old and they lost their strength. Once they had the strength to move heaven and earth which means they were strong enough to do any physical work. Although they are weak in age, much vigor remains; they still have “heroic hearts” which are “strong in will” and want to persevere,
explore and discover and never give up.
j) “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield”.
Reference:-
This line is taken from the poem, ‘Ulysses’ written by Alfred Tennyson.
Context:-
In the last part of the poem the poet talks about the strong will power of Ulysses.
Explanation:-
In the poem, ‘Ulysses’ he describes his intention to travel to unknown places to gain knowledge and experience. In the last part of the poem Ulysses addresses his fellow sailors. He accepts that they have become old and they have lost their strength. Once they had the strength to move heaven and earth which means they were strong enough to do any physical work. Though they have lost their strength their will is not lost. Their will-power will be with them to work hard, to find something new.
6. Answer the following questions in a paragraph of about 100 words each.
a) What makes Ulysses seek newer adventures?
Yet all experience is an arch wherethro’
Gleams that untravell’d world whose margin fades
The poem, ‘Ulysses’ was written by Alfred Tennyson. Ulysses complains that he is idle as a king, stays with his elderly wife and keeps passing enlightened laws to his people. He does not want to stop his travels; he suffered and experienced pleasure both with others and alone and both at sea and on the shore. He is a famous name; he has seen the world and has been honored everywhere. He also has enjoyed battling at Troy with his fellow warriors. He is a part of all that he has met, but this is not the end, for his experience is an archway to new experiences, with the horizon always beyond reach. It is boring to stop and wither away and be useless in his old age; simply breathing is not life. When he is alive there is time for something more. It would be a shame to do nothing for even three days; he does not want to store himself away. His spirit yearns to attain knowledge and follow it like a sinking star.
To follow knowledge like a sinking star,
Beyond the utmost bound of human thought.
b) List the roles and responsibilities Ulysses assigns to his son Telemachus, while he is away.
This is my son, mine own Telemachus,
To whom I leave the sceptre and the isle
The poem, ‘Ulysses’ was written by Alfred Tennyson. In the poem he describes his intention to travel to unknown places to gain knowledge and experience. In contrast, his son Telemachus, who will succeed him as king, seems content to stay in the kingdom and simply rule the people. Ulysses loves him and knows that he will use his prudence to govern wisely, turning the rough people mild, and he is blameless and decent in his common duties. He honors the family’s gods. Yet, Telemachus does not have his father’s energy. He will do his work well leaving Ulysses to do his work as a traveller. When compared with Ulysses, Telemachus seems a lot less restless. He has “slow prudence,” meaning he’s patient and willing to make the best decision for the people of Ithaca without being too hasty.
A rugged people, and through soft degrees
Subdue them to the useful and the good.–
c) What is Ulysses’ clarion call to his sailors? How does he inspire them?
Free hearts, free foreheads – you and I are old;
Old age hath yet his honour and his toil;
The poem, ‘Ulysses’ was written Alfred Tennyson. In the poem he describes his intention to travel to unknown places to gain knowledge and experience. In the last part of the poem Ulysses addresses his fellow sailors. Ulysses beckons his sailors together at the port where the ship is ready to sail. His companions who have faced both thunder and sunshine with a smile, are united by their undying spirit of adventure. Though death would end everything, Ulysses urges his companions to join him and sail beyond the sunset and seek a newer world, regardless of consequences. These brave hearts who had once moved heaven and earth, may have grown old and weak physically but their spirit is young and undaunted. His call is an inspiration to all those who seek true knowledge and strive to lead meaningful lives.
‘T is not too late to seek a newer world.
Push off, and sitting well in order smite
The sounding furrows;
Listening
Listen to the poem and fill in the blanks with appropriate words and phrases. If required listen to the poem again.
Choose the best option and complete the sentences
1. ________ works like madness in the poet.
- Wander–Thirst
- Bidding Farewell
- Eastern Sunrise
- Western Seas
Ans : Wander–Thirst
2. A man could choose ________ as his guide.
- the sun
- the hills
- a star
- a bird
Ans : a star
3. There is no end of ________ once the voice is heard.
- walking
- roaming
- talking
- voyaging
Ans : voyaging
4. The old ships return, while the young ships ________.
- drift
- move
- sail
- wander
Ans : sail
5. The blame is on the sun, stars, the road and the ________.
- hills
- trees
- seas
- sky
Ans : sky
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