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Explain with reference to the context the following lines.

(a) “I cannot rest from travel: I will drink Life to the lees:”

(b) “I am become a name; For always roaming with a hungry heart”

(c) “How dull it is to pause, to make an end, To rust unburnished, not to shine in use!”

(d) “To follow knowledge like a sinking star, Beyond the utmost bound of human thought”

(e) “He works his work, I mine.’’’’

(f) “….you and I are old; Old age hath yet his honour and his toil;”

(g) “The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs: the deep Moans round with many voices.”

(h) “It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles, And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.”

(i) “We are not now that strength which in old days Moved earth and heaven;”

(j) “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”

1 Answer

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(a) Reference: These lines are from the poem ‘Ulysses”written by Alfred Tennyson.

Context and Explanation: Ulysses, after spending many years in the seas returns to Ithaca and starts ruling his country. But his heart is not in the administration of his kingdom. He wants to sail again. At this context he says these words. He wishes to enjoy life to the fullest and so he can’t afford to idle away his remaining life as a king.

(b) Reference: These lines are from the poem ‘Ulysses” written by Alfred Tennyson.

Context and Explanation: Ulysses says these words while discussing the reputation he has earned among the common multitude due to his daring adventures. He has roamed the world like a hungry lion. This line has a biblical alusion as well “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness” – Matthew V. 6.

Though Ulysses is aware of his fame, it doesn’t motivate him to stay or settle down in the kingdom of Ithaca. His inquisitive spirit is always looking for newer knowledge through ‘the arch’ to the untravelled world.

(c) Reference: These lines are from the poem ‘Ulysses” written by Alfred Tennyson.

Context and Explanation: The poet says these words while discussing the mental agony of Ulysses who is unable to settle down with his ageing wife Penelope and son Telemachus. Ulysses finds doling out justice to a savage people as ‘boring’. He does not want to settle down and die in Ithaca. He compares himself to a sword which may rust if left unused. He wants to lead an active and adventurous life till his death.

(d) Reference: These lines are from the poem ‘Ulysses” written by Alfred Tennyson.

Context and Explanation: The poet says these words while describing the quest Ulysses has for adventure and fulfillment. Similar to a sinking star, Ulysses wants to pursue in his failing old age to pursue knowledge like the goal of Goethe’s Faust, his quest is defined by the pursuit of new and unique knowledge “beyond the utmost bound of human thought”.

(e) Reference: These lines are from the poem ‘Ulysses” written by Alfred Tennyson.

Context and Explanation: The poet says these words while justifying the decision of Ulysses to pass on his kingdom to Telemachus. Ulysses explains the polar difference between himself and his son Telemachus. His son will be a ‘fair’ and ‘decent’ ruler. Unlike Ulysses, Telemachus is rooted in regular political life. He enjoys leading “savage” population and the responsibility of showing the subject better moral codes of conduct and upholding justice. Whereas Ulysses finds this “slow” and intolerable. So, he wishes his son to rule Ithaca and for himself he wishes to set sail to the unknown.

(f) Reference: These lines are from the poem ‘Ulysses” written by Alfred Tennyson.

Context and Explanation: Poet, in this part of the monologue describes the address made by Ulysses to his compatriots who were with him during “thunders and sunshine”. He admits the fact that they are growing old. But he does not want to retire like ordinary mortals. He accepts gracefully the honour befitting old age as a result of varied cultural experiences. Yet, he does not want old people to bow out of the field of action. He sincerely believes there is more work to be done, lands to be explored and newer knowledge to be acquired in old age before death.

(g) Reference: These lines are from the poem ‘Ulysses” written by Alfred Tennyson. 

Context and Explanation: The poet poet continues to discuss old age and the tantalising call of the oceans to conquer. Ulysses hints at the probable end of the cycle of life in the words “The long clay wanes”. The symbol of darkness or night is mostly associated with death. The lure of ocean to resume his voyages beyond the point of sunset is too tempting to resist. The dark unfathomable sea beckons him and his compatriots with mysterious voices.

(h) Reference: These lines are from the poem ‘Ulysses” written by Alfred Tennyson.

Context and Explanation: The poet says these words through Ulysses as to the probable outcome of the daring voyage at the fag end of his life. Ulysses is uncertain about the probable outcome of his last voyage. But he infers that he might reach ‘Happy Isles’ and see the ‘great Achilles’ who was dipped in the river of life.

(i) Reference: These lines are from the poem ‘Ulysses” written by Alfred Tennyson.

Context and Explanation: The poet says these words through Ulysses when he wants to justify the reasons for resuming the daring voyage. He admits the decline in the compatriots’ physical strength with which they were able to move heaven and earth in their youth. He asks his compatriots to ignore the infinity of age and draw on their inner spiritual strength to resume their voyage beyond sunset.

(j) Reference: These lines are from the poem ‘Ulysses” written by Alfred Tennyson.

Context and Explanation: Tennyson says these words through Ulysses who makes his motto loud and clear in these words. The final line of the poem is Ulysses’ enduring challenge to readers as well. The challenge if the aged ones could push ahead with vigour and strength of will no matter how fragile their bodies are. To yield to age or weakness is to be less than fully human. It might be honourable to live a peaceful settled life in the old age. But one would naturally miss out most exciting moments of life if one does not venture out, at least a little towards the unknown.

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