Lord Alfred Tennyson: Life, Works, and Legacy of the Great Victorian Poet

     Discover the inspiring life story of Lord Alfred Tennyson, England’s famous Victorian poet. Learn about his early life, major works, poetic style and lasting literary legacy.

Life and Career of Lord Alfred Tennyson

Birth and Family

• Alfred Tennyson was born on August 6, 1809, in Lincolnshire, England.
• His village was Somersby, located between Spilsby and Horncastle.
• His father was the Rector of Somersby.
• The natural beauty of the inland and coast inspired many of his poems like The May Queen and Locksley Hall.

Early Life

• He enjoyed his childhood near rivers and fields, often reading and writing.
• Tennyson began writing poetry at a young age, influenced by great poets like Scott, Byron, and Pope.
• By the age of 14, he had already written long poems and blank verse dramas.

Education

• From 1817 to 1820, he studied at Louth Grammar School.
• Later, he studied under his father, a classical scholar.
• In 1828, he joined Trinity College, Cambridge, along with his brother Charles.
• There, he became friends with many future scholars and poets like Arthur Hallam, Brookfield, Spedding, and Trench.
• His poem Timbuctoo won the university prize.

Early Poetry

• Before college, he published Poems by Two Brothers with his brother.
• This book reflected their early poetic voice and love for Byron's work.
• In 1833, his close friend Arthur Hallam died, which deeply affected him.

Great Losses

• Tennyson lost his father in 1831, and Hallam in 1833.
• These personal sorrows made his poetry more emotional and reflective.
• His works showed deep thoughts about life, death, and human suffering.

Famous Works (1833–1842)

• Tennyson published volumes of poetry in 1833 and 1842.
• Famous poems include:
  • Oenone
  • The Lotos-Eaters
  • Ulysses
  • The May Queen
  • The Palace of Art
  • The Vision of Sin
• He wrote on love, nature, truth and human struggles.

Recognition

• In 1845, he received a government pension of £200 per year.
• This was his first official recognition as a poet.
• He gained respect from many well-known writers like Dickens and Carlyle.

Arthurian Legends

• Tennyson loved the legends of King Arthur.
• He wrote poems based on them, such as:
  • The Lady of Shalott
  • Sir Lancelot and Sir Galahad
  • Morte d’Arthur
• Between 1856 and 1859, he wrote Idylls of the King, featuring:
  • Enid
  • Vivien
  • Elaine
  • Guinevere
• He returned to this theme in 1870, adding:
  • The Coming of Arthur
  • The Holy Grail
  • The Last Tournament and more.

Poet Laureate

• In 1850, after Wordsworth’s death, he became Poet Laureate of England.
• His first poem as Laureate was Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington (1852).
• Later, he wrote The Charge of the Light Brigade.

Later Poems and Drama

• He tried writing plays but was less successful.
• Some of his dramas include:
  • Queen Mary (1875)
  • Harold (1876)
  • Becket (1879)

Last Poems

• He continued writing poetry in his final years.
• Important poems include:
  • Rizpah
  • Demeter and Persephone
  • Crossing the Bar
• His poetry remained powerful until the end.

Final Years and Death

• In 1873, he refused a baronetcy but accepted a Peerage in 1883.
• He lived peacefully at Farringford, meeting friends and enjoying nature.
• He died peacefully on October 6, 1892, at the age of 83.

Legacy

• Tennyson remains one of the greatest Victorian poets.
• His works are loved for their beauty, depth, and emotional strength.
• He gave a voice to human joy, grief, faith and doubt through poetry.