In the shadowy realms of Victorian literature exists a figure shrouded in importance. Of secrets of the human spirit, this poet’s words whisper. Into a labyrinth of mystery and intrigue, his verses beckon the reader. The literary elite murmurs his name in hushed tones as it evokes awe and reverence. This figure represents no one else than Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
Behind the veil of time and space, his verses dance like phantoms in the moonlight. Tales of love and loss, of triumph and tragedy he penned. They grab the heart with a vice-like grip. Who stands as this articulate bard? And what treasures lie hidden within the pages of his immortal works?
Embark on a journey through melancholic and reflective corridors of Alfred Tennyson’s mind. Every one of his lines awaits mining for its hidden gems. And every one of his stanzas howls through shafts long after the final page has turned.
Table of Contents
- Traversing Through the Life and Legacy of Alfred Tennyson
- A Meticulous Interpretation of Each Verse of ‘Quandaries and Quests’
- Why Was Alfred Called Lord Tennyson?
- What Was Tennyson Famous for?
- What Are Tennyson’s Three Famous Poems?
- What Happened to Alfred, Lord Tennyson?
- Timeline of Alfred Tennyson
Traversing Through the Life and Legacy of Alfred Tennyson
Quandaries and Quests
A wise voice from the Victorian age, 1
Lyrical words from a poet and sage. 2
From the Lady of Shalott’s woeful fate, 3
Raptures in Idylls of the King await. 4
Enid’s love has elements of restraint, 5
Devotion to Geraint stands firm and quaint. 6
,
Loyal Ulysses embarked on bold quests, 7
Of Cyclops and Sirens, trials and tests. 8
Radiant, the charge of the Light Brigade, 9
Daring soldiers, their bravery displayed. 10
Timeless In Memoriam, Faith and Doubt, 11
Exploring grief, loss, life, and death throughout. 12
Narratives in Tennyson’s works have strife, 13
Noble knights fighting, risking all for life. 14
Yearned for glimpses of moments in time gone, 15
Sculpted verses, grand as the light of dawn. 16
Opulent, his words reign, concise and clear, 17
Nestled in passions, cherished far and near. 18
A Meticulous Interpretation of Each Verse of ‘Quandaries and Quests’
First Stanza
1
Alfred Tennyson possessed a wise voice resonating through the corridors of the Victorian age. Akin to the sighs of ancient oaks, his voice had understanding. In his verses, one could discern the echoes of time and the melancholy of existence. He stitched together longing, consideration, and philosophical questioning. My Acrostic poem expresses this in the first verse. UP
2
Lyrical words with a masterful touch Alfred Tennyson wielded. His verses sang with heart and the rhythms of nature. As both a poet and sage, he stood. He knew the human spirit and the secrets hiding beyond the visible realm. UP
3
The woeful fate of the Lady of Shalott narrates a tale of tragedy. Tennyson draped the Lady in solitude, ensconced within her tower. A curse bound her to watch but never to experience the world outside. The Victorian poet painted a bleak portrait of the Lady’s longing. And her intention to break free from the confines of her solitary existence. Yet, like a moth drawn to the flame, her attempt to grasp the fleeting beauty of the world led only to her tragic demise. UP
4
Those who delve into the verses of ‘Idylls of the King’ await raptures. Chivalric splendour oozes from the epic twelve narrative poems. Themes of honour, love, and destiny the hand of the poet lays out. Lord Tennyson resurrects the legendary realm of King Arthur and his noble knights. The raptures lie in the lyrical beauty of his language. And the immense profundity of the experiences of his characters. UP
5
Enid appears as one of the characters in Alfred Tennyson’s ‘Idylls of the King.’ In the idyll of ‘Geraint and Enid,’ he looks at the virtues of fidelity and patience. And the silent suffering borne out of the trials of love. The love of Enid has elements of restraint. To her husband, Sir Geraint, she embodies restrained affection. UP
6
With jealousy and misunderstanding, Enid gets tested. The tale of ‘Geraint and Enid’ in ‘Idylls of the King’ tells this in detail. Her devotion to Geraint stands firm and quaint despite the ups and downs. Amidst the trials they face, it manifests in her loyalty. The affection of Enid shines through her quiet fortitude and gentle obedience. Despite the suspicions and harsh treatment of Geraint, she remains faithful. Her love stays unshaken by his mistrust. It prompts Sir Geraint to realise his error and the strength of her love. UP
Second Stanza
7
The Greek hero Odysseus embarks on bold quests, showing his spirit of venture. Alfred Tennyson renders the legendary Ulysses in his poem of the same name as a figure of indomitable will. The boundless ambition and thirst for knowledge drive the Greek hero ever onward. Wearied by the mundane routines of domestic life, the ageing king yearns for a last adventure. To reclaim the glory of his youth, he sets sail once more. And he departs into uncharted seas and new lands. UP
8
Odysseus encountered the Cyclops Polyphemus, Sirens, and other mythological beasts in Homer’s ‘Odyssey.’ Alfred Tennyson, though, did not write about these confrontations. He concentrates on the character of Ulysses himself. About the Greek hero’s past exploits and his trials and tests, Tennyson’s poem ponders. On the yearning for exploration and pursuit of new conquests lies the focus. The journey of Ulysses continues thoughtfully and philosophically. UP
9
The radiance of ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ lies in its depiction of heroism amidst despair. Alfred Tennyson commemorates the brave but disastrous cavalry charge. This rush forward occurred during the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War. He penned the boldness and unyielding spirit of the soldiers in rhymed verses. Despite the fatal misjudgment, they ride forth, leading them to near-certain demise. Undaunted by the spectre of death, their radiance shines. UP
10
Alfred Tennyson portrays the soldiers in ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ as fearless. The soldiers dare to strike despite the futility, displaying their bravery. Tennyson immortalises the courage and heroism of the Light Brigade. The daring nature and bravery of the soldiers function as core motifs. UP
Third Stanza
11
Over 17 years, Tennyson wrote the timeless poem ‘In Memoriam A.H.H..’ Into themes of faith and doubt, the work delves. Alfred Tennyson contemplates the death of his close friend, Arthur Henry Hallam. How he portrays the human condition gives ‘In Memoriam A.H.H.’ a timeless captivation. About loss, the flow of time, and the quest for meaning Tennyson reflects. UP
12
Throughout the verses of ‘In Memoriam A.H.H.,’ an exploration of grief, loss, life, and death takes place. To cope with loss, Alfred Tennyson goes on an emotional journey. He tries to understand the absence of Hallam. Arthur Henry Hallam, a loyal companion of Tennyson, succumbed to his fate at age 22. Alfred Tennyson starts with raw, visceral expressions of mourning and despair. The nature of beginning and end, and he questions the purpose behind such a loss. UP
13
The narratives of the works of Alfred Tennyson often brim with strife. Internal conflicts of his characters or the external turmoil they face. Rife with tales of struggle, adversity, and discord. The dramatic tension and enrichment of his poetry heightens due to these characteristics. UP
14
Noble knights fighting for life interweaves with themes of strife in Tennyson’s works. Strife epitomises itself in various forms. Like clashes on the battlefields and internal struggles within the characters. And their broader societal tensions, which make their actions and choices. The dangers knights must overcome, Alfred Tennyson portrays in ‘Morte d’Arthur.’
In ‘Idylls of the King,’ Sir Lancelot experiences inner turmoil. His feelings for Queen Guinevere and his loyalty to King Arthur get tested. Friendship and fellowship teeter on the edge of uncertainty. UP
15
In the poetry of Tennyson, he often expresses a yearning for glimpses of moments in time gone. In his works, nostalgia, memory, and past events receive thorough exploration. The longing for moments of joy and significance to reclaim persisted within him. In poems like ‘Tears, Idle Tears’ and ‘The Lotos-Eaters,’ Alfred Tennyson evokes a yearning for the past. He grieves the fleetingness of happiness and the inevitability of change. UP
16
For its evocative language, the poetry of Lord Tennyson rose to prominence. He sculpted verses, grand as the light of dawn. The grandeur of nature, emotions, and philosophical reflections find expression in his verses. Through his mastery of imagery, in a figurative sense, the splendour of dawn comes alive. Vivid, luminous scenes rich in descriptive language, he penned. UP
17
Opulence reigns in the words of Alfred Tennyson. And his language has conciseness and clarity. He picked the words with care to improve the impact of poems. Despite the language’s concision, it has magnificence and vivacity. Combining opulent language with conciseness and clarity marked his poetic intellect. UP
18
My Acrostic poem concludes with the ardencies of Alfred Tennyson. The poems of Tennyson often nestle in the passions of the human heart. Themes of love, grief, longing, and hope characterise them. Audiences across different times, from far and near, connect to these themes. On elements of the human condition, his works touch. Readers glimpse their feelings and experiences reflected in his verses. UP
Why Was Alfred Called Lord Tennyson?
Alfred Tennyson came into being not far from the windy shores of Lincolnshire in 1809. From a tender age, greatness awaited Alfred. Due to his keen intellect and talent for verse, he got the attention of literary luminaries. Haunting melancholy and a romantic fervour define his early poems. For which he received much praise in the literary world.
“With blackest moss the flower-plots
Excerpt from ‘Mariana’
Were thickly crusted, one and all:
The rusted nails fell from the knots
That held the pear to the gable-wall.
The broken sheds look’d sad and strange:
Unlifted was the clinking latch;
Weeded and worn the ancient thatch
Upon the lonely moated grange.
She only said, “My life is dreary,
He cometh not,” she said;
She said, “I am aweary, aweary,
I would that I were dead!””
In 1850, Tennyson’s life took a twist, a dramatic turn. William Wordsworth, Poet Laureate (Wikipedia) of England, passed away at age 80. As the successor, Queen Victoria chose Alfred, which changed the course of his life. Tennyson’s outstanding talent made him predestined for the honorary position. In the Victorian era, he evolved into one of the foremost poets.
AI art by Midjourney.
Queen Victoria granted Alfred Tennyson 1884 the title Baron. Honouring his literary contributions, she promoted him to the noble title of “Lord.” The correct term for his title reads Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron of Tennyson. Now an aristocrat, this secured his place in history.
The title did not come upon him by birth or chance but by his dedication to poetry. And his devotedness to the vocation.
“I am a part of all that I have met;
Excerpt from ‘Ulysses’
Yet all experience is an arch wherethro’
Gleams that untravell’d world whose margin fades
For ever and forever when I move.”
What Was Tennyson Famous for?
The prestige of Lord Tennyson stemmed from his mastery of the written word. His verses slink through the night like tendrils of darkness. Tales of sorrow, yearning, and despair, his words recount. With a pen as sharp as a dagger and ink as black as midnight, he told of love and loss. The images he conjured seared into the minds of many and mesmerised.
“Out flew the web and floated wide;
Excerpt from ‘The Lady of Shalott’
The mirror crack’d from side to side;
‘The curse is come upon me,’ cried
The Lady of Shalott.”
Not only did his command of the language set him apart. Emotions fill the works of Alfred Tennyson. Anguish and despair, the darkest corners of the human soul, interested him. Like whispers from beyond the grave, his verses echo through the halls of ages.
“There rolls the deep where grew the tree.
Excerpt from ‘In Memoriam A.H.H.’ – Canto CXXI, lyric 123
O earth, what changes hast thou seen!
There where the long street roars, hath been
The stillness of the central sea.
The hills are shadows, and they flow
From form to form, and nothing stands;
They melt like mist, the solid lands,
Like clouds they shape themselves and go.”
Besides sombre themes, he possessed a talent for the beauty of the human spirit. The resilience of the heart, the power of love, and triumph over adversity he celebrated. Even Alfred Tennyson’s most tragic tales had confidence and redemption. They shine like beacons in the inky blackness of the night.
“O that ’twere possible
Excerpt from ‘Maud’
After long grief and pain
To find the arms of my true love
Round me once again!…”
What Are Tennyson’s Three Famous Poems?
Tennyson’s most notable literary contributions comprise ‘In Memoriam A.H.H.,’ ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade,’ and ‘Idylls of the King.’ He used language, narrative, and emotional depth masterfully in these works.
In Memoriam A.H.H.
The theme of ‘In Memoriam A.H.H.’ remains personal and emotional throughout. Arthur Henry Hallam, a close friend of Alfred Tennyson, died tragically at a young age. For Tennyson, ‘In Memoriam A.H.H.’ functions as a conduit to process his grief. Loss and the meaning of life, he muses about. Through elegiac verses, Tennyson combats emptiness and despair. He reaches the extent of his sorrow and longing with eloquence.
Alfred Tennyson deals with misery and distress with an unflinching gaze. Faith, doubt, and the riddles of existence serve also as a motif. Death remains unavoidable, and life stays fleeting. Solace lies in the beauty of the natural world and the power of love.
Critics celebrate ‘In Memoriam A.H.H.’ for its innovation and poetic craftsmanship. Its content has 133 cantons, each with lyrical meditations and reflections. Many poetic techniques come to fruition. Alfred Tennyson plays with rhyme schemes, vivid imagery, and musical rhythms.
“I hold it true, whate’er befall;
Excerpt from ‘In Memoriam A.H.H.’ – Canto XXVII, lyric 29
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
‘Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.”
The Charge of the Light Brigade
Courage, honour, and sacrifice outline ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade.’ Alfred Tennyson writes about the British cavalry at the Battle of Balaclava. His inspiration comes from their valiant but ill-fated charge during the Crimean War. Visceral his words, pulsating with raw intensity and the brutal chaos of combat. Blood-soaked battlefields, where soldiers ride into death with unwavering resolve come alive.
The light cavalry shows honour and obedience despite overwhelming odds and certain death. These men obey orders without question and ride determined. Their resoluteness defies reason and logic. Due to their duty and devotion to the nation, they signify heroism. To those who hear their tale, they have nothing but amazement and admiration.
‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ holds great appeal. It has themes of emotions which resound across cultures and times. The bravery of the soldiers, the folly of war, or the triumph over adversity include this. Alfred Tennyson gives us intellectual nourishment on the power of the human spirit. In dire times, to rise above the darkest of circumstances.
“Cannon to right of them,
Excerpt from ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volleyed and thundered;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of hell
Rode the six hundred.”
Idylls of the King
Alfred Tennyson processes the Arthurian legend in ‘Idylls of the King.’ Camelot, King Arthur, Guinevere, and Lancelot embody honour, chivalry, and romance. These topics do not fall out of favour and have interested and fascinated readers for ages. Tennyson retells the saga in twelve interconnected poems or idylls. From the pomp of Camelot to its demise, he narrates the rise and fall of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Vivid verses display knights, ladies, and wizards. In this mystical realm, honour stands above all, and destiny flickers in the stars.
AI art by Midjourney.
Complex layers of human nature in all its glory reveal the poem. Besides the struggle between good and evil, the quest for meaning and purpose also. The rivalry of Arthur and Mordred and the tragedy of Lancelot and Guinevere. Geraint, one of King Arthur’s knights, and Enid navigate their trials and tribulations. The intricacies they cope with include love, loyalty, and honour.
Lord Tennyson Alfred lays bare hope and fear, joy and sorrow. A mirror in which we stare to confront the truths lying at the heart of our being.
To this day, ‘Idylls of the King’ has pertinence and cultural impact. Of the Arthurian legends, it stands as one of the most significant interpretations. Our imagination of Camelot and its illustrious inhabitants shaped Alfred Tennyson. Across literature, art, and popular culture exist a lot of adaptations of this work. Prevalent topics like love, betrayal, and redemption have great allure. Readers still link with its message, like courage, sacrifice, honour, and duty.
“Then saw they how there hove a dusky barge,
Excerpt from ‘Idylls of the King’ – The Passing of Arthur
Dark as a funeral scarf from stem to stern,
Beneath them; and descending they were ware
That all the decks were dense with stately forms,
Black-stoled, black-hooded, like a dream-by these
Three Queens with crowns of gold: and from them rose
A cry that shiver’d to the tingling stars,
And, as it were one voice, an agony
Of lamentation, like a wind that shrills
All night in a waste land, where no one comes,
Or hath come, since the making of the world.”
What Happened to Alfred, Lord Tennyson?
In the waning years of Alfred Tennyson’s life, he retreated from the glare of public adulation. Aldworth House in West Sussex brought him solace and stillness. While pondering mortality, he narrated the nature of being and the march of time in his verses. As the years passed and the shadows grew longer, Tennyson’s health faltered. His once-potent voice dwindled to a mere mumble. Despite his decreasing strength, his spirit remained unbroken. His resolve did not yield in the face of encroaching darkness.
“Twilight and evening bell,
Excerpt from ‘Crossing the Bar’
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;”
On a cold and dreary day in October of 1892, the final curtain fell on Alfred Tennyson. The poet of the Victorian era, whose words touched the hearts of millions, demised.
Amidst the mourning and lamentation, glimmers confidence. Through the halls of literary history, his name still echoes.
Timeline of Alfred Tennyson*
1800s
1809, August 6
Birth of Alfred Tennyson in Somersby in Lincolnshire, England.
1810s
1816
Student of King Edward VI Grammar School in Louth.
1820s
1820
Attended King Edward VI Grammar School in Louth.
1826
Published his first poems along with his brother Charles. The book title reads ‘Poems by Two Brothers’ and holds 103 poems. Fredericks, another brother, authored three or four poems. The title ‘Poems by Two Brothers’ proves deceptive.
On the title, the date reads 1827. Yet, the book reached publication in 1826.
1827, June
Left Lincolnshire for the first time with his brother George and his mother Elizabeth. The Tennysons travelled to London to visit relatives.
1827, November
Entered Trinity College in Cambridge.
1829
Death of his brother, George Tennyson. George died before 1829, his year of death remaining unknown.
1829, April
Alfred Tennyson and Arthur Hallam form a friendship.
1829
Awarded the Chancellor’s Gold Medal at Cambridge for ‘Timbuctoo.’
1830s
1830, June
Published a collection of 56 poems titled ‘Poems, Chiefly Lyrical.’ Among them ‘Claribel’ and ‘Mariana.’
1831, March 18
Death of his father, George Clayton Tennyson.
1831
Left Trinity College in Cambridge due to his father’s death before taking his degree.
1831
Contributed to ‘The Gem, A Literary Annual.’ It included the poems ‘No More,’ ‘Anacreontics,’ and ‘A Fragment.’
1831, August
Published ‘Sonnet’ in ‘The Englishman’s Magazine.’
1832
Published ‘Sonnet’ in ‘The Yorkshire Literary Annual.’
1832, December
Published ‘Poems’ with a collection of 30 poems. It included ‘The Lady of Shalott,’ ‘Oenone,’ ‘The Palace of Art,’ ‘The Lotos-Eaters,’ and ‘A Dream of Fair Women.’
On the title, the date reads 1833. Yet, the book reached publication in 1832.
1833
Published two parts of ‘The Lover’s Tale.’ Tennyson suppressed its publication, feeling it incomplete.
1833
Republished ‘Sonnet’ in ‘Friendship’s Offering.’
1833, September 15
Death of his close friend, Arthur Henry Hallam.
1837
Published ‘St. Agnes’ in the literary annual ‘The Keepsake’ Volume 1837.
1837
Moved to Beech Hill Park in High Beech within Epping Forest in Essex with his family.
1839
Met Thomas Carlyle. A lifelong friendship began.
1840s
1840
Moved to London. Tennyson lived at Chapel House in Twickenham for some time.
1841
Death of his sister, Emily Tennyson. Emily died after 1841, her year of death remaining unknown.
1842, May 14
Published the two-volume ‘Poems.’ The first volume included works already published with 44 poems. The second volume had new poems with a total of 29. It included ‘Morte d’Arthur,’ ‘Ulysses,’ ‘Locksley Hall,’ ‘Godiva,’ ‘The Two Voices,’ ‘The Day-Dream,’ ‘Sir Galahad,’ ‘The Vision of Sin,’ and ‘Break, Break, Break.’ In the first volume, he also featured a new version of ‘The Lady of Shallot.’
1846
Published ‘The New Timon and the Poets’ and ‘Afterthought’ in ‘Punch.’
1847
Published ‘The Princess; A Medley.’ It holds the poems ‘The Princess,’ ‘The Splendour Falls,’ ‘Tears, Idle Tears,’ and ‘Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal.’
1849
Published ‘To-‘ in ‘The Examiner’ newspaper.
1850s
1850
Published ‘In Memoriam A.H.H..’ Dedicated to his deceased friend Arthur Henry Hallam. It included the poem ‘Ring Out, Wild Bells.’
1850
Published ‘Here Often, When a Child, I Lay Reclined’ in ‘Manchester Athenaeum album, 1850.’
1850, June 13
Married Emily Sellwood in Shiplake.
1850, November 19
Appointed Poet Laureate by Queen Victoria.
1851
Published ‘What Time I Wasted Youthful Hours’ and ‘Come Not, When I Am Dead’ in the literary annual ‘The Keepsake’ Volume 1851.
1851
Published the short poem ‘The Eagle.’
1852, January
Published ‘Britons, Guard Your Own,’ ‘Hands All Round,’ ‘The Third of February, 1852,’ and ‘How Much I Love This Winter’s Manly Style’ in ‘The Examiner’ newspaper.
1852
Published ‘Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington.’
1852, August 11
Birth of his first son, Hallam.
1853
Rented Farringford House on the Isle of Wight.
1854, March 16
Birth of his second son, Lionel.
1854, December 9
Published the first draft of ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ in ‘The Examiner’ newspaper.
1855
Published ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade.’
1855
Published ‘Maud.’ It included the poem ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade.’
1856
Bought Farringford House on the Isle of Wight.
1859, May 4
Published ‘The War,’ better known as ‘Form, Riflemen, Form,’ in ‘Times’ newspaper.
1859, July 16
Published ‘The Grandmother’s Apology’ in ‘Once a Week’ Series 1, Volume 1, Issue 3.
1859
Published ‘Idylls of the King’ from 1859 until 1885.
1860s
1860, January
Published ‘Sea-Dreams. An Idyll’ in ‘Macmillan’s Magazine’ Volume 1, Issue 3.
1860, February
Published ‘Tithonus’ in ‘The Cornhill Magazine’ Vol. I, No. 2.
1861
Published ‘The Sailor Boy.’
1862, April 14
Met Queen Victoria at her royal residence at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.
1862
Published ‘Enoch Arden and Other Poems’ from 1862 until 1864. It also included the poems ‘Tithonus’ and ‘Ode for the Opening of the Exhibition.’
1863, March 10
Published ‘A Welcome,’ a tribute to Alexandra of Denmark in the ‘Times’ newspaper.
1865, February 21
Death of his mother, Elizabeth (Fytch) Tennyson.
1865, July
Published ‘Home They Brought Her Warrior Dead’ in ‘Macmillan’s Magazine’ Volume 12, Issue 69.
1865
Declined a baronetcy by Benjamin Disraeli.
1866, September 8
Death of his brother, Septimus Tennyson.
1866, November
Published ‘Tears, Idle Tears’ in ‘Macmillan’s Magazine’ Volume 15, Issue 85.
1867
Published ‘The Victim.’
1868, January 4
Published ‘On a Spiteful Letter’ in ‘Once a Week’ Series 3, Volume 1, Issue 1.
1868, February
Published ‘Wages’ in ‘Macmillan’s Magazine’ Volume 17, Issue 100.
1868, May
Published ‘Lucretius’ in ‘Macmillan’s Magazine’ Volume 18, Issue 103.
1869
Moved to Aldworth House in West Sussex.
1869, December
Published ‘The Holy Grail and Other Poems.’ It included 11 poems, such as ‘The Coming of Arthur’ and ‘Flower in the Crannied Wall.’
1870s
1870, December
Arthur Sullivan published ‘The Window; or, The Songs of the Wrens,’ a song cycle with words by Tennyson.
1871
Published ‘The Last Tournament.’
1872
Published ‘Ode’ sung at the opening of the International Exhibition.
1872
Published ‘Gareth and Lynette.’
1874
Published ‘A Welcome’ to Marie Alexandrovna, Duchess of Edinburgh, in the ‘Times’ newspaper.
1875
Published ‘The Lover’s Tale and Other Poems’ with a collection of 17 poems and sonnets.
1875
Published ‘Queen Mary; A Drama.’
1877
Published ‘Harold; A Drama.’
1877, March
Published ‘Prefatory Poem’ in ‘The Nineteenth Century’ Volume 1, Issue 1.
1877, May
Published ‘Montenegro’ in ‘The Nineteenth Century’ Volume 1, Issue 3.
1877, June
Published the sonnet ‘To Victor Hugo’ in ‘The Nineteenth Century’ Volume 1, Issue 4.
1878, March
Published ‘The Revenge, A Ballad of the Fleet’ in ‘The Nineteenth Century’ Volume 3, Issue 13.
1879
Published a revised version of three parts of ‘The Lover’s Tale.’ Along with ‘The Golden Supper’ as a fourth part.
1879, April
Published ‘Dedicatory Poem to the Princess Alice’ and ‘The Defence of Lucknow’ in ‘The Nineteenth Century’ Volume 5, Issue 26.
1879, April 25
Death of his brother, Charles (Tennyson) Turner. Charles and Alfred Tennyson released a collection of their poems in 1826.
1880s
1880, May
Published ‘Two Greetings’ and ‘The Human Cry’ in ‘The Nineteenth Century’ Volume 7, Issue 39.
1880
Published ‘Ballads and Other Poems,’ which contains 14 poems and ballads. And also four sonnets and five translations.
1880, February
Published ‘Child Songs.’
1881, November
Published ‘Despair. A Dramatic Monologue’ in ‘The Nineteenth Century’ Volume 10, Issue 57.
1882, March
Published ‘The Charge of the Heavy Brigade at Balaclava. October 25th, 1854’ in ‘Macmillan’s Magazine’ Volume 45, Issue 269.
1882, September
Published ‘To Virgil’ in ‘The Nineteenth Century’ Volume 12, Issue 67.
1882, November 11
Published the play ‘The Promise of May.’
1883, March
Published ‘Frater Ave atque Vale’ in ‘The Nineteenth Century’ Volume 13, Issue 73.
1883, August 7
Met Queen Victoria.
1883, September
Accepted a baronetcy due to Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone.
1884
Published ‘Becket.’
1884
Published ‘The Falcon and the Cup.’
1884
Published ‘Early Spring’ in ‘The Youth’s Companion.’
1884
Queen Victoria created him Baron Tennyson. The title read “of Aldworth in the County of Sussex and of Freshwater in the Isle of Wight.”
1884, March 11
Lord Tennyson took his seat in the House of Lords.
1884, April 4
Death of his sister, Mary (Tennyson) Ker.
1884, December
Published ‘Freedom’ in ‘Macmillan’s Magazine’ Volume 51, Issue 302.
1885, January
Published ‘Therefore Your Halls, Your Ancient Colleges’ in ‘The Nineteenth Century’ Volume 17, Issue 95.
1885
Published ‘Tiresias and Other Poems,’ which contains 24 poems.
1885, April 23
Published ‘The Fleet’ in ‘Times’ newspaper.
1885, November
Published ‘Vastness’ in ‘Macmillan’s Magazine.’
1886, April
Published ‘Carmen Saeculare. An Ode in Honour of the Jubilee of Queen Victoria’ in ‘Macmillan’s Magazine’ Volume 55, Issue 330.
1886, April 20
Death of his son, Lionel.
1887
Published ‘Locksley Hall Sixty Years After,’ which contains four poems.
1888
Published ‘Compromise’ in ‘The Pall Mall Gazette’ newspaper.
1889
Published ‘To Edward Lear.’
1889, October
Published ‘The Throstle’ in ‘New Review.’
1889, December
Published ‘Demeter and Other Poems,’ which contains 28 poems. It included the poem ‘Crossing the Bar.’
1890s
1890
Death of his brother, Edward Tennyson.
1891, March
Published ‘A Song, To Sleep’ in ‘New Review.’
1892, February
Published ‘The Death of the Duke of Clarence and Avondale (To the Mourners)’ in ‘The Nineteenth Century’ Volume 31, Issue 180.
1892, March 17
Published the play ‘The Foresters: Robin Hood and Maid Marian.’
1892, October 6
Death of Alfred Tennyson at Aldworth House in West Sussex.
Tennyson lies at rest in Westminster Abbey in London.
* Sources: ‘Tennyson: To Strive, to Seek, to Find’ by John Batchelor and ‘The Bibliography of Tennyson’ by Richard Herne Shepherd.
Should you notice any errors, kindly let me know.
Poetry has various formats. Each stands for a vessel of the spirit’s lamentations and elations.
Poetry and Rhymes has poetry where I voice my imagination.
The Portfolio has poetic photographs. In the shadows of our deepest yearnings, firm in the eternal embrace of light and darkness. Wander through the corridors of my creative expression within Woodland Photography. Linger among trees in Woodland Poetry, Whispering Trees, Ominous Secrets, Lonely Entities, and rejoice. Decorate your wall with an image of trees.