Alfred Lord Tennyson was known as the most renowned poet Laureate of Ireland and Great Britain of Queen Victoria reign. Tennyson was a superb craftsman in verse and excelled at penning short lyrics, for example, “Break, Break, Break,” Crossing the bar, “Tears, Idle Tears,” and “In Memoriam”. This greatest poet of Victorian England verses was based on classical themes such as Ulysses. To get to know more about Alfred Lord Tennyson, keep reading. This article will tell you some interesting facts and information about him.
Lord Alfred Tennyson Facts
1. Alfred Tennyson was the eighth child of his parents
Alfred Tennyson was born on 6 August 1809 in Lincolnshire village Somersby. He was the eighth child of Elizabeth Fytche and George Clayton Tennyson. Tennyson belonged to a middle-class family, even though his ancestors had noble and royal blood. Alfred and his two elder brothers started writing poetry during their teenage.
2. Alfred Tennyson studied at Cambridge
Alfred Tennyson attended the Louth Grammar School in 1816 till 1820. Then, he got a graduation degree from Scaitcliffe School Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1827, an interesting fact about Alfred Lord Tennyson.
3. Alfred Tennyson wrote a play at the age of 14
He wrote a 6000 line epic in imitation of Sir Walter Scott at the age of 12. One of the most excellent youthful models was “Lord Byron.” Besides, he wrote a play, “The Devil and the Lady” at the age of 14. It was an imitation of Elizabethan comic verse.
4. Alfred Tennyson’s work was first published in 1827
At Cambridge, he met with his close friend Arthur Henry Hallam, who helped Alfred in his first publication in 1827. The first publication of Alfred was “Poems by two brothers.” It was the collection of boyish rhymes and poems by three of Alfred brothers. Tennyson probably wrote half of these poems, a fun fact about Alfred Lord Tennyson.
5. Alfred Tennyson won Chancellor’s Gold Medal at the age of 20
He got the Chancellor gold medal in 1829 at Cambridge for his piece “Timbuctoo.” Except for Alfred, no one at the age of 20 was succeeded to win the chancellor’s gold medal.
6. Alfred Tennyson wrote a poem for his best friend
Arthur Hallam was the best friend of Lord Tennyson. He was a student and his fellow poet at Trinity College. Arthur died at the age of 22 due to stroke. In Memoriam A.H.H. is a poem written by Tennyson in the memory of his beloved friend.
7. Alfred Tennyson stopped writing after the publication of his second book
In 1830 Tennyson revealed his first solo collection, Poems, Chiefly Lyrical. Mariana and Claribel were the most celebrated poems of this volume. This collection got some critics due to over-sentimental verses. However, it brought Tennyson to the screen as well-known writers of the day.
Tennyson’s second poetry book proved a critical point in his life. In 1833, the second poetry book entitled “The Lady of Shalott” was published, but it received much criticism. Alfred was so disappointed as he left writing and did not publish any work for years, an interesting fact about Alfred Lord Tennyson.
8. Alfred Tennyson returned to the world of Poetry with remarkable work
However, after 1850, Tennyson again started the poetry. Between 1856 to 1876, Alfred did remarkable work of his career, which was a series of linked narrative poems about Round table and King Arthur. This project almost took his 20 years as one section was written in 1833, and the second part was not public yet until 1884. It consists of a dedication to the Prince Consort, and an epilogue addressed to the Queen, and 12 blank-verse narratives (the idylls) that deal with Merlin, Arthur, Guenevere, Lancelot in the court.
Besides, individual’s narratives are related to the destructive effect of sexual passion on society. The round table was ruined by the illicit love of Guenevere and Lancelot.
9. Alfred’s poetry was influenced by his childhood poets
In Tennyson’s writing, you will find a wide range of subjects from domestic situations to nature observation, from medieval legends to classical myths. His childhood poets John Keats and other romantic poets influenced his poetry, an interesting fact about Alfred Lord Tennyson.
10. Alfred’s poetry reflects his life picture
The poetry of Tennyson reflecting his own life struggle with a thread of melancholy, grief, and loss connects. T.S.Eliot described Alfred as “the saddest among all English poets.” The language and mastery of his verses provide a “surface” to his poetry’s “depths, to the abyss of sorrow.”
11. Alfred Tennyson had great talent as drama and play writer
Tennyson was famous as a poet, but he had great talent to create drama. His drama works include Idylls of the King and Tithonus. However, he earned little fame with his drama.
The chronology shows that Tennyson had a long literary career and did ambitious work until death. He wrote a series of historical verse plays such as Harold, Queen Mary, and Becket. Becket was much popular among the people because it was made on “Making of England.” The Tennyson plays the English people from Roman Catholicism and a sense of national grandeur.
12. Alfred Tennyson died of Gout
Alfred Lord Tennyson died at the age of 83 on 6 October 1892. He suffered from gout, which was getting worse in late summer. At Aldworth’s home in Surrey, Tennyson left his people in grief, a sad fact about Alfred Lord Tennyson. He is buried in Westminster Abbey’s Poets’ Corner.
Although the Victorian era has ended and faded, the world still remembers this leading poet of the Victorian age. Today, Alfred Tennyson is a widely recognized poet who delved into eternal human questions and offered an amalgam of inspiration and solace to the readers.
Conclusion
Alfred Tennyson (also called Lord Tennyson) is known as a great poet of Victorian England due to his contemporaries. Alfred’s last years were crowned with many honors as he was awarded as a peerage in 1883. His name is engraved on the golden pages of history as the greatest poet of his time.
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