Unit 4 Poem

Ulysses

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) adventure.

He is filled with an (4) unquenchable thirst for (5) travel 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.

Lines 33 to 42

Ulysses  desires  to  hand  over  his 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.

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.

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 longs for adventure. He wants to travel to new places. So he is not happy to
perform his duties, as a king.

b)       What does he think of the people of his kingdom?

Ulysses thinks that the people of his kingdom are savage and they only hoard and eat and
sleep. And also they do not know Ulysses as a great warrior and as one who loves
adventurous voyages with thirst for knowledge.
c)        What has Ulysses gained from his travel experiences?
Ulysses has travelled far and wide gaining knowledge of various places, cultures, men and
matters

d)       Pick out the lines which convey that his quest for travel is unending.
‘I cannot rest from travel’, ‘For ever and forever when I move’. These lines convey that
his quest for travel is unending.

e)        ‘As tho’ to breathe were life!’ – From the given line what do you understand of
Ulysses’ attitude to life?
‘As tho’ to breathe were life!’ - means idle life. According to Ulysses, life is not simply
breathing. It is about more than just ‘breathing’. It is about adventure.

f)         What does Ulysses yearn for?

Ulysses yearns to gain knowledge which is like a sinking star. Knowledge is endless.

g)        Who does the speaker address in the second part?

In the second part of the poem, Ulysses addresses to the reader of the poem.

h)       Why did Ulysses want to hand over the kingdom to his son?
Ulysses wants to hand over his kingdom to his son, because he believes that his son

i)          How would Telemachus transform the subjects?

Telemachus will transform the rugged people mild by his slow prudence and tenderness.

j)          ‘He works his work, I mine’ – How is the work distinguished?

To rule the country is the work of the son of Ulysses. To travel and gain knowledge is
the work of Ulysses.

k)       In what ways were Ulysses and his mariners alike?

The mariners have toiled, suffered and fought with Ulysses. So, Ulysses and the mariners
were alike.

l)          What could be the possible outcomes of their travel?

There are two possibilities of their travel.
i. The gulfs may wash them down and they may die.
ii. They may reach the Happy Isles and meet 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. The figure of speech Personification is employed in the above lines.

b)       For always roaming with a hungry heart - Metaphor

c)        And drunk delight of battle with my peers; - Metaphor
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 allots rewards and punishments to the people of his kingdom.

ii. Did he enjoy what he was doing? Give reasons.

No, Ulysses did not enjoy ruling his country, because

b) Yet all experience is an arch wherethrough 

Gleams that untravelled world, whose margin fades
For ever and for ever when I move.

i. What is experience compared to?

Experience is compared to an arch.

ii. How do the lines convey that the experience is endless?

The more Ulysses travels, the more the margins of the ‘Untravelled world’ recede. It
never ends and so the experiences of Ulysses never end. Thus these lines convey that 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?
Every hour brings some new experiences and new knowledge to Ulysses. So it is important
to him.

ii. What does the term ‘Little remains’ convey?

“Little remains” means for Ulysses as he is old time for him is very less and insufficient’
to travel to many places in the world.
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.

ii. Bring out the significance of the ‘sceptre’.

‘Sceptre’ is an ornamented rod carried by rulers as a symbol of sovereignty and authority
of kingship.

e) That ever with a frolic welcome took 

The thunder and the sunshine, and opposed
i. What do ‘thunder’ and ‘sunshine’ refer to?
‘Thunder’ refers to ‘bad times’, and ‘sunshine’ refers to ‘good times’ at sea.
ii. What do we infer about the attitude of the sailors?
The sailors welcome both the bad times and good times equally. They could face
hardships as free and self reliant men.

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 opines that death is end to all. But, before the death engulfs him, he wants to do
something great and noble.

ii. Pick out the words in alliteration in the above lines.

Words in alliteration: 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 is to sail to new places beyond the sunset, and beyond the western
stars to gain knowledge.
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.
Though Ulysses and his mariners grew old and weak, their spirit is young and undaunted.

ii. Pick out the words in alliteration in the above lines.

heroic - hearts, strong - strive - seek
1. It little profits that an idle king,
By this still hearth, among these barren crags, 
Match'd with an aged wife, I mete and dole
i. What does the phrase ‘it little profits’ means?
It means ‘It is useless’.
Who does ‘I’ refer to?
‘I” refers to Ulysses.
2. I cannot rest from travel: I will drink 
Life to the lees: all times I have enjoyed
i. What does ‘lees’ mean?
‘Lees’ means sediment accumulated at the bottom of a bottle of wine.
ii. “I will drink life to the lees”. Explain.
It means to drink to the very last drop. Ulysses wants to live the life to the fullest.
3. Through scudding drifts the rainy Hyades 
Vexed the dim sea: Iam become a name;
For always roaming with a hungry heart
i. What is ‘Hyades’?
Hyades is group of stars in the constellation Taurus often associated with rain.
ii. How was Ulysses roaming?
Ulysses was roaming with a hungry heart to quench the thirst of adventure.
4.  To follow knowledge like a sinking star,
Beyond the utmost bound of human thought.
i.  What comparision is used here?
Ulysses wants to chase after knowledge as it sinks like a star, (or) Ulysses himself could be
the ‘sinking star’ which means he is about to die.
ii.  Mention the figure of speech in the above line.
Figure of speech: Simile.
5.  To whom I leave the sceptre and the isle —
Well-loved of me, discerning to fulfd
This labour, by slow prudence to make mild
i. What does Ulysses leave to his son?
Ulysses leaves the sceptre and the kingdom to his son.
ii. What does Ulysses describe in this line?
Ulysses describes his son’s character and his ability.
6.  When I am gone. He works his work, I mine.
There lies the port; the vessel puffs her sail:
i. Where is the ship?
The ship is in the port.
ii. Who does ‘her’ refer to?
‘Her’ refers to Ulysses’ ship.
iii. Who does ‘he’, and ‘I’ refer to?
‘I’ refers to Ulysses. ‘He’ refers to his son Telemachus.
7.         Free hearts, free foreheads - you and I are old;
Old age hath yet his honour and his toil;
i. Who are old here?
Ulysses and his loyal mariners are old.
ii. Old age hath yet his honour and his toil - Explain
Speaking of old age, Ulysses suggests that though old people are respected, they also have
responsibilities.
8. It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.
i.  What does ‘Happy Isles’ refer?
‘Happy Isles’ refers to heaven, in Greek mythology.
ii. Whom does he want to meet?
He wants to meet his war companion Achilles.
9. We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
i. What does ‘we’ refer to?
‘We’ refers to Ulysses and his mariners.
ii. Do they have strength now?
No, they do not have strength now.
10.     Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will 
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
i. What has taken their strength?
Time and fate has taken their strength.
ii. What is strong to the mariners now?
The mariners’ will is strong to them.

5. Explain with reference to the context the following lines.

a) I cannot rest from travel:
I will drink Life to the lees:
Context : These lines are taken from the poem ‘Ulysses’ written by Lord Tennyson. 
Explanation : Ulysses tells us that he does not want to take rest, as he wants to travel to
new places to gain more experience and knowledge. He wants to drink to the very last drop of
life. It means he wants to live the life to the fullest. ‘Lees’ means sediment accumulated at the
bottom of a bottle of wine.
Comment : These lines portray Ulysses’ adventure never stops.
b) I am become a name;
For always roaming with a hungry heart

Context : These lines are taken from the poem ‘Ulysses’ written by Lord Tennyson.
Explanation : Ulysses says that he gets name and fame through his adventures. He
portrays himself as a traveller with an unquenchable desire to visit as many places as he can.
‘Roaming with a hungry heart’ means the attitude of travelling with unquenchable thirst for
adventure’
Comment : These lines show Ulysses’ love of adventure.
c) How dull it is to pause, to make an end,
  To rust unburnished, not to shine in use!
Context : These lines are taken from the poem ‘Ulysses’ written by Lord Tennyson, 
Explanation : Ulysses says how boring it is just sitting at his kingdom and spending his
whole life. He wants to spend the rest of his life exploring the world. In his opinion, to rest is
to rust. He compares himself to a metal weapon. He wants to shine in use rather than being
rusted.
Comment : These lines show Ulysses’ attitude to be active.

d) To follow knowledge like a sinking star,

Beyond the utmost bound of human thought.
Context : These lines are taken from the poem ‘Ulysses’ written by Lord Tennyson. 
Explanation : Ulysses speaks that he wants to follow knowledge like sinking star. He wants
to chase after knowledge although it seems unattainable like following a sinking star.
However distant and challenging it might be, Ulysses wants to go beyond the known limit.
Comment : Ulysses’ thirst for knowledge knows no boundaries.
e) He works his work, I mine.
Context : This line is taken from the poem ‘Ulysses’ written by Lord Tennyson. 
Explanation : At the time of his parting with Ithaca, Ulysses says that his son Telemachus
has the duty of ruling the kingdom in fair manner and it his duty to go back to sea for some
more adventures.
Comment : Ulysses’ duty consciousness is revealed here.

f)....you and I are old;

Old age hath yet his honour and his toil;

Context : This line is taken from the poem ‘Ulysses’ written by Lord Tennyson. 
Explanation : Ulysses tells his companions that all of them have come to old age. Speaking
of old age, Ulysses suggests that even though old people are respected, they also have
responsibilities.
Comment : The above lines show Ulysses’ responsibility, even in his old age.

g) The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs: the deep
Moans round with many voices.
Context: These lines are taken from the poem ‘Ulysses’ written by Lord Tennyson. 
Explanation: Ulysses observes the sunset and the arrival of night. He says the moon
is appearing. The wind and the waves of the sea murmur and grumble. Through these lines,
he inculcates confidence among his old warriors to get them ready. In poetry the word ‘deep’
means sea.
Comment: The poet brings out Ulysses’ readiness to his adventure.

h) It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,

And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.
Context : These lines are taken from the poem ‘Ulysses’ written by Lord Tennyson. 
Explanation : Ulysses realizes If they die in their adventure, they might go to the ‘Happy
Isles’ and visit his old Trojan war companion Achilles. The ‘Happy Isles’ refers to the Islands
of the Blessed. In Greek, it means Heaven where Greek heroes are there.
Comment : The poet shows Ulysses’ ultimate destination by pointing out the Greek 
mythological character.

i) We are not now that strength which in old days

Moved earth and heaven;
Context : These lines are taken from the poem ‘Ulysses’ written by Lord Tennyson. 
Explanation : Ulysses realizes that his companions and he himself are all growing old and
they are not strong. But in those days, when they were young, they could move the earth and
the heaven. The idiom ‘to move earth and heaven’ means to put in hard work and achieve
something great.
Comment : The poet shows Ulysses and his mariner’s strength in the olden days.

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

Context : This line is taken from the poem ‘Ulysses’ written by Lord Tennyson.
Explanation : Though Ulysses and his friends have grown old, they are still strong in mind
to strive, to seek, to find, not to yield. Even in their old age, they can travel more and more
and meet with adventures and gain new experiences and new knowledge.
Comment : Ulysses’ undying thirst of adventure is revealed, even in his old age.

6. Answer the following questions in a paragraph of about 100 words each.

a) What makes Ulysses seek newer adventures?
Ulysses is a great hero. Now he is old. He does not want to end his life as an idle king,
making laws and punishing his rugged people. He is filled with an unquenchable thirst for
travel. He wishes to live his life to the fullest. He has travelled far and wide gaining
knowledge of various places, cultures, men and matters. Enriched by his experience, he
portrays himself a traveller with an unquenchable desire to visit as many places as he can. He
declares that it is boring to stay in one place. In his opinion, to rest is to rust. He wants to
shine in use rather than being rusted. Life is not merely breathing. Though old but zestful, he
looks at every hour as a bringer of new things. He yearns to follow knowledge, even if it is
unattainable. Hence he always seeks new adventures.

b) List the roles and responsibilities Ulysses assigns to his son Telemachus, while he is
away.

Ulysses describes his son, Telemachus, as a man who lacks his adventurous spirit. But he
feels that his son is more suitable for governing Ithaca. So he desires to hand over his sceptre
and kingdom to his son Telemachus. He wants his son to fulfil his duties towards his subjects
with care and Prudence. He believes him that he would perform all his duties well and be a
wise ruler. He expects his son to possess patience and has the will to subdue and civilise the
rugged citizens of Ithaca in a tender way. He assigns Telemachus to pay due adoration to his
household gods. As a father, he wishes his son would do his work blamelessly. These are the
roles and responsibilities Ulysses assigns to his son Telemachus, while he is away.

c) What is Ulysses’ clarion call to his sailors? How does he inspire them?

Ulysses is a great lover of adventure even at his old age. Like him, his companions too love
adventure. For their adventure, Ulysses summons his sailors to gather at the port, where the
ship is ready to sail. He praises his companions that they have faced both thunder and
sunshine with a smile. They 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.
He asks them to seek a newer world regardless of consequences. He reminds them that they
have brave hearts and once they had moved the heaven and the earth. He inspires them by
saying that they may have grown old and weak physically but their spirit is young and
undaunted. His call is an inspiration for all those who seek true knowledge and strive to lead
meaningful lives. Thus Ulysses’ clarion call inspires his sailors very much and encourages
them to start their adventure.

ESSAY
• Introduction • Ulysses’ thirst for travel • Ulysses’ son • Ulysses’ call to his companions
• Conclusion
Introduction:
Ulysses is a great hero. He does not want to end his life as an idle king, making laws and
punishing his rugged people.
Ulysses’ thirst for travel
Ulysses is filled with an unquenchable thirst for travel. He wishes to live his life to the fullest.
He has travelled far and wide gaining knowledge of various places, cultures, men and
matters. He declares that it is boring to stay in one place. In his opinion, to rest is to rust. He
wants to shine in use rather than being rusted. Life is not merely breathing. Though old but
zestful, he looks at every hour as a bringer of new things. He yearns to follow knowledge,
even if it is unattainable. Hence he always seeks new adventures.
Ulysses’ son:
Ulysses describes his son, Telemachus, is more suitable for governing Ithaca. So he desires to
hand over his sceptre and kingdom to his son Telemachus. He wants his son to fulfil his
duties towards his subjects with care and Prudence.
Ulysses’ call to his companions:
Ulysses summons his sailors to gather at the port, where the ship is ready to sail. He praises
his companions that they have faced both thunder and sunshine with a smile. Though death
would end everything, Ulysses urges his companions to join him and sail beyond the sunset.
He inspires them by saying that they may have grown old and weak physically but their spirit
is young and undaunted. 
Conclusion:
Thus Ulysses’ desire, responsibility and his attitude is clearly dealt in this poem.
THE ADVENTURE OF LIFE IS TO LEARN