Blog Post 2

Tennyson’s use of rhetoric, syntax, and other stylistic choices heavily contribute to the message of the piece by infecting the reader with Ulysses’ enthusiasm and spirit. 

Seemingly endless lists of experiences are all linked with conjunctions, impressing us with the extent and immediacy of Ulysses’ experience.  This polysyndeton utilizes some thirty-one examples of the word “and,” each used to include another story.  The conjunctions simultaneously function as a uniform thread passing through each line of the poem, lending a sense of fluid uniformity to the tales.  These characteristics impress me with the diversity and importance of Ulysses.  He seems timeless and young, despite his implications that he and his wife are “aged.”  The sheer energy of the verse inspires energy in those that read, encouraging us “to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.” 

Tennyson’s use of metaphor achieves the same end.  His use of “life piled on life” struck me as a fascinating way of expressing Ulysses’ insatiable need for adventure, excitement, and the general rush that life brings him.  His laments that it is still “all too little” progresses toward the message by implicating that no level of contentment can be reached if we cease in our pursuit for the “newer world.” 

On a less structured note, it seems that facets of Tennyson’s work inspire a similar response.  Features such as the conversational iambic meter, the inclusion of his son and wife, and the general excitement of the piece make it relatable to virtually all audiences, extending the number of potential enthusiasts while simultaneously promoting the implicit brotherhood and fellowship that corresponds with Ulysses’ need for adventure.