Analysis Of The Poem In Memoriam

In Memoriam, written by Lord Tennyson, was intended as an elegy for his beloved friend, Arthur Henry Hallam. Throughout the text of the poem, it is evident that the speaker is Lord Tennyson himself, who cannot bear the sorrow and pain that came with his dear friend’s passing. He mourns Hallam’s sudden passing and is continuously overwhelmed with grief with little hope for riding solace within his poems. In Memoriam is Lord Tennyson’s vivid recollection of his detailed journey in which he confronted the various stages of grief as he mediated upon the death of his friend, Hallam. Patterns of light and darkness, nature and a higher power are notably present in this elegy as they represent the particular stage of grief and sorrow that Tennyson identifies with. In particular, Tennyson utilizes imagery, symbolism, and similes in his fifth poem as a reflection of his solemn grief. Throughout Tennyson’s fifth poem, it is …show more content…
Additionally, Tennyson’s choice of poetic form furthers Tennyson’s thoughtful mourning, specifically in the first and and last line of each stanza. A reflective example of Tennyson’s particle choice of syntax as it suggests to the reader that each stanza is independent of the next almost as if it is meant to be resolved on its on not to let the reader move on from that stage of Tennyson’s conflict, in this case how Tennyson chooses to observe the grave period of mourning. Through various similes, Tennyson is able to convey to the reader that although it will nearly kill him with overwhelming pain, he will strive to overcome his grief by writing only the most brief “outline and no more” as it will keep his mind occupied. Yet it is only a mere suggestion to overcoming various stages of grief as it he is only a human being who is overwhelmingly filled with grief and will do his best to battle the gloomy