Analysis Of Lotus Eaters

Examining Tennyson’s Lotus Eaters the first thing that clearly stands apart is the two distinct narratives taking place within the text. There’s the stand alone narration of the tale of Odysseus and his men but in the Choric Song we are exposed to a direct account of the men’s experiences and personal emotions that derive from their exposure to the island. The first half of the narration’s structure appears on Tennyson’s part to be more concrete. It follows a rhyme scheme as well as the rules of iambic pentameter within the first eight lines followed by the final line form, an alexandrine. This carries on for the opening stanzas of the poem. Following this, the Choric Song’s structure loosens up, the rhyme scheme that follows a direct pattern …show more content…
Each piece in a way mirrors a form of influence that can for a moment induce us to be entranced. The first stanza of the chorus song reflects an almost lullaby, Tennyson’s constant use of the word music with the landscape almost creates an audio visual that mirrors a lullaby being performed that slowly intoxicates the narrator to sleep. In stanzas 2-4, there’s an almost questioning of man’s role within nature, life is reflected within the plants: flowers become symbols of much more existential ideas of humanity. The question of suffering and hard work, and the vast contrast that, we as humans, do not possess the ability to remain still within a moment. These lines almost seem to suggest that Tennyson acknowledges the dark thoughts that possess us when we sleep and when we are alone, the imagery of darkness and death are presented quite evidently within the text. Flowers dying and decaying away and the sky darkened by night, all signal an end of things, and in a way reflect a nightmare that humans possess. This “nightmare” again, is important to notice as a portion to Tennyson’s use of personifying sleep as thought process. Stanzas 5-6 reflect a daydream like nature, life going down a stream that perfectly captures their own desires to remain on the island. The recalling of past memoires of loved ones are quite easy within dreams, loved ones far away are almost tangible with memory. And Tennyson uses that as a tool to present human suffering and desire as well as human obligation to life and family. The final stanzas reflect a much harsher tone, Stanza 8 presents lightning bolts and clouds, reality in a way sinks in but it’s that evident fear of facing the real world after experiencing such delights in a slowed down dream that almost seals the men’s fate within the