Detailed summary of Alfred Lord Tennyson's Ulysses
This is the summary of Ulysses which is a part of syllabus for Post Graduation of Acharya Nagarjuna University, Andhra University and Kuppam University. This is useful in writing of annotations and is very much helpful in analysis of this poem. It also helps in writing essays on Ulysses.
This is the summary of the Ulysses given in lines' wise. This will help in understanding of the poem in detail as it covers not only summary but also the vocabulary of it.Summary for 1 to 5 lines (It little profits......... and knows not me)
Ulysses is the king of Ithaca. After great journey, which includes wars, has come his own city. After his advent, he tries to stay in his home kingdom. But the adventurous life, he lived is contrary to the present life. In this kingdom, he has to sit idle and stay with his wife Penelope. He is administering the people and judging them. But, people do not know the Ulysses as he is always on adventurous wars and voyages. He thinks this life is waste when compared with the previous life. He also complains that the people are savage and they only eat and sleep.6 to 10 lines (I cannot rest from travel.......... the rainy Hyades)
Ulysses here decides that he cannot rest and wants to travel beyond. He does not want to live his life staying idle but to enjoy his life in adventurous way even in old age. He wants to live in that way till his last breath. He remembers the great life which is surrounded with joys and sufferings. He waded through his life with his loved ones and sometimes he has to face it alone. He uses "Through scudding drifts the rainy Hyades" to speak about his coming out of the storms and obstacles over the sea.11 to 15 lines (Vext the dim sea..........but honoured of them all)
Through these lines, Ulysses is saying of his own travels and knowledge gained through it. He says that he has got name and fame through his adventures. He has also come into contact with cities, manners of them, climates, governments, councils. He insists that he still has hungry heart to quench the thirst. He says he is respected as he journeyed most parts of the world. 15-20 lines (And drunk delight .........Whose margin fades)
Ulysses is turned towards the war experiences, he has in his life. He also remembers his war participation on plains of Troy in Trojan War and he is delighted with peers in the war field. He declares that he is part of all he has met. Even though he affirms that he has seen is letting him know that there is more to be known. In these lines, he speaks again about untraveled world.21 to 25 lines (Forever and forever.........and of one to me)
Ulysses through these lines speaks of his wastage of time in Ithaca where he could not satisfy the heart thrust of adventurous journey life. He says he moves often but he does not like staying in one place and wants to move on further. In his opinion, to rest is to rust. He wants to shine in use rather than being rusted. He shows his hurry through these words that even our life is blessed with multiple lifetimes, time will be insufficient to touch all places of the world. Thus these lines show the tiredness of monotonic life of Ithaca for him.26-30 lines (Little remains......... gray spirit yearning in desire)
Here, Ulysses begins to decide how his life should be in remaining time. He quotes of his death and the time towards it. The remaining time should provide more energetic new exploration and enjoyment. He remembers that he has already wasted the time to be in Ithaca rather than enjoying the old way of life. He uses 'gray spirit' to remind us that he is old and near to death, but not to his will power. Thus these lines refer his death thoughts, remaining life time and finding knowledge.30-35 lines (To follow knowledge....... discerning to fulfill)
Ulysses speaks that he wants to follow knowledge like sinking star. This does mean two things. He himself might have compared himself like a sinking star which means he is about to die. At the same time, we can understand knowledge should be caught as if it is going to be missed, if you do not act quickly. These lines introduce the character of his son Telemachus. He declares that he is giving the authority on Ithaca to his son in these lines. He says that he loves his son. Hence, he is ready to give the scepter, the authority to his son.36-40 lines (This labor.........decent not to fail)
Ulysses describes his son Telemachus efficiency in ruling. He declares that his son is spotless in character. He describes his character and his ability to administer the savage people and he hopes he can set them right through his patience. He suggests his son to utilize them for the good. He also opines that his son will not step back for any good work. 41-45 lines (In offices of tenderness........... My mariners)
In these lines, the continuation of character description takes place. As well as Ulysses gets ready to start his journey. He opines his son will adore the household gods. In the end of his parting with Ithaca, he says that now he has his duty and his son has the duty of ruling the kingdom in fair manner. After completion of description of his son's character, now his eyes fall on readily set vessels for his journey at port. It becomes evening when he is at port. There he remembers his old adventure hunger mates who have died.46-50 lines (Souls that have toiled..............honor and its toil)
Ulysses after worrying of his stay in Ithaca, he bends on to leave for his journeys. Later, he explains the son' ability and starts towards the port. After reaching the port he recollects his passed away mariners who have worked hard, thought and acted upon his word. He recollects that they are with him in not only good times but also in bad times. He affirms that the mariners with him faced hardships as free and self reliant men. They have never turned back in the adventurous world. But, at the end of these lines he comes to sense that he is old now. Not only that, but also he says that the mariners also have come to old age. But, this does not give despair to him because he is in opinion that every age has its work together with the honor.51-55 lines (Death closes all..........the slow moon climbs: the deep)
Ulysses opines that death is end to all. One cannot escape it. One has to live life and at the end he is to face it and will be absorbed into it. But, before the death engulfs him, he wants to do something great which can outweigh his previous achievements. He wants to achieve before his death. He remembers that they have fought with gods in Trojan War. Actually in this war, gods occasionally took turns and fight on the sides of either Trojans or Greeks. Such achievement is being aspired before his last breath. That is why he starts his journey to gain the indented success. He says to his mariners not to forget that they have fought with the gods and they are the same persons who are now going for an adventure. He says that ' lights begin to twinkle from the rocks'. It means it is getting night and stars are coming out. It is time they started their journey. He also says the moon is appearing. Thus, through these lines, he inculcates confidence among his old warriors to get them ready for fresh knowledge and adventure.56-60 lines (Moans round with many voices...........sunset and the baths)
Ulysses engulfs in praising his old warriors and infuses a new spirit saying it is not too late to get to a newer world. He encourages them to go fast by slashing the waters with their oars. He quotes the destiny and shows the target to be achieved through their journey to his journey mates. He inspires them to reach the beyond of sunset or may be another world. He refers baths which are in the view of Ulysses where stars sink when they are set. 61-65 lines (Of all western stars..........., much abides and though)
Ulysses begins to think the outcome of journey in two ways. In his words to the mariners, it is clear that he has a destination. He says the whirlpools in seas may devour them. Another way is that they may reach happy isles which can be assumed as heaven. There, he has ambition to meet his co- warrior in the war of Trojan. The warrior he wants to meet is Achilles. All warriors who are presently sailing knew Achilles very well. Later, he comes to think of the age and says that the most of the life is over. There is a bit remaining part. 66-70 lines (We are not now strength..........not to yield)
Ulysses, in its previous words can help in conclusion that he has a destiny and he is towards it. At the same time he agrees that now they are not strong. They have their old age with feeble bodies. Once they had shaken the heaven and earth and fought against the will of gods in the wars. But, now they have no strength as earlier. He resumes his flashback that the warriors fought as a single heart beat and never turned back. Later he agrees that they are as they are and time and fate has taken their strength and vigor. But, still they are strong in their will even though they are not as strong as earlier physically. He affirms that they are to strive, to seek, to find and not to yield.
This is one of the best explanations one can have about this poem. Everything about the poem is clear and informative.