Lecture Notes: Tithonus by Lord Alfred Tennyson

Introduction

• Photograph: Four stages of a banana symbolizing the stages of life (youth to old age).
• Message: Be humble; youth and vigor don't last forever.
• Poem: 'Tithonus' by Lord Alfred Tennyson (Class 12 English literature syllabus).

About Lord Alfred Tennyson

• One of the most celebrated Victorian poets of the 19th century.
• Served as Poet Laureate for over 40 years.
• Themes in his poetry: Mortality, Love, Nature, Human Condition.

Poem Background

• Character: Tithonus, a handsome Trojan prince (Greek mythology) and lover of the goddess Eos (Aurora in Roman mythology), goddess of Dawn.
• Story: Eos asks Zeus for Tithonus' immortality but forgets to ask for eternal youth. Tithonus becomes immortal but ages eternally.
• Tennyson's Twist: In the poem, Tithonus himself asks for immortality. The gods (strong Hours) become jealous and make him age without dying.

Themes and Concepts

• Aging and Death: Tennyson explores fear of growing old and challenges the romanticization of immortality.
• Despair and Isolation: Immortality brings endless life but also isolation as loved ones die around you.
• Human Desires: The poem highlights the complexity of human wishes and the unintended consequences.
• Cautionary Tale: Be careful what you wish for; consider all aspects.

Poem Analysis

Stanza 1

• Decay and Fall: Imagery of woods decaying, vapors weeping (personification), and man's life cycle (birth, work, death).
• Cruel Immortality: Tithonus contrasts natural cycles with his own trapped state of immortality.

Stanza 2

• Glorious Past: Tithonus laments his past beauty and god-like status before asking for immortality.
• Bitterness: He criticizes Eos for granting his wish carelessly, comparing her to wealthy people who give without understanding value.
• Revenge of the Hours: The goddesses of time beat him down, leaving him a maimed and incomplete version of himself.

Stanza 3

• Glimpse of Mortality: A gentle breeze reveals the world of mortality, contrasting with his eternal decay.
• Eos's Beauty: Description of Eos's dawn, her eternal youth, and the coldness Tithonus feels.
• Helplessness: Emphasizes the power of nature and Tithonus's helplessness within it.

Stanza 4

• Eos's Tears: Tithonus wonders about the meaning of Eos's tears and expresses fear if the gods cannot recall their gifts.
• Emotional Distance: The lack of communication between Tithonus and Eos highlights their emotional distance.

Stanza 5

• Passionate Past: Reflects on his youthful passion and the mystical change Eos's presence brought.
• Intimate Relationship: Description of their sensual relationship and the transformative effect of Eos's love.

Stanza 6

• Final Plea: Tithonus begs Eos to release him from immortality and allow him to die.
• Contrast: Highlights the eternal youth of Eos and the endless aging of Tithonus.
• Peace in Death: Tithonus yearns for the peace that death would bring, contrasting with Eos's daily rebirth.

Poetic Devices Used

• Personification: Vapors weep, woods decay.
• Imagery: Sensory details, visual imagery (rosy shadows, kisses, etc.).
• Simile: Comparison using 'like' or 'as' (e.g., 'like wealthy men').
• Metaphor: Immortality consumes, portals for beauty.
• Repetition: Woods decay (emphasizes relentless time).
• Hyperbole: Exaggeration ('Troy like a mist rose into towers').
• Transferred Epithet: Vapors weep (human action attributed to non-human).

Conclusion

• Tithonus's Realization: Accepts mortality and desires peace in death.
• Final Image: Eos's eternal return highlights the cruel contrast with Tithonus's fate.
• Notes Availability: Study materials and detailed notes available on specified platforms.