Introduction
The Lotus-Eaters is among the most well-known poems of Alfred Lord Tennyson. It was first published in the collection ‘Poems’ in 1832. The poem ponders escapism and lethargy.
Central Idea
The poem has a mythological background. Utilising that, it reflects the conflict between duty and the desire for rest. Odysseus or Ulysses’ sailors have worn out of the war and journey hence they want to have final rest at an isolated island. Their desire to stay there is due to the effect of the lotus fruit few of them have eaten. This desire reflects lethargy and detachment from the struggles of life.
Themes
1) Lethargy or rest - The poem has a few important themes. Lethargy is one of those. The sailors travelling with Ulysses have been out of their homes for twenty years, hence they are worn out. When they reach an island where they get to eat lotus fruit, a few of them eat that and get intoxicated. In the state of intoxication, they express their hidden desire for rest. Their lethargy prevents them from travelling any further. They start to give various reasons not to leave the island. They even state, "Give us long rest or death" but we won't leave the island now.
2) Escapism - The theme of escapism is also strong in the poem. The way few sailors decide to stay at the island, leaving behind their duty to make the ship at its destination. They have left the idea to go to their families. This attitude is running away from worldly life and responsibilities. It is escapism.
3) Isolation - The lotus island is an isolated place where sailors are isolated from the rest of the world. They don't want to leave the island now. They are loving the natural beauty and dreamy and lethargic atmosphere of the island. This island and the stance of the sailors to stay there exhibit the theme of isolation in the poem.Literary Devices
1) Alliteration - There are whole lot of many examples of alliteration in the poem the few of them are - "full faced", "slumbrous sheet", "flower and fruit", "wave; we will", "long-leaved", "falls, and floats, "fades, and falls", "Portions and Parcels", "mild-minded melancholy", "household hearths" etc.
2) Anaphora - Repetition of the word 'And' at the start of successive lines in the first stanza of the choric song and 'Nor' in the second stanza, 'To' in the Fifth stanza and 'Only' in the seventh stanza of the choric song. These are examples of anaphora.
3) Synecdoche - In 'enchanted stem', the stem is used for the tree or plant of the lotus. Hence, it's a synecdoche as a part of the body is used to represent the whole thing.
4) Personification - In phrases like 'languid air did swoon' and 'long-leaved flowers weep' have personification. In the first example, the air is losing consciousness, and in the second example, flowers are weeping. In both cases, air and flower are attributed with human elements.
5) Metonymy - In the phrase 'blissful skies', skies represent heaven. Skies is closely associated with heaven, hence its metonymy.
6) Rhetorical Question - There are instances such as 'What pleasure can we have / To war with evil?' and 'Is there any peace/ In ever climbing up the climbing wave? These are actually an elevated style of writing rather than putting a question. Hence, these are rhetorical questions.
7) Extended Metaphor - The lines "Chanted from.....wine and oil" have an extended metaphor. The cultivation process is used for the hard work a person does without any benefits.
8) Metaphor - The phrase "fields of barren foam" has a metaphor as fields are being indirectly compared with the sea.Onirism in the poem
The poem is full of a dream-like effect. This effect is called ‘Onirism’. The poem has various such instances that create a dream effect. The examples like ‘languid air did swoon’, ‘weary dream’, ‘slumbrous sheet of foam’, ‘tir’d eyelids upon tir’d eyes’, etc.
Loss of faith in God
The poem questions God, as he doesn’t help the needy ones. God is ‘careless of mankind’. He is enjoying his luxury life and hurling problems at humans. He does not care about issues of human beings. It typically reflects the Victorian age sentiments of the public who were losing faith in God.
Discrimination among classes
The poem indirectly attacks discrimination among classes, even in post-death life. The sailors question Ulysses about what they got after so much hard work. They have lost time and family. Despite such a huge loss, they are destined to get a place in hell, while others (Ulysses and high society people) will get a place in Elysian valley, which is equivalent to heaven.
Structure and Rhyme scheme
The poem can be divided into two parts. The first part is of five stanzas, and the second part comprises a choric song has eight stanzas. The first part has a rhyme scheme of ABABBCBCC, but the second part, i.e Choric song, does not have any uniform rhyme scheme.
Url of the video of critical appreciatoin – https://youtu.be/-bz_8lPReTw
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