Ulysses

——Myth & Allusion

 Hyades: ”Thro’ scudding drifts the rainy Hyades”

(1) Explanation:
The Hyades were the nymphs that brought rain in Greek mythology(Source: Hyades
(greekmythology.com)).
(2) Function:
In this poem, the myth is used to describe the harsh maritime environment that Ulysses used to
face during his decade of voyage in his returning from Troy to his motherland, which shows his
tough and brave character.

 Troy: ”far on the ringing plains of windy Troy”

(1) Explanation:
“Troy” represents the Troy War which Ulysses engaged. He spended a decade on it and played an
essential role in this war, since it was he who came up with the strategy of Trojan horse to finally
win the war.
(2) Function:
In this poem, the hero recalls his great glory in the Troy War, and time he spent with his peers to
show his cherishment of the memorable experience and his ambition to “sail” again. He isn’t
satisfied with the comfortable and plain life nowadays. His soul belongs to the adventure and
conquest but not comfort. In this way, it strengthens the theme of being ambitious to start a new
journey though being old.
Reflecting on the reality, the poem has something to do with the time Tennyson was living. In the
Victorian Time, with the sharp development of natural science, his worldview was greatly shaken.
The “discovery” motivated him to uncover more and more the unknown, but not just staying in
the comfort zone. The process of discovering the world is actually the process of self-discovery,
both of which is endless, risky and worthy. As Tennyson said in the poem, “how dull it is to pause/
to make an end/ To rust unburnish’d/ not to shine in use ”, he would never stop exploring the
world and himself, and that is the life that he really wanted to live.

 Telemachus: “This is my son, mine own Telemachus”

(1) Explanation:
In Greek mythology, is the son of Odysseus and Penelope, who is a central character in Homer’s
Odyssey.
(2) Function:
The original meaning of the name is "stay away from war". Later, it refers to people who go back
to their hometown to do their duty. Ulysses named his son Telemachus because he had
experienced the Trojan War and understood the cruelty of the war, so he wanted his son to stay
away from the war. But in his later years, Ulysses was unwilling to spend such an ordinary life.
Recalling his spirit in his youth, he decided to travel again and pass the throne to his son. He
hoped that his son would try his best to govern the Kingdom and he could sail at ease.

 The Happy Isles: “It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles”
(1) Explanation:
the ancient Greeks believed that Happy Isles was a place of eternal life after death.
(2) Function:
The author wrote that the place he went after his death was Happy Isles. He would not dissipate
after his death, but went to a new world to realize his ambition. He expressed his hope to have
the opportunity to explore a new world, no matter life or death, and never regret.

 Achilles: “And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.”

(1) Explanation:
Achilles is a demigod in the Greek myth, who is the son of the Tethys and Oceanus. In order to
make him immortal, his mother sank him into the Styx, whose water has the function of turning
the exposed area remain intact of any hurt. However, the heel of Achilles didn’t contact the river
and became his sole weakness. In the Troy War, the secret was known to his rival and he died of
the arrow attack to his heel.
After his death, Ulysses took his seat. He made use of the strategy of the Trojan Horse and gained
the triumph in the war. Ulysses was honored as the hero because of it.
(2) Function:
On one side, to some extent, the achievement of Ulysses built on the death of Achilles. The
Achilles here refers to Tennyson’s friend Halem, who supported Tennyson a lot but died before
Tennyson’s success. The poet used the myth of “Achilles” here to be in memory of Halem.
On the other side, Achilles is also the representative of the bravery, which shows the poet’s
determination to resume an adventure.