Short Notes Tithonus

Tithonus is a renowned poem penned by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, delving into themes of immortality and the passage of time. In Tennyson's narrative, Tithonus a mortal man is granted immortality by the goddess Eos but is denied eternal youth, leading to his eternal suffering. The poem resonates with readers for its poignant exploration of the human longing for immortality and the tragic consequences that ensue. Tennyson's masterful use of language and imagery captivates audiences, making Tithonus a timeless piece of Victorian literature.

Tithonus as a dramatic monologue

Although "Tithonus" lacks certain important features of dramatic monologue, the poem has some substantial aspects to be categorized under the genre of dramatic monologue. Tithonus, a single person, speaks throughout the poem. We can understand from the speaker's words the presence of a silent listener or listeners and later the presence of the goddess of dawn as he was begging her to withdraw her gift of immortality. Tithonus is seen lamenting his condition. He also describes how he has fallen prey to the trap of immortality. Such words like 'thy, thee' further confirms it. The speaker reveals his innermost desire to die a normal death. This is another aspect of dramatic monologue. He can no longer be able to bear the pains of cruel immortality. His inner thoughts have been revealed. However, the revelation is very simple and plain. The speaker here is more concerned with external things around him rather than psychological crises which are the essence of a successful dramatic monologue. The poem "Tithonus" is also marked by its lyrical quality which is an important feature of a dramatic monologue. Its lyrical strain has been achieved by the use of iambic pentameter lines in which there are regular rise and fall of stress. It is, therefore, evident that "Tithonus" is a dramatic monologue though its beginning is not so startling and it lacks psychological probing.

Natural imagery in Tithonus

Tennyson, in "Tithonus", uses sets of natural imagery that are indicative of a particular season. The indication is carefully knitted to the main theme of the poem the theme of mutability. The opening lines of "Tithonus" suggest the meaning of universal decay through a natural picture which is indicative of the season autumn after which comes the season winter symbolizing death. Autumn is a season after summer which in this poem symbolizes youth. The idea is illustrated in the following lines:

The woods decay, the woods decay and fall, The vapours weep their burthen to ground, Man comes and till the field and lies beneath, And after man a summer dies the swan.

The poem emphasizes the natural cycle of life. Power of creating sets of natural imagery, in keeping with some state of human feeling so fitted to it as to be the embodied symbol of it and to summon up the state of feeling itself, was the natural genius of Tennyson. Tennyson's unique melancholy is pre-occupied with the passing away of time, the world of flexibility and the transitory and temporal human life. Thus his nature-picture sometimes becomes a vibrant effigy of the theme of mutability.

Use of colours in Tithonus

In "Tithonus", Tennyson made use of different colours to convey the meaning of the poem and create sensuous images that impresses the readers. The poem "Tithonus" is an artistic combination of colour images that symbolizes ideas related to the theme of the poem. The poem begins with darkness. Darkness symbolizes death. Confronted with old age and its attendant pains, Tithonus meditates upon death and mortality. Tennyson's unique melancholy is pre- occupied with the passing away of time, the world of flexibility and the transitory and temporal human life. This is highlighted through the use of colours. As a "soft air fans the clouds apart", Tithonus sees the "dark world" to which he belonged. Similarly Tennyson uses many colour imagery as he recalls those days of youth when he "felt my blood/Glow with the glow that slowly crimson'd all," experienced "kisses balmier than half-opening buds/Of April," and Aurora's "rosy shadows bathe[d]" him. The colour crimson, rosy, golden all stand for youth, immortality and love. The outline forming around her, the "sunny rings" of hair, his own blood glowing as the day would warm, the feeling of the dawn kissing him contribute to the quality of sensuousness. He experiences the coolness of her "rosy shadows" while the men below are still warmed by the day with the glow of the day. Thus Tennyson applies his colour imagery to build his mood of melancholic isolation.

Short Notes Tithonus

Sensual detail in Tithonus

Tennyson, in his poem "Tithonus," has applied sensuous details of nature through concrete imagery. Sensuous details not only create beautiful picture in our mind but also appeal to our senses. Sensuous detail has been used as a vibrant effigy of the theme of mutability. The opening lines of "Tithonus" suggest the meaning of universal decay through a sensuous description of natural which appeal to our sense of sight, touch etc.:

The woods decay, the woods decay and fall, The vapours weep their burthen to ground, Man comes and till the field and lies beneath, And after man a summer dies the swan.

This sense appealing aspect of the poem is usually termed as descriptive poetry. Power of creating scenery, in keeping with some state of human feeling so fitted to it as to be the embodied symbol of it and to summon up the state of feeling itself, with a force not to be surpassed by anything but reality. As a "soft air fans the clouds apart", Tithonus sees the "dark world" to which he belongs. Similarly Tithonus uses many images of nature that appeal to our sense. As he recalls those days of youth when he "felt my blood/Glow with the glow that slowly crimson'd all," experienced "kisses balmier than half-opening buds/Of April," and Aurora's "rosy shadows bathe[d]" him.

The moral message in Tithonus

Lord Alfred Tennyson moulds the ancient myths of Tithonus in the poem bearing the same name in such a way that they convey solutions to his contemporary problems. The Victorians were at a loss that they desired a peaceful compromise among the conflicting ideologies. In this poem Tennyson emphasizes that everyman should abide by the ordinances that rule all men. Tithonus, a human being was loved by Aurora, the goddess of dawn. At his request she brought for him the gift of immortality from Zeus. But he had forgotten to ask for everlasting youth. As he grew older and older the immortal life without immortal youth became a curse. He longed for death. But he could not die since god's gift could not be taken back. Tennyson's suggestion is obvious when Tithonus says 'Why should a man desire in any way/To vary from the kindly race of men'. A man should not cross the boundary set by divine ordinance. He should stop where all normal individual should stop. He should thus be able to live a normal and happy life and thereby die happily. Death should be taken as the natural destiny of life. The legend of Tithonus thus serves moral purposes not only for his own people but also for the whole mankind.