Ulysses Poem Summary and Analysis

Summary of Ulysses

Ulysses is a poem which gives us details about the unhappiness and monotony Ulysses is going through in his old age. He is living at his home on the island of Ithaca. The summary of Ulysses will take us through the monologue which he speaks in the poem. We learn that Ulysses is not content with the way of his life. In other words, he still wishes to continue sailing. However, he is getting old, but that does not stop him.

Ulysses believes that he must enjoy the little time left of his life. Moreover, he does not want to be busy dying but busy living. He always longs for that last sail of his life and imagines mariners as well. Thus, the summary of Ulysses will tell us all about his desires. In conclusion, he makes a resolution to continue to strike, seek, find but never yield.

Summary of Ulysses in English

Ulysses poem is the great work of Alfred Lord Tennyson. Thus, the summary of Ulysses will help you in understanding it better. Tennyson based this poem on one of his closes friends, Arthur Hallam, who passed away.

The poem begins with Ulysses complaining about his idle life as a king. He is now old and lives with his wife. Ulysses feels he is stuck here with people who do not know of his greatness.

Thus, he wishes to continue his travels and make the most of his life. Ulysses is an experienced person who has spent enough time on the sea as well as shore. The world knows his name and honours him. Moreover, he was also a warrior in the Battle of Troy.

Hence, we learn how Ulysses has seen a lot of things in his life. This is why he refuses to accept that this is his end. Ulysses’s thought process is not that of an average old man. He does not believe in withering away in old age.

On the other hand, he wants to make the most of the life he has left. He does not consider mere breathing as living. He is grateful for being alive so he feels that there is always something more out there for him to enjoy.

Ulysses finds it shameful to be idle for even three days. He is done with storing himself away and watch his hair turn white. He still years for knowledge and ways to gain it. However, the summary of Ulysses tells us how his son, Telemachus, is the opposite of his father.

Telemachus is content with being in one place. He wishes to rule people happily. While Ulysses loves him and believes he will be a good ruler and honour the Gods of the family. However, Telemachus lacks his father’s energy.

Ulysses also imagines the sea calling out to him. He reminisces about the exciting travels he had together with his mariners. Their hearts and minds were free. Even though they are old now, they are still capable of doing noble deeds.

Even as the day ends, Ulysses still believes it is not too late. He years to discover a newer world and set ashore to sail. He wants to explore till his last breath and may even meet Achilles.

Ulysses concludes by thinking that although he’s old, his vigour is the same and has the same heroic hearts and strong will. Thus, he will always continue to explore and discover.

Conclusion of Summary of Ulysses

Ulysses summary tells us about the search for adventure in human beings that makes their lives worth living. We see how an old adventurer is not ready o settle even at his age and always yearns for that one more quest.