Ulysses by Arthur Lord Tennyson has been considered one of the greatest poems in the English language. He was cited as a key motivator for the English when their country was going through difficult times and inspired them to return to the top. So what could this poem have said that was so profound? In fact, Tennyson said nothing at all about the English. He wrote the poem after the death of his friend Arthur Henry Hallam, which deeply affected him and changed his way of thinking. To begin to understand this, Glenn Everett will provide a little overview. “He and Tennyson only knew each other for four years, but their intense friendship had a major influence on the poet. During a visit to Somersby, Hallam met and later became engaged to Emily Tennyson, and the two friends looked forward to lifelong companionship. Hallam's death from illness in 1833 (he was only 22) shocked Tennyson deeply, and his grief led to many of his best poems. So, knowing this, what makes this poem so great? To answer this question, we will need to know the protagonist, Odysseus. We will examine Odysseus from Arthur Lord Tennyson's poem Ulysses for his purpose, his feelings about age, and his attitude toward life in general. First, Ulysses will be examined for his purpose in the poem Ulysses. What does Odysseus want to accomplish? He has already accomplished all the events recounted in the Odyssey and has settled in Ithica. What more could he want to do? According to Tennyson, this is it. “Push and position yourself well to hit the sound grooves; for my design is to sail beyond the setting of the sun and the baths of all the western stars, until I die. (Lines 58-61) » He is not used to an easy life. Odysseus grows up in the middle of paper......sea of ​​life that shakes us as we struggle against it. This is where we find the thrill and meaning of our lives as we struggle without hope of ever finding a home. For Ulysses, the struggle was the meaning. » Works Cited Chaudhry, Disha. “Critical Analysis of Ulysses by Alfred Lord Tennyson.” : Critical analysis of “Ulysses” by Alfred Lord Tennyson. Np, and Web. April 6, 2014.Everett, Glenn. “Alfred Lord Tennyson: A Brief Biography.” Alfred Lord Tennyson: A Brief Biography. Np, and Web. April 4, 2014. Mantho, Marc. “Literary Analysis: Tennyson’s “Ulysses”” Mgmantho.files.wordpress.com. Wordpress and Web. April 6, 2014. Messerly, John G., PhD. “Tennyson: Ulysses and the Meaning of Life.” The meaning of life. Np, and Web. April 6, 2014.Rukhaya, MK “A Literary Analysis of “Ulysses” by Alfred Tennyson.” Bright Hub Education. Np, and Web. April 6. 2014.