Language: English
Author: K.C. Nanda
Description: This book undertakes a close textual study of Tennyson’s major poems, highlighting their internal conflicts, which arise from the poet’s dualistic vision—remaining faithful both to his poetic instincts and to his sense of public duty. While forming its own judgments, the study carefully considers significant Tennyson criticism, both Victorian and modern, and challenges the view that Tennyson was merely a conventional laureate lacking the intelligence and integrity of a great poet. Lucid in style and comprehensive in scope, the book begins with an introductory chapter surveying Tennyson criticism, followed by individual chapters examining representative poems commonly prescribed in university examinations. The longer poems—The Princess, In Memoriam, Maud, and The Idylls—are discussed in separate chapters, while shorter poems are arranged thematically and placed chronologically. This volume is intended to be especially useful for students of English literature at the Honours and Postgraduate levels.