Showing results by author "Alfred Tennyson" in All Categories

"Blind love, blind hate, desire of emprise, / And pride, and all the weakness of the man." In this powerful story of honour and pride, the knight Balin struggles to control his fierce temper and live by the ideals of King Arthur's court. But when he is deceived by the cunning Vivien, his path takes a dark turn. A fateful clash with his twin brother Balan leads to a heartbreaking end.

"And still he cried, 'Ah me, the knighthood's gone, The glory gone, and I am here alone!'" The Last Tournament is a tale that explores the complex nature of chivalry, loyalty, and the unraveling of ideals in a world that once prized honor above all else. Set against the turbulent backdrop of Arthurian legend, it focuses on the waning days of Camelot, where once-untouchable knights like Lancelot, Tristram, and Gawain are forced to confront the consequences of their actions, both on the battlefield and in their hearts. It is a story not merely of jousts and glory, but of fractured allegiances...

"Make me a little happier: let me know it: Owe you me nothing for a life half-lost?" This Idyll continues the story of Geraint and Enid from Book 3. Geraint suspects that Enid no longer loves him, though she has done nothing to deserve his doubt. Without explaining himself, he asks her to ride with him on a long and dangerous journey, during which he forbids her to speak to him. Though hurt and confused, Enid obeys, warning him of danger along the way and helping him in silence, even as he risks his life again and again.

"Locksley Hall" is a dramatic monologue written in 1835 and published in 1842. Tennyson explained that the poem was not autobiographical but purely imaginary, "representing young life, its good side, its deficiences and its yearnings".

"Pelleas could only stare. Is Guinevere herself so beautiful? he wondered. The lady's violet eyes were wide and luminous; her skin seemed lit by a dawn from some unclouded heaven. Her limbs bore the grace of full womanhood, and yet her form was slender and her hand delicate. She might have seemed no more than a lovely plaything, but those eyes, deep and mocking, hinted at something sharper." In Pelleas and Ettarre, Tennyson presents a tragic episode in which Sir Pelleas, a young and idealistic knight, enters Arthur's court full of chivalric fervour and romantic hope. He falls hopelessly in ...

"I am a man now. I must do a man's work. Follow the deer? No, follow Christ. Follow the King. Live pure. Speak true. Right wrong. Follow the King. Why else was I born?" Gareth, the youngest son of King Lot, embarks on a daring quest to rescue a maiden, throwing off his disguise as a kitchen-knave to reveal himself as a true knight who is eager to prove himself among the greatest of King Arthur's Round Table.

In the 28 poems of which Maud: A Monodrama consists, a somewhat mentally fragile young man narrates step by step (almost in stream-of-consciousness) the progress and aftermath of his feelings for Maud, whose father, the owner of the neighboring estate and Hall, he blames for his own father's death and his family's ruin. Many of the themes of the work are related to Tennyson's own experiences and those of his close family.

"Enoch Arden" is a long narrative poem that is built on a theme that has been widely explored in literature and on film. A man is separated from his family due to shipwreck and marooned on an island. After several years of absence from his home, it is assumed that he has died, and his wife remarries and starts a new family. After 10 years, the man finally makes his way home and has to deal with the trauma of discovering his wife and family happily established in a new relationship.

"Love lieth deep; love dwells not in lip-depths." In this tender and tragic idyll, the innocent Elaine of Astolat falls deeply in love with Sir Lancelot, who cannot return her feelings. Bound by his love for Queen Guinevere, Lancelot's heart is unreachable, and Elaine's devotion leads her to a sorrowful fate; a poignant tale of unrequited love, honour, and heartbreak in the shadow of Camelot.

"Turn, Fortune, turn thy wheel with smile or frown; With that wild wheel we go not up or down; Our hoard is little, but our hearts are great. The Marriage of Geraint is one of the most poignant and introspective tales in Tennyson's Idylls of the King. It is not a story of war or grand heroics, but of personal struggle, love, and loyalty tested under quiet and complex circumstances. Geraint, a noble knight of King Arthur's Round Table, embarks on a journey not to prove his courage or strength, but to understand the true nature of his marriage to Enid, a woman of humble birth but noble heart....

Enoch Arden first came to international attention with a recording by Claude Raines and Glenn Gould, but it has since drifted back to obscurity. This is a work that both Luxon and Moyer have loved for many years. The poem is immediately accessible to any audience and tells a heart-wrenching story of friendship, love, separation, and sacrifice. The masterful score creates a powerful soundtrack to the saga.

Dylan Thomas, C Day-Lewis and others join together on this unique album to read some of the world's finest poetry by Blake, Wordsworth and Tennyson.

Continuing a collaboration started years ago, Benjamin Luxon and Frederick Moyer now turn to the little-explored genre of music for piano and narrator. Enoch Arden first came to international attention with a recording by Claude Raines and Glenn Gould but has since drifted back to obscurity. This is a work that both Luxon and Moyer have loved for many years. The poem is immediately accessible to any audience and tells a heart-wrenching story of friendship, love, separation, and sacrifice.

Death is a subject that few of us talk about, but many think about and more than a few of us dread. Whether it is the actual end of our life’s journey or merely a transit point to heavenly glory, its actual point of impact is, obviously, life-changing. But what do poets think of it? How do their minds tangle with the subject and make sense of this? That’s what we wondered too. Poets as rich and diverse as Tennyson, Hardy, Shelley, and Poe here share their words, thoughts and visions with us.

Simon Cliffe reads some of the greatest Christmas poems for the 12 days of Christmas. Day 1 - Merry Christmas by Louise May Alcott. Day 2 - Christ's Nativity by Henry Vaughan. Day 3 - Ceremonies for Christmas by Robert Herrick. Day 4 - New Prince, New Pomp by Robert Southwell. Day 5 - Christmas Cheer by Thomas Tusser. Day 6 - Ring Out, Wild Bells by Lor Alfred Tennyson. Day 7 - The Oxen by Thomas Hardy. Day 8 - Nativity by John Donne. Day 9 - A Christmas Carol by G.K. Chesterton.

December - the 12th and closing month in the Gregorian calendar. Winter is upon the land, and the poets, including such as Keats, Shelley, Tennyson, Shakespeare, and Stevenson, share their views and thoughts.

The finest voices reading a wonderful selection of poetry accompanied by selected classical music.

In this volume the English language reveals itself in a scale and depth that few others can compare with. It seems to be an advantage to be able to choose from over a million words and yet, it is not the words but the way in which they are used that resonate with us all. Is there some bond between the English and writing poetry? Maybe, maybe not, but let us celebrate these poems down the ages, not as one nation’s hoard but humanity’s gift.

Over the far horizon the blanket of night begins to slowly dissolve. The sun is once more on its daily journey across the heavens. The light begins to sharpen and increase in intensity, revealing the landscape. Morning has begun, and dazed heads and sleepy faces come to terms with the new day. Our poets capture the mood, the emotions and all manner of other details in their descriptions of this time. But then with the calibre of wordsmiths such as Tennyson, Wordsworth, Milton, Southey, Donne and many more besides, we are almost spoilt.

The seas and oceans have a mystical power over us: From a playful day at the beach to the hysterical waves of a storm, this ever-changing element evokes both beauty and fear. Its great mass, its shimmering beauty, its raging howl, and all in colours from blue to grey to green and crystal clear. In these collections of verse our poets - including Tennyson, Swinburne, Keats, Shelley, and many others - explore the relationship between ourselves and the great mystical waters.