Tennyson's poem "" depicts the poet's vision of what Ulysses (also known as
Odysseus) is like in his later years, after he settles down to rule his kingdom.
Ulysses is bored with ruling; his subjects don't know the real person behind his
facade, and they do not appreciate him. Worse, he knows he is aging and fears he hasn't much
time left before "Death closes all." Ever the adventurer, Ulysses cannot merely sit
around ruling a kingdom. He yearns to return to the sea and have one last adventure before he
dies. This poem is his plea to his former mariners to set out on that last journey with
him.
Before he addresses his main argument to the mariners, Ulysses recounts
some of their adventures. He attempts to explain to his friends the source of his boredom.
"For always roaming with a hungry heart/ Much have I seen and known." Since he always
had a drive, a thirst for adventure, Ulysses has encountered many cultures, people and sights.
The hunger...
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