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Alfred, Lord Tennyson was born on August 5,1809 in Lincolnshire. He attended Trinity College, Cambridge, where he met one of his dearest friends, Arthur Hallam. Later in his life, after Arthur’s death, Tennyson wrote one of his most famous poems, In Memoriam, in honor of his friend’s death. The first book of Tennyson’s poems was published in 1833. It was so despised by its readers that Tennyson stopped writing for almost ten years. However, when he started writing again and published Poems, Vol. II, his reputation as a writer was restored and he soon became one of the most popular poets of his time, which was the Victorian Period.
One of the main things that contributed to the popularity of Tennyson was his closeness to Queen Victoria, her family, and other royalty. On separate occasions, Tennyson wrote and dedicated poems to Princess Alexandra, Lord Nelson, and Prince Consort. He was also summoned by Queen Victoria many times. Some of the more widely-read works included in this book were "Morte d’Arthur," "Ulysses," and "Lady of Shalott." In 1836, Tennyson married the woman he had long adored named Emily Sellwood. Some of his best works were written after 1869 when Tennyson was happily married with a family.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson died October6, 1892 and was buried in the Poets’ Corner Westminster Abbey. Today, he is commonly referred to as the most popular poet of the Victorian Era. He had the courage to expand the boundaries of poets of his time by make his poetry enjoyable for his audience. At the same time, he encouraged patriotism and involved current social affairs. This is what gained the love of his readers and his noble title of poet laureate in 1850.



Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s Works
One of Tennyson’s most famous poems is "The Charge of the Light Brigade." This is the perfect portrayal of Tennyson’s love of patriotism. He beautifully tells the story of the noble six hundred. In his last stanza he says, "When can their glory fade? O the wild charge they made! All the world wonder’d. Honour the charge they made! Honour the Light Brigade, Noble six hundred!" Here, he tells the story of the brave men who rode undaunted into the "valley of Death" and into "the mouth of hell." Although there was a "cannon to the right of them, cannon to the left of them, cannon in front of them," they rode on. The reader cannot help but respect the brave men who were in this battle. Below, I have included an attachment with an artist's portrayal of "The Charge of the Light Brigade." You might also find some of the facts of the the battle interesting as well.


One of Tennyson's more beautiful and tranquil poems is "The Dying Swan." Intertext could definitely be found in relation to Camille, Saint-Sains', "The Swan." Both works, poem and song, are tranquil and offer a tribute of respect to the beautiful animal. Actually, if you listen to the song while you read the poem, they are almost the same in length. In several parts, they are even dramatic in the same area. Although Saint-Sains' may not have had Tennyson's poem in mind when he wrote his "The Swan," Tennyson definitely was thinking musically when he wrote his poem. Throughout the poem, he refers to music. Examples are "loudly did lament," "death hymn," "jubilant voice," "carol free and bold," and "cymbals, and harps of gold." I would suggest listening to Saint-Sains' piece while reading Tennyson's. The attachment I have included below shows a video of swans on a lake while the music is being played. The visual, the music, and the words of Tennyson's poem make a beautiful medley and tribute to the elegant animal.
Edmond Gosse put it best when he said, "What this is cannot be easily defined; it consists, perhaps, in the beauty of the atmosphere which Tennyson contrives to cast around his work, molding it in the blue mystery of twilight, in the opaline haze of sunset: this atmosphere, suffused over his poetry with inestimable skill and with a tact rarely at fault, produces an almost unfailing illusion or mirage of loveliness."

works cited: 1. online-literature.com/tennyson.
"Lord Alfred Tennyson."
2. http://home.att.net/~tennysonpoetry/links.htm
3. http://charon/sfsu.edu/TENNYSON/tennyson.html