Connotation, Tone, & Shifts Analysis of “Ulysses”

“Ulysses”

“Ulysses” Odysseus - The protagonist of the Odyssey, fought among the other Greek heroes at Troy and now struggles to return to his kingdom in Ithaca. He is the husband of Queen Penelope and the father of Prince Telemachus. Odysseus has strength, courage, nobility, a thirst for glory, and confidence in his authority. His most distinguishing trait, however, is his sharp intellect. Odysseus’s quick thinking helps him out of some very tough situations, as when he escapes from the cave of the Cyclops. He is also a convincing, articulate speaker and can win over or manipulate his audience with ease. When he first addresses Nausicaa on the island of Scheria, for example, his suave, comforting approach quickly wins her trust.

“Ulysses” Odysseus longs to win kleos (“glory” won through great deeds), but he also wishes to complete his nostos (“homecoming”). He enjoys his luxurious life with Calypso in an exotic land, but only to a point. Eventually, he wants to return home, even though he admits that his wife cannot compare with Calypso. He thinks of home throughout the time he spends with the Phaeacians and also while on Circe’s island. Sometimes his glory-seeking gets in the way of his home-seeking. He sacks the land of the Cicones but loses men and time in the process. He waits too long in the cave of Polyphemus, enjoying the free milk and cheese he finds, and is trapped there when the Cyclops returns.

“Ulysses” Odysseus’s love of glory prompts him to reveal his identity to the Cyclops and bring Poseidon’s wrath down on him. By the end of the epic, he seems much more willing to temper pride with patience. Disguised as a beggar, he does not immediately react to the abuse he receives from the suitors. Instead, he endures it until the traps he has set and the loyalties he has secured put him in a position from which he can strike back effectively.

“Ulysses” …The days of battle and glory are over… Odysseus is an old man…

Connotation - Form Dramatic Monologue – Ulysses reveals aspects of his character to us unintentionally (selfishness, inability to rule country) Enjambment – Thoughts continue from line to next just as Ulysses wants to go “beyond the utmost bound of human thought.” Four Stanzas – Each one has its own thematic point

Connotation - Allusions Homer’s Odyssey – Ulysses learns a prophecy that he will take a final sea voyage after killing Penelope’s suitors. Dante’s Inferno – Ulysses is restless in Ithaca & longs to gain more experience but dies while sailing too far in insatiable thirst for knowledge. Elysium – home of the dead heroes Trojan War & Achilles – famous battles and heroic death

Motifs – Eating & Drinking Metaphor for living to fullest – Carpe Diem “I will drink life to the lees.” (he will drink in all experience until there is none left) “always roaming with a hungry heart” (hunger for adventure to stir his passion, must feed his passion) “drunk delight of battle” (battle and the glory from it are like being drunk with happiness, needs to quench that thirst)

Motifs - Stars Symbols of going beyond and shining through fame “an arch where through/Gleams that untraveled world” (the world he hasn’t traveled yet is a star he sees shining but that keeps moving away; he wants to join it) “To rust unburnished, not to shine in use” (he wants to shine in fame like a star, not rust unused) “To follow knowledge like a sinking star/Beyond the utmost bound” (wants to transcend normal experience)

Motifs - Stars “The lights begin to twinkle…/The long day wanes” (star are becoming visible because the day is ending like life is ending; he wants to shine like a star as his life ends) “To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths of all the western stars” (wants to keep living as he passes over into death)

Motifs – The Sea & Sailing Metaphor for life “There gloom the dark, broad seas” (boundless experiences at the end of life; dark because he is near death) “Push off…and smite/The sounding furrows” (he will defy the difficulties represented by the waves) “To sail beyond the sunset” (wants to keep living as he goes into death and beyond) “the gulf will wash us down” (death at sea)

Shifting Tones Lines 1-5 – Ulysses is bored and unproductive. (“idle king,” “still hearth,” “barren crags”) Lines 6-32 – Reminiscent & proud; restless (“I have enjoyed/Greatly, have suffered greatly,” “I am become a name,” “hungry heart”) Lines 33-43 – Matter of fact; dismissive (Dismisses his son as different from him, “He works his work, I mine”) Lines 44-70 – Anxious & yearning; undaunted (“Some work of noble note may yet be done,” “To strive, to seek, to find, & not to yield”)

Shifts in Thematic Focus First Stanza – Ulysses focuses on his present life and its tedium. Second Stanza – Ulysses shifts to reminiscing about his past glory and expresses his desire to have it again. Third Stanza – Ulysses talks about his son, who will make a better ruler. Ulysses seems to find him better suited to the boredom of ruling. Fourth Stanza – Ulysses shifts to his future and challenges his mariners to make a new journey and adventure with him.