The Lotos-Eaters
Poetry
|
Alfred Lord Tennyson
The Lotos Eaters Poem
The Lotos-eaters
By Alfred, Lord Tennyson
"Courage!" he said, and pointed toward the land,
"This mounting wave will roll us shoreward soon."
In the afternoon they came unto a land
In which it seemed always afternoon.
All round the coast the languid air did swoon,
Breathing like one that hath a weary dream.
Full-faced above the valley stood the moon;
And like a downward smoke, the slender stream
Al...
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The Lotos-Eaters key Facts
Key Facts
Title: The Lotos-eaters
Poet: Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892)
Published: 1832, revised in 1842
Literary Period: Victorian Age (1837-1901)
Tone: Dreamy, melancholic, musical
Form: A combination of narrative (telling a story) and choric song (like a chorus in a play)
Rhyme Scheme: Varies
Background and Inspiration
The poem was inspired by Tennyson’s trip to Spain with his...
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The Lotos-Eaters Summary
"Courage!" he said, and pointed toward the land,
Odysseus tells his mariners to have courage. He tells his crew/men/sailors that the big waves would soon push their ship onto land.
In the afternoon they came unto a land
In which it seemed always afternoon.
In the afternoon, they reached a strange land. There, it always felt like it was afternoon — sleepy, dreamy, and very quiet. The air was heavy...
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The Lotos Eaters Themes
Escape from Reality: In “The Lotos-Eaters,” the sailors feel tired of their hard life. When they eat the magical lotos fruit, they forget their troubles and feel peaceful and dreamy. They do not want to work, travel, or struggle anymore. They only want to rest and stay in that calm land forever. This shows the idea of "escape from reality" — leaving behind the real world, full of hard work and pai...
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The Lotos Eaters Quotations
“In which it seemed always afternoon.”
The sailors reach the land in the afternoon. Everything feels sleepy there. The island feels like it is always afternoon there. It means the island is sleepy, dreamy, and very quiet.
“A land of streams!”
The lotos land is full of streams, rivers, mountains, valleys, and natural beauty. It is a land straight out of a dream; magical and peaceful.
“Most weary se...
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Notes
Explore 8 detailed notes related to The Lotos-Eaters. Each note provides in-depth analysis, explanations, and critical insights.