Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s (1809-1892) poem “Locksley Hall” (1842) shows both sadness and hope. The speaker of this poem is an unnamed young soldier. Even though the speaker is sad about his lost love, Amy, he still dreams of a better world in the future. Here are his optimistic views.

Faith in Science and Progress: Even in his sadness, the speaker believes human progress and science can bring hope and a better future. He imagines a world where science will help people build new technologies, like flying machines or “magic sails.” He knows science is slow, but it will help people in the end. He hopes that new knowledge will make life better for all. 

Hope for Peach and a Better Future: He hopes people will become smarter and more peaceful. People will become wiser with time. He wants a future where all countries come together, stop fighting, and work as one. The speaker feels that this future will be better and kinder. At the end, the speaker chooses to leave behind his sadness and move on. He says:

“Forward, forward let us range”

In short, even though “Locksley Hall” begins with pain and heartbreak, Tennyson fills it with hope for science, peace, and progress. The speaker believes the future will be brighter, and he needs to move on.