When it comes to Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s “Ulysses,” one thing’s for sure: this isn’t your typical “sail off into the sunset” retirement story. Written in 1833, the dramatic monologue gives voice to Ulysses (a.k.a. Odysseus), the legendary hero of Homer’s Odyssey, as he reflects on his life after returning home to Ithaca. Spoiler alert: he’s not loving retirement. So let’s start Ulysses Poem – Line by Line Analysis.
1. “It little profits that an idle king, / By this still hearth, among these barren crags,”
Right off the bat, Ulysses is throwing shade at his current situation. He feels useless (“little profits”) as a king who’s just sitting around by the fire, surrounded by the dull, lifeless landscape of Ithaca. For someone who’s spent years battling monsters and gods, this life of leisure feels like torture.
2. “Matched with an aged wife, I mete and dole / Unequal laws unto a savage race,”
Here, Ulysses isn’t exactly winning any husband-of-the-year awards. He refers to his wife, Penelope, as “aged” and laments the monotony of ruling over his people, whom he calls a “savage race.” This isn’t the romanticized hero we expect—he’s restless, a bit bitter, and ready to move on.
3. “That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me.”
Ulysses is feeling unseen and unappreciated. His subjects are preoccupied with mundane concerns—hoarding, sleeping, eating—while he longs for the glory days of adventure and recognition. He wants more than just existence; he wants meaning.
4. “I cannot rest from travel: I will drink / Life to the lees.”
Here’s where the wanderlust kicks in. Ulysses compares life to a cup of wine, and he’s determined to drink it to the very last drop (“to the lees”). He craves adventure and refuses to settle for the quiet life of a stay-at-home king.
5. “All times I have enjoyed / Greatly, have suffered greatly, both with those / That loved me, and alone,”
Ulysses reflects on his past adventures, acknowledging that they’ve been a mix of triumphs and hardships. He’s loved, he’s suffered, and he’s faced challenges both with comrades and on his own. It’s this tapestry of experience that makes his current stagnation so unbearable.
6. “On shore, and when through scudding drifts the rainy Hyades / Vexed the dim sea: I am become a name;”
This line is a nod to Ulysses’ epic past as a sailor and warrior. The “rainy Hyades” refers to a star cluster associated with storms at sea, symbolizing his tumultuous journeys. “I am become a name” reveals his legendary status—but even being famous doesn’t satisfy him. He wants action, not just a legacy.
7. “For always roaming with a hungry heart / Much have I seen and known;”
Ulysses is basically the poster child for FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). His “hungry heart” has driven him to explore the world, and he’s seen and experienced more than most mortals could imagine. But guess what? It’s still not enough.
8. “Cities of men / And manners, climates, councils, governments,”
He’s not just a warrior—he’s a cultural connoisseur. Ulysses has absorbed knowledge and experiences from all walks of life, from cityscapes to political systems. This worldly perspective makes Ithaca feel even smaller and more confining.
9. “And drunk delight of battle with my peers, / Far on the ringing plains of windy Troy.”
Cue the nostalgia! Ulysses remembers the thrill of the Trojan War, where he fought alongside equals and basked in the glory of battle. The contrast between those exciting days and his current situation couldn’t be starker.
10. “I am a part of all that I have met;”
This famous line speaks to Ulysses’ belief that every experience has shaped him. He carries the people, places, and moments of his life within him, making him feel like he’s more than just a king stuck on an island.
11. “Yet all experience is an arch wherethrough / Gleams that untravelled world, whose margin fades / For ever and for ever when I move.”
Ulysses compares experience to an arch that frames a view of the unknown. No matter how much he’s seen, the world always holds more to explore. It’s an endless horizon, forever calling to him.
12. “How dull it is to pause, to make an end, / To rust unburnished, not to shine in use!”
Retirement? No thanks. Ulysses compares himself to a sword that’s rusting from lack of use. He believes that life is meant to be lived actively, not wasted in idleness. (Take that, early retirement planners!)
13. “As though to breathe were life.”
Here, Ulysses dismisses the idea that merely existing is enough. Breathing might keep you alive, but for Ulysses, true life means striving, experiencing, and challenging oneself.
14. “Life piled on life / Were all too little, and of one to me / Little remains:”
Even with multiple lifetimes, Ulysses wouldn’t feel satisfied. And now, in his old age, he’s keenly aware that time is running out. This urgency fuels his desire to make the most of what’s left.
15. “The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs: the deep / Moans round with many voices.”
Tennyson’s imagery here is breathtaking. The “waning day” and “slow moon” symbolize Ulysses’ advancing age, while the “deep” (the sea) represents the vast, mysterious forces that still call to him.
16. “Come, my friends, / ‘Tis not too late to seek a newer world.”
Ulysses rallies his comrades for one last adventure. Even in old age, he believes it’s never too late to chase dreams and explore uncharted territories. (Adventure retirees, take note.)
17. “Push off, and sitting well in order smite / The sounding furrows;”
The image of Ulysses and his men pushing their ship into the waves is both literal and metaphorical. They’re defying the odds and heading toward the unknown, no matter the risks.
18. “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”
The poem ends on this unforgettable line—a rallying cry for ambition, perseverance, and the relentless pursuit of purpose. It’s a powerful statement of Ulysses’ philosophy: life is about striving, even in the face of uncertainty.
Final Thoughts: A Hero’s Inner Odyssey
Tennyson’s Ulysses poem is not an ordinary poem—it’s a timeless anthem for anyone who’s ever felt restless, ambitious, or unsatisfied with the status quo. Ulysses may be old, but his hunger for life reminds us that it’s never too late to chase our dreams, no matter how audacious they may seem.
So whether you’re navigating uncharted waters or just trying to reignite your spark, remember these immortal words: “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”