Paper 3 - Victorian Poetry - Maud XI Tennyson

metre and rhyme scheme

- Maud written in a variety of metres, reflecting the mood swings of the narrator - this poem written in iambic trimetre, jaunty metre of three stressed beats - regular rhyme scheme of ababcdc may seem odd with the subject matter, being a reflection on the supremacy of Love in a life fulfilled however, given its position in the whole poem, it can be seen as summing up the action that has gone before with a note of determination to pursue his goal of winning Maud's love

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- Written by Sir Alfred Lord Tennyson in 1855 whilst he was Poet Laureate, married aged 45 but had not yet become a baron. - Tennyson fell in love with Emily Hale in the 1830s but didn't have enough money to marry her. He was embittered by this financial barrier and was wretched in the 1840s (fell into depression). He eventually married Emily in the 1850s which his friends believe saved him from going insane. - "The poem of 'Maud or the madness' is a little hamlet" -> In the early scenes of the play, Hamlet, like the Speaker in Maud, is seen in a state of despair over his father's death and as the play unfolds, his intelligent cynicism is likewise directed at the corruption of the world. - The "central situation" in Maud parallels Tennyson's relationship with Rosa Baring as it "involves the love of a high-strung, idealistic young man, brooding and inclined to morbidity, for a young woman of wealth and position, and the frustration of that love through the snobbish opposition or the he girl's family." - He often had long talks with friends about the "terrible conditions in the rapidly growing industrial cities" of Britain, according to the poets grandson. - His grandfather had broken tradition by making his younger son his heir and tennyson's father 'only' a vicar. His families limited financial circumstances contrasted with the great wealth of his aunt and uncle --> concerned about money his entire life, feeling impoverished.

"Not close and darken above me"

- contrast between 'sweet heavens' and 'close and darken' suggests a dichotomy between optimism and despair, emphasising the speaker's uncertainty about love - recognises the idea of love as a source of light and hope against the world's bleakness

"Let the sweet heavens endure,"

- plea for sweetness before it is too late resonates with readers as a universal human desire, intensifying the poem's emotional impact - metaphor creates a sense of hope and anticipation - suggests love is something heavenly, something to be treasured and desired

Before I am quite quite sure"

- repetition emphasises speaker's need for absolute certainty before fully embracing the possibility of love - the stanzas ABABCDC rhyme scheme contributes ti its musicality and rhythm, enhancing the emotional impact of the speaker's words

"Then let come what may"

- repetition of a line, underscores speaker's readiness to face whatever the future holds once love is confirmed - enjambment at the end of the line creates a sense of continuity, as the speaker's thoughts flow seamlessly from one line to the next - captures the theme of yearning for love and the longing for a meaningful connection with another person

summary of Maud XI

- speaker has just met Maud again for the first time since childhood - initially thinks she is arrogant and cold but meets her and is persuaded she is friendly and much like her childhood self - one complication is a brother who dislikes him and another suitor - a rich man - who the speaker believes wants Maud as a wife - this poem is an expression of determination to pursue his goal of winning Maud's love and a reflection on the supremacy of love in a life fulfilled

summary of Maud as a whole

- starts following suicide of speaker's father who failed a business venture - speaker falls for a pursues Maud, a childhood sweetheart that has returned home - Maud's brother is unimpressed by the speaker, and a confrontation (offstage as it were) results in the speaker killing the protective brother - las section focuses on the speaker's reaction to this after he has fled abroad, reports of Maud's death and reveals his decision to join the war in Crimea (to hide from crime? Redemption?)

"Before my life has found // What some have found so sweet;"

- suggests speaker is comparing their own life to other experiences, highlighting universal quest for happiness - first person narrative allows readers to empathise with the speaker's personal desires and concerns - juxtaposition of 'solid ground' and 'sweet' experiences creates a contrast between stability and pleasure, emphasising the speaker's longing for the latter

"What matter if I go mad,"

- underscores speaker's willingness to embrace madness as a consequence of pursuing life's sweetness - uses of words like 'sweet' and 'mad' evokes strong emotional responses, emphasising the intensity of the speaker's desires and fears - 'mad' could be a metaphor for embracing a passionate and unconventional life, adding depth to the poem's thematic exploration

"O let the solid ground // Not fail beneath my feet"

- vivid imagery creating a sense of instability and vulnerability - 'soid' contrasts with the speaker'd fear of it failing, creating a paradox that emphasises the fragility of life - enjambment throughout stanza, creating a sense of urgency and forward momentum in the speaker's plea

form

Dramatic Monologue - also described by Tennyson as a 'monodrama'

explain the use of the word 'Maud' as the title

childhood sweetheart, speaker ends up killing Maud's brother this poems starts following the death of the speaker's father via suicide

tone

concise and determined, helping Tennyson craft a hopeful and at times desperate mood themes

themes

love, purpose of life and loss