Study material:

"Tithonus" by Alfred Tennyson is a poignant dramatic monologue based on the Greek myth
of Tithonus and the goddess of the dawn, Eos (Aurora). Here are some notes on the poem:

Background of the Myth:

* Tithonus was a mortal man loved by the goddess Eos, who asked Zeus to grant him
immortality.

* However, Eos forgot to ask for eternal youth, so Tithonus lived forever but continued to
age, eventually becoming frail and withered. In some versions of the myth, he is eventually
turned into a cicada.

The Poem's Context:

* Tennyson wrote an early version of the poem in 1833, shortly after the death of his close
friend Arthur Henry Hallam. The themes of mortality, immortality, and the passage of time
were deeply relevant to Tennyson's grief.

* The final version of "Tithonus" was published in 1860.

* Tennyson considered "Tithonus" a companion piece to his poem "Ulysses," exploring a

Key Aspects of the Poem:

* Dramatic Monologue: The poem is spoken entirely by Tithonus, addressing his immortal
lover, Eos. This form allows us direct access to his thoughts and feelings.

* Blank Verse: The poem is written in unrhymed iambic pentameter, which creates a
natural and conversational yet dignified tone.

* Themes:

* The Burden of Immortality without Youth: This is the central theme. Tithonus vividly
describes the agony of living forever in a state of perpetual decay, contrasting his aging
form with Eos's eternal youth.

* The Natural Cycle of Life and Death: Tithonus contrasts his unnatural existence with the
natural world, where everything – the woods, the mist, humans, even the long-lived swan –
follows a cycle of growth, decay, and death. He envies their ability to find release in death.

* The Irreversibility of Time and Gifts: Tithonus laments the irreversible nature of Eos's gift
of immortality, even questioning if the gods themselves can retract their boons.
 * Loss and Regret: He mourns the loss of his youth, his former glory, and the natural
progression of a mortal life. He regrets asking for immortality without considering the
consequences.

* The Alienation of Immortality: Tithonus feels increasingly estranged from both the
mortal world and the eternally youthful Eos, whose nature he can no longer fully connect
with.

* Imagery: Tennyson uses vivid imagery to convey Tithonus's physical decline ("white-hair'd
shadow," "gray shadow," "cold my wrinkled feet") and the vibrant beauty of the dawn and
Eos ("gleaming halls of morn," "pure brows," "bosom beating with a heart renew'd").

* Structure: The poem moves from Tithonus's lament about his current state to his
memories of the past and his desperate plea for release.

* Tithonus's Tone: His tone is one of weariness, regret, longing for death, and a touch of
bitterness towards his immortal condition.

Significant Lines and Moments:

* "The woods decay, the woods decay and fall..." - Establishes the contrast with Tithonus's
unending existence.

* "Me only cruel immortality / Consumes..." - Directly states his central suffering.

* "I ask'd thee, 'Give me immortality.'" - Highlights his role in his predicament, albeit made
in youthful ignorance.

* "But thy strong Hours indignant work'd their wills, / And beat me down and marr'd and
wasted me..." - Personifies time as a destructive force upon him.

* "To dwell in presence of immortal youth, / Immortal age beside immortal youth..." -
Emphasizes the painful juxtaposition of their states.

* "Let me go: take back thy gift..." - His desperate plea for release.

* "How can my nature longer mix with thine?" - Expresses the growing chasm between
mortal decay and immortal youth.

* "Happy men that have the power to die..." - His poignant envy of mortal beings.

* "Release me, and restore me to the ground; / Thou seëst all things, thou wilt see my
grave..." - His final wish to return to the natural cycle of life and death.

"Tithonus" is a powerful exploration of the complexities of immortality and a reminder of