A Character by Alfred Tennyson (Poem, Summary, Paraphrase & Analysis)

 

A Character

by Alfred Tennyson

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase & Analysis) 

A Character

With a half-glance upon the sky

At night he said, ‘The wanderings

Of this most intricate Universe

Teach me the nothingness of things.’

Yet could not all creation pierce;

He took the shining lyre of verse,

And set his griefs to lyric tears,

And wept the burden of his years.

 

His wavering finger paused, and then

He struck the master-chord again;

The burden changed, the numbers ran,

And lo! the man was glad again.

He sang of love, he sang of fame,

Of high heroic deeds he sang,

Till all his soul was full of flame,

And all the listening silence rang.

 

His eye was bright, his step was free,

He walked in joy beneath the morn;

The burden changed, and so did he,

Now proud, now meek, now all forlorn.

He spoke of beauty, virtue, truth,

Of all the pure and perfect forms

That warm the heart, that fire the youth,

And guide us through life’s weary storms.

 

Yet still the burden changed; and then

He sang of wrong, he sang of woe,

Of hopes that fail, of hearts that break,

Of all the griefs that mortals know.

And so his song was sweet or sad,

As impulse swayed, as fancy led;

He lived his song, the good, the bad,

And all his life was mingled thread.

 

This poem, written in Tennyson's youth, reflects on the mercurial nature of a character whose moods and expressions shift with the changing themes of his poetry. It was first published in Poems, Chiefly Lyrical (1830).

 

Summary

Alfred Tennyson’s poem "A Character," published in 1830 as part of his collection Poems, Chiefly Lyrical, presents a vivid portrayal of an individual whose emotional and intellectual life is deeply intertwined with his poetic expression. The poem unfolds in four stanzas, each capturing the shifting moods and themes of the character’s songs, reflecting his inner volatility and responsiveness to the world around him.

In the first stanza, the character is introduced as a contemplative figure who gazes at the night sky and muses on the vast complexity of the universe. This reflection leads him to a sense of existential despair, perceiving the "nothingness of things." Unable to fully grasp the mysteries of creation, he turns to poetry, using his "shining lyre of verse" to express his sorrows, lamenting the weight of his years.

The second stanza shifts to a moment of transformation. The character pauses, then strikes a new chord on his metaphorical lyre, altering the tone of his poetry. His song transitions from sorrow to joy, celebrating themes of love, fame, and heroic deeds. This shift ignites his soul with passion, and his vibrant verses resonate with an imagined audience, filling the "listening silence" with energy and inspiration.

In the third stanza, the character’s emotional state continues to evolve. His bright eyes and free step reflect a newfound joy, but his moods remain fluid, oscillating between pride, meekness, and despondency. His poetry now explores ideals such as beauty, virtue, and truth, which serve as guiding lights for the heart and spirit, offering solace amid life’s challenges.

The final stanza emphasizes the character’s mercurial nature. His songs alternate between joy and sorrow, reflecting themes of love, loss, hope, and despair. The poem concludes by noting that the character’s life and art are inseparable, his verses embodying both the highs and lows of his experiences. His existence is depicted as a "mingled thread" of good and bad, shaped by impulse and fancy, with his poetry serving as a mirror to his ever-changing soul.

Through its concise yet evocative stanzas, "A Character" captures the essence of a poet whose life and work are marked by emotional fluidity, oscillating between despair and elation, and whose songs reflect the full spectrum of human experience.

 

Line-by-Line Paraphrase

With a half-glance upon the sky 

-> With a quick look at the sky, 

At night he said, ‘The wanderings 

-> At night, he remarked, “The movements 

Of this most intricate Universe 

-> Of this highly complex universe 

Teach me the nothingness of things.’ 

-> Show me the emptiness of everything.” 

Yet could not all creation pierce; 

-> Yet he couldn’t fully understand all of creation; 

He took the shining lyre of verse, 

-> He picked up the radiant tool of poetry, 

And set his griefs to lyric tears, 

-> And turned his sorrows into poetic expressions, 

And wept the burden of his years. 

-> And mourned the weight of his life’s experiences. 

 

His wavering finger paused, and then 

-> His hesitant finger stopped, then 

He struck the master-chord again; 

-> He played a powerful note again; 

The burden changed, the numbers ran, 

-> The mood shifted, the verses flowed, 

And lo! the man was glad again. 

-> And behold! The man was joyful once more. 

He sang of love, he sang of fame, 

-> He sang about love, he sang about glory, 

Of high heroic deeds he sang, 

-> Of great heroic acts he sang, 

Till all his soul was full of flame, 

-> Until his entire being was filled with passion, 

And all the listening silence rang. 

-> And the quiet around him echoed with his song. 

 

His eye was bright, his step was free, 

-> His eyes sparkled, his walk was light, 

He walked in joy beneath the morn; 

-> He moved happily under the morning sky; 

The burden changed, and so did he, 

-> The mood shifted, and so did he, 

Now proud, now meek, now all forlorn. 

-> Sometimes proud, sometimes humble, sometimes deeply sad. 

He spoke of beauty, virtue, truth, 

-> He talked of beauty, goodness, and truth, 

Of all the pure and perfect forms 

-> Of all the pure and ideal qualities 

That warm the heart, that fire the youth, 

-> That warm the heart and inspire the young, 

And guide us through life’s weary storms. 

-> And lead us through life’s exhausting challenges. 

 

Yet still the burden changed; and then 

-> Yet the mood kept shifting; and then 

He sang of wrong, he sang of woe, 

-> He sang about injustice, he sang about sorrow, 

Of hopes that fail, of hearts that break, 

-> Of dreams that collapse, of hearts that shatter, 

Of all the griefs that mortals know. 

-> Of all the pains that people experience. 

And so his song was sweet or sad, 

-> And so his song was sometimes joyful, sometimes sorrowful, 

As impulse swayed, as fancy led; 

-> As his emotions guided, as his imagination directed; 

He lived his song, the good, the bad, 

-> He lived his poetry, the positive and the negative, 

And all his life was mingled thread. 

-> And his entire life was a blend of contrasting elements. 

 

Analysis of "A Character" by Alfred Tennyson

Alfred Tennyson’s poem "A Character," published in 1830 as part of his early collection Poems, Chiefly Lyrical, offers a profound exploration of the emotional and intellectual volatility of a poet whose life and art are inseparable. Through four tightly structured stanzas, Tennyson crafts a vivid portrait of a mercurial figure whose poetry reflects the ebb and flow of his inner world, oscillating between despair, joy, and introspection. The poem is not merely a character sketch but a meditation on the nature of artistic creation, the human condition, and the interplay between emotion and expression. This analysis delves into the poem’s thematic depth, structural elements, imagery, and tone, illuminating how Tennyson captures the essence of a poet’s soul.

The poem’s central theme is the fluidity of human emotion and its manifestation in art. Tennyson presents the character as a poet whose songs mirror his shifting moods, suggesting that creativity is both a reflection and an extension of the self. In the first stanza, the character’s contemplation of the “intricate Universe” leads to a nihilistic realization of the “nothingness of things.” This existential despair sets the stage for the character’s turn to poetry as a means of processing his grief. The act of setting “his griefs to lyric tears” underscores the therapeutic role of art, where the poet transforms personal sorrow into universal expression. Tennyson’s use of the phrase “shining lyre of verse” elevates poetry to a divine or luminous instrument, suggesting its power to illuminate even the darkest emotions.

The second stanza marks a dramatic shift in tone and theme, highlighting the character’s emotional volatility. The “wavering finger” that pauses before striking the “master-chord” symbolizes a moment of hesitation followed by a bold creative choice. The shift from sorrow to joy, as the character sings of “love,” “fame,” and “high heroic deeds,” reflects the transformative potential of art. The imagery of the soul “full of flame” and the “listening silence” that “rang” conveys the intensity and resonance of the poet’s newfound inspiration. This oscillation between despair and elation underscores Tennyson’s portrayal of the artist as a figure driven by passion and impulse, capable of igniting both himself and his audience through his verse.

In the third stanza, Tennyson further explores the character’s mercurial nature, emphasizing the interplay between his internal state and external expression. The bright eye and free step evoke a moment of vitality, yet the rapid shifts to “proud,” “meek,” and “all forlorn” reveal the instability of his emotions. The character’s focus on “beauty, virtue, truth” as “pure and perfect forms” suggests an idealistic pursuit, where poetry becomes a vehicle for exploring higher ideals that inspire and guide. The phrase “life’s weary storms” introduces a sense of universal struggle, positioning the poet as both a participant in and commentator on the human experience. Tennyson’s choice of words like “warm” and “fire” reinforces the emotional intensity of these ideals, while the reference to “youth” suggests a timeless appeal to passion and aspiration.

The final stanza synthesizes the poem’s themes, portraying the character’s life as a “mingled thread” of joy and sorrow, good and bad. The continued shifting of the “burden” of his song—moving from “wrong” and “woe” to “hopes that fail” and “hearts that break”—reflects the full spectrum of human experience. Tennyson emphasizes the spontaneity of the character’s art, driven by “impulse” and “fancy,” suggesting that his poetry is an organic extension of his lived experience. The phrase “he lived his song” is particularly significant, blurring the line between the poet’s life and his art. This fusion suggests that for the artist, creation is not a detached act but an embodiment of existence itself, encompassing both its triumphs and tragedies.

Structurally, the poem’s four eight-line stanzas, with a consistent ABABCCDD rhyme scheme, provide a sense of order that contrasts with the character’s emotional volatility. This formal structure mirrors the “lyre” of verse, a disciplined framework through which the poet channels his chaotic emotions. The regular meter, primarily iambic tetrameter, lends a musical quality to the poem, reinforcing the theme of poetry as a lyrical outlet. The repetition of the word “burden” throughout the stanzas serves as a unifying motif, symbolizing both the emotional weight the character carries and the central theme of his songs, which shifts in tone but remains tied to his inner state.

Tennyson’s imagery is rich and evocative, drawing on celestial, musical, and elemental metaphors to convey the character’s complexity. The “half-glance upon the sky” suggests a fleeting yet profound engagement with the cosmos, while the “shining lyre” and “master-chord” evoke the classical tradition of poetry as a divine art. Elemental imagery, such as the soul “full of flame” and the heart “warmed” by ideals, conveys the intensity of the character’s emotions, while the “weary storms” of life ground the poem in a universal human struggle. These images collectively create a vivid portrait of a poet whose inner fire fuels his creative output, yet whose sensitivity to life’s highs and lows shapes his ever-changing song.

The tone of the poem is both empathetic and observational, as Tennyson presents the character with a blend of intimacy and distance. The speaker does not judge the character’s volatility but instead celebrates it as the source of his creative power. This tone reflects Tennyson’s own early career as a poet, grappling with the emotional intensity of youth and the role of poetry in making sense of the world. Written during a period of personal and professional uncertainty, “A Character” may also be seen as a self-reflective piece, with Tennyson exploring the archetype of the poet as a figure defined by passion, sensitivity, and the constant interplay between despair and inspiration.

In conclusion, “A Character” is a nuanced exploration of the artist’s psyche, capturing the dynamic relationship between emotion, experience, and creative expression. Through its vivid imagery, structured form, and empathetic tone, Tennyson crafts a portrait of a poet whose life and art are inextricably linked, reflecting the full range of human experience. The poem stands as a testament to the power of poetry to transform personal struggle into universal truth, offering insight into the restless, multifaceted nature of the creative spirit.