As the principal narrative poem of nineteenth-century England, Tennyson's Idylls of the King is an ambitious and widely influential reworking of the Arthurian legends of the Middle Ages, which have provided a great body of myth and symbol to writers, painters, and composers for the past hundred years. Tennyson's treatment of these legends is now valued as a deeply significant oblique commentary on cultural decadence and the precarious balance of civilization. Drawing upon published and unpublished materials, Tennyson's Camelot studies the Idylls of the King from the perspective of all its medieval sources. In noting the Arthurian literature Tennyson knew and paying special attention to the works that became central to his Arthurian creation, the volume reveals the poet's immense knowledge of the medieval legends and his varied approaches to his sources. The author follows the chronology of composition of the Idylls, allowing the reader to see Tennyson's evolving conception of his poem and his changing attitudes to the medieval accounts. The Idylls of the King stands, ultimately, as the poet's own Camelot, his legacy to his generation, an indictment of his society through a vindication of his idealism.

36 splendid illustrations, accompanied by quotes from Tennyson's poem, dramatically recapture the love story of Lancelot and Guinevere, the tale of the fair Elaine, and more.

Far from being an escapist medieval charade, Rosenberg shows, the "Idylls" offers an apocalyptic prevision of the nightmare of modern history. Concealed under the exquisitely romantic surface of the verse is a world of obsessive sensuality and collapsing values that culminates in the "last dim weird battle the West." Perhaps the subtlest anatomy of the failure of ideality in our literature, the "Idylls" is not only about hazards of mistaking illusion for reality; it dramatically enacts those dangers, ensnaring the reader in the same delusions that maim and destroy the characters.

Baron Alfred Tennyson Tennyson's 'The Last Tournament' is a poetic narrative that delves into the Arthurian legend, focusing on the final jousting tournament held by King Arthur. The book is written in Tennyson's signature lyrical style, filled with rich imagery and emotional depth, capturing the essence of chivalry and honor prevalent in the medieval era. Tennyson's portrayal of characters like Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere adds a layer of complexity to the story, exploring themes of betrayal and redemption within the legendary Camelot. 'The Last Tournament' stands out as a significant work in Tennyson's larger body of Arthurian literature, showcasing his mastery of narrative poetry and his ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia for a bygone era. Readers will be captivated by the evocative language and the timeless themes presented in this classic tale of love and loyalty.

A comprehensive study guide offering in-depth explanation, essay, and test prep for selected works by Alfred Tennyson, appointed Poet Laureate of Great Britain and Ireland during Queen Victoria’s reign. Titles in this study guide include The Idylls Of The King, Ulysses and Tithonus, The Palace of Art, Lucretius, In Memoriam, and Demeter and Persephone. As a celebrated British poet of the nineteenth-century, he was one of the most renowned poets of the Victorian era. Moreover, Tennyson’s early works are responsible for shaping the revival of the medieval period. This Bright Notes Study Guide explores the context and history of Tennyson’s classic work, helping students to thoroughly explore the reasons they have stood the literary test of time. Each Bright Notes Study Guide contains: - Introductions to the Author and the Work - Character Summaries - Plot Guides - Section and Chapter Overviews - Test Essay and Study Q&As The Bright Notes Study Guide series offers an in-depth tour of more than 275 classic works of literature, exploring characters, critical commentary, historical background, plots, and themes. This set of study guides encourages readers to dig deeper in their understanding by including essay questions and answers as well as topics for further research.

The revival of interest in Arthurian legend in the 19th century was a remarkable phenomenon, apparently at odds with the spirit of the age. Tennyson was widely criticised for his choice of a medieval topic; yet The Idylls of the Kingwere accepted as the national epic, and a flood of lesser works was inspired by them, on both sides of the Atlantic. Elisabeth Brewer and Beverly Taylor survey the course of Arthurian literature from 1800 to the present day, and give an account of all the major English and American contributions. Some of the works are well-known, but there are also a host of names which will be new to most readers, and some surprises, such as J. Comyns Carr's King Arthur, rightly ignored as a text, but a piece oftheatrical history, for Sir Henry Irving played King Arthur, Ellen Terry was Guinevere, Arthur Sullivan wrote the music, and Burne-Jones designed the sets. The Arthurian works of the Pre-Raphaelites are discussed at length, as are the poemsof Edward Arlington Robinson, John Masefield and Charles Williams. Other writers have used the legends as part of a wider cultural consciousness: The Waste Land, David Jones's In Parenthesis and The Anathemata, and the echoes ofTristan and Iseult in Finnigan's Wake are discussed in this context. Novels on Arthurian themes are given their due place, from the satirical scenes of Thomas Love Peacock's The Misfortunes of Elphin and Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur's Court to T.H. White's serio-comic The Once and Future King and the many recent novelists who have turned away from the chivalric Arthur to depict him as a Dark Age ruler. The Return of King Arthurincludes a bibliography of British and American creative writing relating to the Arthurian legends from 1800 to the present day.