Guinevere: With Introduction and Notes

by Alfred Tennyson, George Campbell Macaulay (Editor)

Excerpt from Tennyson Guinevere: With Introduction and Notes

Coming of Arthur and The Passing' of Arthur, by Mr. F. J. Rowe of the Presidency College, Calcutta, and with my own editions of Gareth and iaynetie, The Marriage of Gemini, Gemini and Enid, and The Holy Grail. For a general account of Tennyson's poetry, and especially of the Idylls of the King, I may be permitted to refer to Mr. Rowe's Introductions.

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Genres: Poetry

109 pages, Paperback

Published August 24, 2018

About the author

Works, including In Memoriam in 1850 and "The Charge of the Light Brigade" in 1854, of Alfred Tennyson, first baron, known as lord, appointed British poet laureate in 1850, reflect Victorian sentiments and aesthetics.

Elizabeth Tennyson, wife, bore Alfred Tennyson, the fourth of twelve children, to George Tennyson, clergyman; he inevitably wrote his books. In 1816, parents sent Tennyson was sent to grammar school of Louth.

Alfred Tennyson disliked school so intensely that from 1820, home educated him. At the age of 18 years in 1827, Alfred joined his two brothers at Trinity College, Cambridge and with Charles Tennyson, his brother, published Poems by Two Brothers , his book, in the same year.

Alfred Tennyson published Poems Chiefly Lyrical , his second book, in 1830. In 1833, Arthur Henry Hallam, best friend of Tennyson, engaged to wed his sister, died, and thus inspired some best Ulysses and the Passing of Arthur .

Following William Wordsworth, Alfred Tennyson in 1850 married Emily Sellwood Tenyson, his childhood friend. She bore Hallam Tennyson in 1852 and Lionel Tennyson in 1854, two years later.

Alfred Tennyson continued throughout his life and in the 1870s also to write a number of plays.

In 1884, the queen raised Alfred Tennyson, a great favorite of Albert, prince, thereafter to the peerage of Aldworth. She granted such a high rank for solely literary distinction to this only Englishman.

Alfred Tennyson died at the age of 83 years, and people buried his body in abbey of Westminster.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Genièvre

Author: Alfred Tennyson

Illustrator: Gustave Doré

Translator: Francisque Michel

Release Date: December 11, 2016 [EBook #53710]

Language: French


Produced by Laura N.R. and Marc D'Hooghe at Free Literature (back online soon in an extended version, also linking to free sources for education worldwide ... MOOC's, educational materials,...) Images generously made available by Gallica (Bibliothèque nationale de France.)

Free download available at Project Gutenberg.

I made the proofing of this book for Free Literature and it will be published by Project Gutenberg.

Images generously made available by Gallica-BnF.


A
NAPOLÉON III
EMPEREUR DES FRANÇAIS
CE LIVRE
ŒUVRE DU GÉNIE COMBINÉ
DE L'ANGLETERRE ET DE LA FRANCE
ET PRODUIT D'UNE AMITIÉ ENTRE LES DEUX PEUPLES
QUI DOIT SURTOUT SA FORCE
A UNE AUGUSTE IMPULSION
EST DÉDIÉ
PAR SON TRÈS-HUMBLE ET TRÈS-OBÉISSANT SERVITEUR

J. BERTRAND PAYNE.

[Mythlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a little hard to read the deep blame (and shame) placed on Guinevere by a young maid in the convent, by Arthur, and by Guinevere herself, without seeing it through modern eyes as at least borderline misogynistic. It's partly the extraordinarily one-sided blame, as if she alone is single-handedly responsible for the downfall of the near-paradise of Arthur's reign notwithstanding other independent actors, including Modred, Lancelot, and perhaps even Arthur himself (seen as improperly passive in some tellings). There's one point where Lancelot gallantly attempts to assume responsibility, but she notes that she was the one who made and broke marriage vows and that's the end of that. And it's partly the language used to characterize her fault, including words and phrases such as "false voluptuous pride" which have come to seem coded as misogynist.

But I fought against this anachronistic perspective (which smacks of 'chronological snobbery') because I don't think that's a fair reading of the poem. It is necessary for her and and us to fully understand and accept the gravity of her sin (blindly selfish disloyalty) and its horrific consequences to appreciate the enormity of her husband's love, forgiveness and blessing which provides the fertile ground for her own redemption. Arthur does not 'save' her, of course; but his generosity offers a significant glimmer of hope which inspires her to turn away from sin and despair. Her heart has truly changed by the end, and it's quite moving.

I loved Tennyson's garrulous young maid, an innocent mirror to Guinevere's conscience.

There's probably more to say, especially by those who know other versions of the Arthur story a lot better than I do. But I did notice one place where Tennyson differs from Malory: Arthur tells Guinevere "I was ever virgin save for thee," and describes Modred as "the man they call / My sister's son--no kin of mine."