An Explication of Tennyson's 'Tithonus'

Alfred, Lord Tennyson's 'Tithonus' explains mans desire for immortality gone astray. Tennyson writes the poem at a young and ambitious twenty-four years of age. This poem, however, is written three months after the death of Tennyson's best friend. His feelings toward his friend, and death in general, are depicted through his views toward immortality throughout the poem. He believes that youth is the key to usefulness and happiness. Without youth, man grows more undesirable every …

…a chance for new, more luscious creations to continue with life. Tennyson effectively describes his views toward death through imagery and figure of speech. He describes a decaying old man, which overtime, loses his usefulness. Tennyson values youth over long life and death as a way for new creations to evolve. Tennyson believes we should stay in the ordinary ways of life. Anything beyond this, becomes less useful and more of a burden on society.