Textual Question Answer
Choose the correct answer from the alternatives given :
1. What is the speaker in “Ulysses” longing for?
a) A peaceful and quiet retirement
b) New adventures and experiences
c) The comfort of his family
d) Forgiveness for past mistakes
✅ b) New adventures and experiences
Explanation:
Ulysses is not satisfied with staying at home and leading a quiet, kingly life. He talks about exploring “beyond the sunset” and seeing new worlds. This shows his deep desire for more adventure, discovery, and meaningful action, even in old age.
2. What phrase from the poem best reflects Ulysses’ restless spirit?
a) “Grow old along with me”
b) “Much have I seen and known”
c) “I yearn for the old familiar ways”
d) “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield”
✅ d) “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield”
Explanation:
This famous line from the last part of the poem captures Ulysses’ unshakable willpower and never-give-up attitude. It shows that even though he’s old, he still wants to push forward, explore, and fight against fate.
3. What is the significance of the “far-off lands” mentioned in the poem?
a) They represent a lost love.
b) They symbolize the speaker’s regrets.
c) They represent the unknown and the call for continued exploration.
d) They represent the speaker’s yearning for death
✅ c) They represent the unknown and the call for continued exploration.
Explanation:
The “far-off lands” symbolize Ulysses’ longing for what lies beyond the known world – new knowledge, deeper meaning, and eternal quest. It’s about the human urge to keep learning and not settle for what is already familiar.
MCQs from “Ulysses” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
What does Ulysses call himself in the opening line?
A. A noble warrior
B. An idle king ✅
C. A mighty sailor
D. A forgotten legend
The phrase “still hearth” symbolizes:
A. War and destruction
B. Domestic peace and stagnation ✅
C. Adventure
D. Spiritual awakening
“Barren crags” refers to:
A. Fertile mountains
B. Coastal cities
C. Lifeless rocky terrain ✅
D. Vibrant hillsides
Who is the “aged wife” in the poem likely referring to?
A. Athena
B. Penelope ✅
C. Calypso
D. Helen
What tone is conveyed by “I mete and dole / Unequal laws”?
A. Pride
B. Indifference
C. Disdain and dissatisfaction ✅
D. Justice
Ulysses refers to his people as a:
A. Noble race
B. Savage race ✅
C. Brave race
D. Curious people
The phrase “know not me” suggests:
A. His subjects are familiar with him
B. His people revere him
C. A disconnect between ruler and ruled ✅
D. Intimacy
Ulysses contrasts his current life with:
A. His dreams of ruling
B. His time with gods
C. His past travels and adventures ✅
D. His romantic failures
“I cannot rest from travel” indicates:
A. Weariness
B. A curse
C. An insatiable wanderlust ✅
D. Royal obligation
“Drink / Life to the lees” means:
A. Avoid all hardships
B. Enjoy life to the fullest, even its dregs ✅
C. Reject life’s bitterness
D. Seek eternal youth
Ulysses claims to have:
A. Only suffered
B. Only succeeded
C. Both enjoyed and suffered greatly ✅
D. Never left home
Who did Ulysses suffer and enjoy life with?
A. His son
B. The gods
C. Those who loved him and alone ✅
D. No one
What natural imagery appears with the Hyades?
A. Burning sun
B. Snowy cliffs
C. Rainy storms ✅
D. Frozen rivers
What are the “scudding drifts” associated with?
A. Clouds
B. Wind and rain ✅
C. Dust storms
D. Ocean currents
What does “I am become a name” mean?
A. He is now anonymous
B. He is remembered as a legend ✅
C. He is powerless
D. He is now a god
“Hungry heart” implies:
A. Physical hunger
B. Greed
C. Unfulfilled longing ✅
D. Anger
Ulysses boasts of having seen:
A. Stars and the heavens
B. Cities, men, governments ✅
C. Hidden treasures
D. Mount Olympus
“Myself not least, but honour’d of them all” suggests:
A. He was forgotten
B. He was the least respected
C. He was honored by those he visited ✅
D. He was scorned
“Drunk delight of battle” indicates:
A. He enjoyed fighting ✅
B. He was drunk during war
C. He regrets violence
D. He feared combat
What war is referenced in “windy Troy”?
A. Persian Wars
B. Peloponnesian War
C. Trojan War ✅
D. Punic War
“I am a part of all that I have met” implies:
A. He is shaped by his experiences ✅
B. He has conquered everything
C. He has lost his identity
D. He is a god
“All experience is an arch” symbolizes:
A. A closed door
B. A burden
C. A gateway to new understanding ✅
D. A ceiling
The “untravelled world” represents:
A. Death
B. Divine knowledge
C. The unknown, unexplored future ✅
D. The underworld
“Margin fades / Forever and forever when I move” implies:
A. Boundaries are clear
B. He sees no point in traveling
C. The more he explores, the more there is to discover ✅
D. He is going blind
What literary device is used in “experience is an arch”?
A. Simile
B. Hyperbole
C. Metaphor ✅
D. Onomatopoeia
What effect does travel have on Ulysses?
A. It exhausts him
B. It defines and energizes him ✅
C. It makes him forget home
D. It angers him
What poetic device is seen in “hungry heart”?
A. Metaphor ✅
B. Hyperbole
C. Personification
D. Alliteration
“Windy Troy” is an example of:
A. Simile
B. Metonymy
C. Epithet ✅
D. Synecdoche
What is the tone of Ulysses’ reflections on travel?
A. Regretful
B. Content
C. Longing and pride ✅
D. Detached
The phrase “Gleams that untravell’d world” conveys:
A. Hope and discovery ✅
B. Darkness
C. Danger
D. Memory
What does Ulysses say about pausing?
A. It is wise
B. It is natural
C. It is dull ✅
D. It is restful
“To rust unburnished” suggests:
A. Glorious aging
B. Decay from inactivity ✅
C. Beauty in aging
D. Peaceful retirement
What is implied by “not to shine in use”?
A. Life’s value comes through action ✅
B. Use leads to destruction
C. Work is meaningless
D. Stillness is divine
The phrase “as though to breathe were life” is:
A. A metaphor for laziness ✅
B. A call to meditation
C. A celebration of survival
D. Literal
“Life piled on life / Were all too little” expresses:
A. Satisfaction with aging
B. Insatiable desire for experience ✅
C. Joy in repetition
D. Spiritual peace
What does Ulysses suggest remains for him in life?
A. Glory
B. Everything
C. Little ✅
D. Peace
“Every hour is saved / From that eternal silence” alludes to:
A. Sleep
B. Death ✅
C. The gods
D. Meditation
“A bringer of new things” refers to:
A. War
B. Time and experience ✅
C. Religion
D. Youth
Why does Ulysses say it is “vile” to “store and hoard” himself?
A. He believes in giving away wealth
B. He resents laziness and wasting time ✅
C. He fears his people
D. He loves routine
“Three suns” likely refers to:
A. Seasons
B. Three days ✅
C. Three lives
D. Three gods
“Gray spirit yearning in desire” personifies:
A. Old age with longing for more ✅
B. Ghosts
C. His wife
D. His people’s voice
“Sinking star” is a metaphor for:
A. Decline into death
B. Chasing unreachable knowledge ✅
C. The setting sun
D. Heaven
The poem is written in:
A. Rhyme
B. Blank verse ✅
C. Sonnet form
D. Free verse
What is the primary theme of this section?
A. Isolation
B. Domestic duty
C. Unquenchable quest for meaning and action ✅
D. Religious conflict
The tone of the speaker is best described as:
A. Peaceful
B. Restless and reflective ✅
C. Joyful
D. Bitter
Tennyson’s “Ulysses” is a:
A. Narrative poem
B. Dramatic monologue ✅
C. Lyrical ballad
D. Ode
What is ironic about Ulysses’ view of his people?
A. He praises them but dislikes them
B. He rules them yet feels unknown to them ✅
C. He wants to die for them
D. He admires their laziness
What best describes Ulysses’ attitude toward aging?
A. Acceptance
B. Anger
C. Resistance and defiance ✅
D. Celebration
The use of “I will drink / Life to the lees” suggests:
A. His desire to savor even the unpleasant parts of life ✅
B. His rejection of all struggle
C. His religious beliefs
D. His alcoholism
The metaphor “to rust unburnish’d” is drawn from:
A. Naval warfare
B. Metallurgy and weaponry ✅
C. Cooking
D. Literature
This is my son, mine own Telemachus,
To whom I leave the sceptre and the isle—
Well-loved of me, discerning to fulfil
This labour, by slow prudence to make mild
A rugged people, and thro’ soft degrees
Subdue them to the useful and the good.”
Who is Telemachus?
A. Ulysses’ father
B. Ulysses’ loyal servant
C. Ulysses’ son ✅
D. A neighboring king
What does Ulysses leave to Telemachus?
A. His armor
B. His ship
C. The sceptre and the isle ✅
D. His memories
The word “sceptre” symbolizes:
A. Love
B. Leadership and authority ✅
C. Wealth
D. War
What does Ulysses say about Telemachus’ ability?
A. He is better suited for war
B. He lacks strength
C. He is discerning and prudent ✅
D. He is impulsive
“Discerning to fulfil / This labour” means:
A. He will avoid duties
B. He wisely understands how to rule ✅
C. He is uninterested
D. He prefers battle
Ulysses believes his people are:
A. Gentle
B. Noble
C. Rugged ✅
D. Enlightened
What strategy will Telemachus use to rule?
A. Sudden reforms
B. War and conquest
C. Slow prudence and mild persuasion ✅
D. Silence and secrecy
What does “subdue them to the useful and the good” suggest?
A. Enslave them
B. Oppress them
C. Reform and civilize them ✅
D. Destroy their culture
What is the tone of Ulysses toward his son?
A. Mocking
B. Indifferent
C. Respectful and affectionate ✅
D. Angry
Ulysses sees Telemachus as:
A. A future conqueror
B. A wise administrator ✅
C. A coward
D. A poet
“Most blameless is he, centred in the sphere
Of common duties, decent not to fail
In offices of tenderness, and pay
Meet adoration to my household gods,
When I am gone.”
“Most blameless is he” suggests:
A. Telemachus is without major faults ✅
B. Telemachus is guilty
C. Telemachus is naive
D. Telemachus is reckless
“Centred in the sphere / Of common duties” means:
A. Telemachus avoids responsibility
B. He is committed to practical obligations ✅
C. He neglects routine tasks
D. He is overly imaginative
What are “offices of tenderness”?
A. Positions in government
B. Duties involving care and affection ✅
C. Rituals of war
D. Legal documents
“Meet adoration” implies:
A. Casual respect
B. Wild celebration
C. Appropriate reverence ✅
D. Minimal interest
“Household gods” refer to:
A. Telemachus himself
B. The gods of Olympus
C. Domestic spiritual traditions ✅
D. Statues in the garden
The phrase “when I am gone” implies:
A. Ulysses’ death or departure ✅
B. Ulysses’ new job
C. Ulysses’ marriage
D. Ulysses’ sleep
Telemachus’ role includes:
A. Starting new wars
B. Destroying old customs
C. Honoring traditions ✅
D. Abandoning Ithaca
“Decent not to fail” conveys:
A. He must fail
B. He should never attempt
C. It is proper that he succeeds ✅
D. He will fail with dignity
Telemachus is portrayed as:
A. Warrior-like and wild
B. Gentle and dutiful ✅
C. Adventurous and bold
D. Lazy and passive
The tone of this passage is:
A. Scornful
B. Admiring ✅
C. Mocking
D. Disappointed
“He works his work, I mine.
There lies the port; the vessel puffs her sail:
There gloom the dark broad seas. My mariners,
Souls that have toil’d, and wrought, and thought with me—
That ever with a frolic welcome took
The thunder and the sunshine…”
“He works his work, I mine” emphasizes:
A. Rebellion
B. Resentment
C. Division of roles ✅
D. Abandonment
“There lies the port” implies:
A. A departure is imminent ✅
B. A new home
C. A place of worship
D. A storm shelter
The “vessel puffs her sail” is an example of:
A. Simile
B. Metaphor
C. Personification ✅
D. Hyperbole
“Dark broad seas” symbolize:
A. Death
B. Uncertainty and adventure ✅
C. Safety
D. Forgetfulness
“Souls that have toil’d…with me” refers to:
A. His enemies
B. His people
C. His fellow mariners ✅
D. The gods
What tone is used to describe the mariners?
A. Contemptuous
B. Nostalgic and admiring ✅
C. Indifferent
D. Sarcastic
“Frolic welcome” suggests:
A. Fear
B. Joyous acceptance ✅
C. Duty
D. Hesitation
“Thunder and the sunshine” symbolizes:
A. Day and night
B. Good and bad times ✅
C. Noise and light
D. Nature and weather
Ulysses’ mariners are characterized as:
A. Young and naive
B. Lazy but loyal
C. Brave and experienced ✅
D. Old and weary
Ulysses’ longing is directed toward:
A. Home and rest
B. Family and rituals
C. His past adventures and future voyages ✅
D. War and revenge
“…and opposed / Free hearts, free foreheads—you and I are old;
Old age hath yet his honour and his toil;
Death closes all: but something ere the end,
Some work of noble note, may yet be done…”
What does Ulysses say about age?
A. It brings shame
B. It limits all ability
C. It still brings honour and toil ✅
D. It should be avoided
“Free hearts, free foreheads” implies:
A. Imprisonment
B. Slavery
C. Independence and courage ✅
D. Madness
“You and I are old” is addressed to:
A. Telemachus
B. His mariners ✅
C. The gods
D. Himself
“Death closes all” conveys:
A. Hope for the afterlife
B. Life is meaningless
C. Mortality is inevitable ✅
D. Death is glorious
“But something ere the end” means:
A. Before it rains
B. Something before life ends ✅
C. Something before lunch
D. Before Telemachus returns
What kind of work does Ulysses still hope to do?
A. Political
B. Mundane
C. Noble ✅
D. Domestic
What is the tone of “may yet be done”?
A. Resignation
B. Hopeful and determined ✅
C. Regretful
D. Dismissive
“Opposed / Free hearts, free foreheads” is an example of:
A. Simile
B. Antithesis
C. Alliteration ✅
D. Irony
The phrase “Death closes all” is a:
A. Metaphor
B. Hyperbole
C. Statement of existential truth ✅
D. Euphemism
The speaker’s focus in this section is:
A. Rebellion
B. Continuity of rule
C. Final noble action before death ✅
D. Avoiding hardship
Literary Analysis & Interpretation
Telemachus’ governance style reflects:
A. War and aggression
B. Cunning and treachery
C. Stability, moderation, and duty ✅
D. Disinterest in ruling
Ulysses’ comparison between himself and his son serves to:
A. Mock his son
B. Reject tradition
C. Highlight differing roles and values ✅
D. Question his own authority
The transition to “There lies the port” marks:
A. A change in speaker
B. A shift from reflection to action ✅
C. A flashback
D. A dream sequence
Ulysses’ mariners are used as a symbol of:
A. Domesticity
B. War veterans
C. Shared heroic past and camaraderie ✅
D. Distant enemies
The reference to “household gods” emphasizes:
A. Pagan rituals
B. Domestic religious devotion ✅
C. Greek mythology
D. Political allegiance
Tennyson’s tone toward Telemachus can best be described as:
A. Bitter
B. Scornful
C. Respectfully detached ✅
D. Enthusiastic
The overall contrast between Ulysses and Telemachus is between:
A. Death and life
B. War and peace
C. Adventure and duty ✅
D. Spirit and body
“My mariners” are portrayed as:
A. Fools
B. Equal adventurers with Ulysses ✅
C. Slaves
D. Opponents
The phrase “noble note” implies:
A. A high-pitched musical tone
B. A final honorable deed ✅
C. A financial message
D. A command
What is the main theme of this section?
A. Rebellion against society
B. Fear of death
C. Acceptance of one’s role and legacy ✅
D. Triumph over enemies
“‘Tis not too late to seek a newer world.
Push off, and sitting well in order smite
The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until I die.”
What does Ulysses say is “not too late”?
A. To fight again
B. To seek a newer world ✅
C. To rule his kingdom
D. To rest
“Push off” is a call to:
A. Defend the castle
B. Retreat from war
C. Set sail again ✅
D. Abandon the ship
What are “sounding furrows”?
A. Ancient scrolls
B. Lines in the sky
C. Waves in the sea ✅
D. Paths through fields
“Sitting well in order” suggests:
A. Military formation
B. Discipline and readiness ✅
C. Royal judgment
D. Sacred ritual
Ulysses’ “purpose” is:
A. To retire honorably
B. To make peace
C. To sail beyond the sunset ✅
D. To raise his son
“To sail beyond the sunset” is a metaphor for:
A. Suicide
B. Death and the unknown ✅
C. Returning home
D. Sunrise and rebirth
“The baths / Of all the western stars” likely refer to:
A. Sacred springs
B. Heaven or the edge of the world ✅
C. Greek temples
D. Sunrise
The phrase “until I die” emphasizes:
A. Resignation
B. Finality and mortal limit ✅
C. Religious faith
D. Love for family
The tone of this passage is:
A. Defeated
B. Hopeful and resolute ✅
C. Cynical
D. Apologetic
This section reaffirms the poem’s core theme of:
A. Nostalgia
B. Domestic peace
C. Restless striving and heroic quest ✅
D. Mythological betrayal
“It may be that the gulfs will wash us down:
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.
Tho’ much is taken, much abides; and though
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven…”
What does “the gulfs will wash us down” mean?
A. They will be reborn
B. They may perish at sea ✅
C. They will be rich
D. They’ll escape danger
The “Happy Isles” refers to:
A. A kingdom far away
B. An imaginary paradise or afterlife ✅
C. A city in Ithaca
D. A Greek war camp
Who is Achilles in the context of this poem?
A. A rival
B. Ulysses’ servant
C. A fallen hero and friend from Troy ✅
D. His son’s mentor
“Much is taken, much abides” means:
A. Life has lost everything
B. Loss is complete
C. Though much is lost, much still remains ✅
D. All hope is gone
What is “that strength which in old days / Moved earth and heaven” referring to?
A. Magic
B. Youthful heroism and might ✅
C. Divine punishment
D. Ancient curses
This passage introduces the theme of:
A. Denial
B. Fate vs. free will
C. Enduring spirit despite aging ✅
D. Historical guilt
What is the tone of “It may be…” statements?
A. Hopeful uncertainty ✅
B. Regretful
C. Defiant
D. Melancholy
Mentioning Achilles serves to:
A. Highlight Ulysses’ loneliness
B. Remind readers of ancient tragedy
C. Represent the hero’s continued legacy ✅
D. Criticize Greek myths
The “gulfs” and “Happy Isles” contrast:
A. Death and honor
B. Danger and paradise ✅
C. Earth and sky
D. Home and duty
Ulysses accepts:
A. He may never die
B. He has nothing left
C. Both triumph and loss are possible ✅
D. He should return home
“…that which we are, we are—
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”
“That which we are, we are” expresses:
A. Identity and self-acceptance ✅
B. Frustration
C. Pride in lineage
D. Doubt
“Equal temper of heroic hearts” means:
A. All are cowards
B. All share the same noble spirit ✅
C. Everyone is different
D. Anger unites them
What weakened them, according to Ulysses?
A. Their enemies
B. Betrayal
C. Time and fate ✅
D. The gods
What remains strong despite age?
A. Their bodies
B. Their status
C. Their will and determination ✅
D. Their memory
What is the climax of the poem?
A. The coronation of Telemachus
B. The decision to fight again
C. “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.” ✅
D. “Death closes all”
“Not to yield” emphasizes:
A. Pride
B. Acceptance
C. Resilience ✅
D. Surrender
The repetition of “to strive, to seek…” is an example of:
A. Antithesis
B. Chiasmus
C. Parallelism ✅
D. Apostrophe
What literary device dominates the final line?
A. Alliteration
B. Metaphor
C. Anaphora ✅
D. Paradox
The phrase “made weak by time and fate” shows:
A. Divine punishment
B. Natural aging ✅
C. Moral decline
D. Loss of hope
The closing lines express:
A. Final defeat
B. Human defiance and enduring spirit ✅
C. Religious redemption
D. Bitterness toward youth
Poetic Structure & Devices (131–145)
What is the form of “Ulysses”?
A. Lyric poem
B. Dramatic monologue ✅
C. Sonnet
D. Elegy
The poem is written in:
A. Free verse
B. Rhyming couplets
C. Blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter) ✅
D. Haiku
The poem’s overall tone is:
A. Complacent
B. Defiant and contemplative ✅
C. Joyful
D. Bitter
A key theme of the poem is:
A. Fear of the unknown
B. The inevitability of decline
C. The desire for unending exploration and meaning ✅
D. Peaceful death
What classical influence is seen in “Ulysses”?
A. Roman mythology
B. Christian allegory
C. Homeric epic tradition ✅
D. Norse sagas
The poem contrasts:
A. Wealth and poverty
B. City and country
C. Duty and adventure ✅
D. Fate and magic
The imagery of stars and seas evokes:
A. Domestic life
B. Science
C. Vastness and destiny ✅
D. Politics
The “sinking star” metaphor suggests:
A. Failure
B. Decline with purpose ✅
C. Sudden death
D. Morning
“To rust unburnished” is a metaphor from:
A. Metalwork ✅
B. Nature
C. Painting
D. Warfare
The idea of “not to shine in use” argues that:
A. Use leads to failure
B. Action gives life purpose ✅
C. Inaction is divine
D. Beauty fades
The repetition of “to strive, to seek, to find” builds:
A. Confusion
B. Musicality and emphasis ✅
C. Criticis
D. Distance
Interpretation & Deeper Meaning (146–160)
Ulysses’ desire to leave reflects:
A. Cowardice
B. Aging resignation
C. Lifelong yearning for adventure ✅
D. Hatred of Telemachus
The poem is ultimately about:
A. Royal politics
B. Aging and irrelevance
C. Perseverance of the heroic spirit ✅
D. Losing one’s way
Tennyson uses Ulysses to:
A. Glorify war
B. Critique duty
C. Explore the tension between public duty and personal desire ✅
D. Reject mythology
Ulysses’ monologue reflects:
A. Inner conflict and personal ambition ✅
B. Logic and reason
C. Blind obedience
D. Spiritual enlightenment
His call to his mariners symbolizes:
A. Return to tradition
B. Leadership and shared destiny ✅
C. Total isolation
D. Powerlessness
“Ulysses” was written shortly after:
A. The poet’s wedding
B. The death of Tennyson’s close friend, Arthur Hallam ✅
C. Tennyson’s exile
D. A national war
The poem can be read as a metaphor for:
A. Political betrayal
B. Eternal war
C. The human condition and aging ✅
D. Divine punishment
The poem suggests that meaning in life is found through:
A. Wealth and power
B. Comfort and rest
C. Action, exploration, and perseverance ✅
D. Worship and seclusion
The final line suggests a belief in:
A. Immortality
B. Passive existence
C. Active engagement with life until the very end ✅
D. Detachment from society
Telemachus represents:
A. Ulysses’ ego
B. A dull ruler
C. Responsible governance and tradition ✅
D. Cowardice
Ulysses’ voice is:
A. Sarcastic and ironic
B. Passionate and introspective ✅
C. Angry and bitter
D. Hollow and emotionless
The poetic speaker seeks:
A. Eternal fame
B. Obedience
C. Purpose in continued striving ✅
D. Glory over others
The sea throughout the poem symbolizes:
A. Chaos only
B. Nature’s anger
C. Life’s uncertainties and infinite journey ✅
D. Peace
Tennyson’s use of “Ulysses” from Homer serves to:
A. Glorify military conquest
B. Present a classic hero as a modern soul-searcher ✅
C. Criticize old myths
D. Question religious beliefs
In the end, Ulysses affirms:
A. Rest is the goal of age
B. His journey is done
C. Striving defines human nobility ✅
D. He will return
Detailed Question-Answer of “Ulysses” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
1. Who is Ulysses and what is he famous for?
Answer:
Ulysses (also called Odysseus in Greek mythology) is a great warrior and king of the island of Ithaca. He is famous for fighting in the Trojan War and for his long and dangerous journey home, as told in Homer’s Odyssey. He is brave, smart, and loves adventure.
2. What is the poem “Ulysses” about?
Answer:
The poem is a dramatic monologue, where Ulysses speaks his thoughts. He is now old, but he feels restless. He wants to go on another journey instead of staying at home as a king. He talks about his past adventures, his son, and finally calls his old sailors to join him for one last mission.
3. Why does Ulysses feel bored with his current life?
Answer:
Ulysses feels bored because his life has become slow and dull. He sits near the fireplace, rules people who don’t understand him, and lives with his old wife. He says:
“It little profits that an idle king…”
He thinks this life is useless and does not suit someone who has seen and done so much in life.
4. What does Ulysses say about the people he rules?
Answer:
He says his people are wild and simple. They just eat, sleep, save, and do not know who he truly is. They don’t care about his heroic past. He says:
“…a savage race,
That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me.”
This shows he feels disconnected from his kingdom.
5. Why can’t Ulysses stop traveling and exploring?
Answer:
Ulysses says he has a restless soul. He loves movement, change, and discovery. He says:
“I cannot rest from travel…”
He wants to keep learning, exploring, and experiencing life till his last breath. For him, living means always moving forward.
6. What does “to drink life to the lees” mean?
Answer:
It means to enjoy life fully, down to the last drop — just like finishing a glass of wine till the bottom. Ulysses wants to live every moment completely, even in old age.
7. What kind of life has Ulysses lived before?
Answer:
Ulysses says he has:
Seen many cities
Met many people
Learned different cultures, governments, and traditions
Fought in wars with his fellow warriors
Faced storms and dangers at sea
He says he has lived life intensely, with both joy and suffering.
8. What does Ulysses mean by “I am a part of all that I have met”?
Answer:
He means that every place, person, and experience he has seen has become a part of him. His identity is shaped by all his adventures and learning. He carries all those moments inside him.
9. How does Ulysses describe the unknown world?
Answer:
He says that all experience is like an arch — a doorway — through which you can see the next world. The unknown world glows on the other side, and when he moves forward, the edge of that world also moves. This shows his endless curiosity and desire to know more.
10. What is Ulysses’ attitude towards old age?
Answer:
He knows he is old but he says:
“Old age hath yet his honour and his toil…”
This means: Even old people can do great work. They still have dignity and strength. He believes old age should not stop anyone from doing brave things.
11. What does Ulysses say about death?
Answer:
He says that death ends everything, but before it comes, we must do something noble and memorable. He wants to use his remaining time to do something great.
12. Who is Telemachus, and how does Ulysses describe him?
Answer:
Telemachus is Ulysses’ son. Ulysses says he is:
Kind and caring
Wise and patient
Good at ruling people gently
Perfect for doing daily king duties
Ulysses respects his son, but says:
“He works his work, I mine.”
This means Telemachus will be a good king, but Ulysses has a different purpose.
13. What is Ulysses’ final decision?
Answer:
He decides to leave his kingdom and go on one last sea journey with his old sailor friends. He believes:
It’s never too late to explore
Maybe they will reach the Happy Isles
Maybe they will see the great Achilles
Even if they die in the sea, it will be a meaningful end
14. What is the meaning of the line “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield”?
Answer:
This line is the main message of the poem. It means:
Strive – Keep working hard
Seek – Keep searching for knowledge and goals
Find – Discover and experience things
Not to yield – Never give up, even in tough times
This line teaches us to keep going no matter what.
15. What is the tone (feeling) of the poem?
Answer:
The tone is:
Brave – full of courage
Hopeful – believing there’s still something more
Restless – can’t sit still
Inspiring – motivates us to live fully
Reflective – Ulysses thinks about life deeply
16. What can students learn from this poem?
Answer:
This poem teaches us:
Life should not stop, even when we grow old
We should always have goals
We should enjoy life fully
Never be satisfied with comfort alone
Always try, learn, and move forward
Real failure is to stop trying
