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.
Detailed Question-Answer Set 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
Ulysses Quiz
This quiz is for logged in users only.
