Alfred, Lord Tennyson was known for his sentimental works. He was praised for his literature and was awarded the Chancellor’s Gold Medal. His poetry had drawn interest from both the general public and literary giants, including Samuel Taylor Coleridge. He even influenced groups such as the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Many of his phrases, such as “Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all,” have become common in the English language. But who is Alfred, Lord Tennyson? And why is he so important?

Lord Tennyson was born on August 6th, 1809, where he was already writing poetry in his youth. He attended the King Edward VI Grammar School before entering Trinity College in Cambridge, where he published a collection of poems titled Poems by Two Brothers. When his father passed away, he returned home to be with his mother. During this time, he published The Lady of Shalott. However, the collection was heavily criticized, and because of this, Tennyson refused to publish for another 10 years. Eventually, he moved to London, where he published another collection of poems, including the famous Ulysses.

In 1850, Tennyson published what was considered to be his masterpiece, In Memoriam A.H.H. It was a collection of poetry dedicated to Tennyson’s friend, Arthur Henry Hallam. In the collection, Tennyson deals with the loss of his friend, as well as his thoughts on the materialistic qualities humanity places on science and faith. Queen Victoria, who had at this time lost her husband, Prince Albert, loved the poem. It was through this work that he was appointed the Poet Laureate, a position he continued to hold until his death. He would go on to meet many important political figures, and in 1884, Queen Victoria named him Baron Tennyson.

Later in his life, he revealed that he was more agnostic, and combined his interest in science with religion. He describes churches during his time as the ones who killed Christ, accusing them of combining their faith with their own hate. He continued writing into his early 80s, where he died on October 6th, 1892. A memorial was dedicated to him at Saints’ Church. He was also honored by Trinity College in Cambridge.

Tennyson was a key poet during the English Romantic movement. His works were often described as lyrical and descriptive. He edited his works extensively, to the point where even Robert Browning described him as insane. Through his powerful use of imagery, he influenced the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, which in turn named him an “immortal”, a group that rejected the mechanical works for the more natural.

To this day, Tennyson remains a literary giant. From his works involving the medieval period to his romantic writing, it’s easy to say that Tennyson has revived interest in pre-romantic works. He is the subject of many scholarly essays and collections, his works analyzed not just by academics, but by many critics alike. Tennyson is appreciated by many and has cemented his immortality in the annals of poetic writing and literature.