Summary:
“Tears, Idle Tears” is a lyric poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, written in 1847 as part of his larger work The Princess. The poem reflects on nostalgia and the sorrow of remembering the past. The speaker describes tears that come without an apparent reason, calling them “idle,” yet deeply emotional. The poem expresses a deep sense of loss and longing as the speaker remembers past experiences and loved ones who are gone. Tennyson’s imagery evokes autumn mornings, fading memories, and the transient nature of life, emphasizing that the past can never return. Themes of the poem include nostalgia, the passage of time, loss, and the bittersweet nature of memory. Tennyson uses poetic devices such as imagery, repetition, and paradox to convey the complex emotions associated with looking back on past joys and sorrows.
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| Question | Answer |
| Poem Name | Tears, Idle Tears |
| Author | Alfred, Lord Tennyson |
| Year Written | 1847 |
| Main Themes | Nostalgia, loss, passage of time |
| Poetic Form | Lyric poem with blank verse |
| Literary Devices | Imagery, paradox, simile, personification |
| Tone | Melancholic and reflective |
| Famous Line | “Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean” |
| Symbolism | Autumn (change and nostalgia) |
| Message | Memories bring both joy and sorrow |