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.
MCQs:
- Who wrote Tears, Idle Tears?
A) William Wordsworth
B) John Keats
C) Alfred, Lord Tennyson
D) Robert Browning
Answer: C) Alfred, Lord Tennyson - In which larger work does the poem appear?
A) Idylls of the King
B) In Memoriam
C) The Princess
D) Locksley Hall
Answer: C) The Princess - What is the main theme of the poem?
A) Love and passion
B) The pain of nostalgia and loss
C) The beauty of nature
D) Political struggles
Answer: B) The pain of nostalgia and loss
Tears, Idle Tears - Why does the speaker call the tears “idle”?
A) They are meaningless
B) They are shed without a clear reason
C) They are fake
D) They are caused by happiness
Answer: B) They are shed without a clear reason - Which season is mentioned in the poem to symbolize change and nostalgia?
A) Spring
B) Summer
C) Autumn
D) Winter
Answer: C) Autumn - What literary device is used in the phrase “fresh as the first beam glittering on a sail”?
A) Metaphor
B) Simile
C) Alliteration
D) Personification
Answer: B) Simile - What does the poem suggest about memories of the past?
A) They are always joyful
B) They bring a mixture of happiness and sorrow
C) They should be forgotten
D) They inspire hope for the future
Answer: B) They bring a mixture of happiness and sorrow - What is the tone of the poem?
A) Cheerful and optimistic
B) Hopeful and romantic
C) Melancholic and reflective
D) Angry and bitter
Answer: C) Melancholic and reflective - What does Tennyson compare memories of the past to in the poem?
A) A setting sun
B) A morning dew
C) A ship sailing away
D) A dream fading away
Answer: A) A setting sun - What is the structure of the poem?
A) Sonnet
B) Lyric poem with blank verse
C) Ballad
D) Ode
Answer: B) Lyric poem with blank verse
| 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 |