Summary:
“Tithonus” is a dramatic monologue written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson in 1860. It is based on the Greek myth of Tithonus, a mortal who was granted eternal life but not eternal youth by the goddess Eos (Aurora), the goddess of dawn.
The poem explores the tragedy of immortality without youth. Tithonus, now aged and weak, laments his existence, longing for death, which he can never have. He recalls his past beauty and youth when Eos fell in love with him and took him to her eternal home. However, while the goddess remains young, he has grown old and frail, trapped in a never-ending life of suffering.
Tithonus regrets his wish for immortality and pleads with Eos to release him, allowing him to return to the earth and die like other men. He realizes that mortality is a gift, as it spares humans from endless suffering.
The poem reflects on themes of aging, regret, the limitations of human desires, and the contrast between mortality and immortality.
MCQs:
- Who wrote “Tithonus”?
A) William Wordsworth
B) Alfred, Lord Tennyson
C) John Keats
D) Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Answer: B) Alfred, Lord Tennyson - Who is Tithonus in Greek mythology?
A) A mortal granted eternal youth
B) A mortal granted eternal life but not youth
C) A god of war
D) A demigod who became immortal
Answer: B) A mortal granted eternal life but not youth - Which goddess fell in love with Tithonus?
A) Aphrodite
B) Hera
C) Eos (Aurora)
D) Artemis
Answer: C) Eos (Aurora)
Tithonus - What does Tithonus regret?
A) Falling in love with Eos
B) Not asking for eternal youth
C) Leaving his family
D) Becoming a god
Answer: B) Not asking for eternal youth - What is the central theme of the poem?
A) The power of love
B) The inevitability of fate
C) The sorrow of immortality without youth
D) The beauty of nature
Answer: C) The sorrow of immortality without youth - Why does Tithonus want to die?
A) He is tired of the world
B) He wants to be reunited with his family
C) He is suffering from eternal old age and decay
D) He fears the gods’ punishment
Answer: C) He is suffering from eternal old age and decay - What does Tithonus compare himself to in the poem?
A) A withered tree
B) A burning star
C) A broken mirror
D) A lost traveler
Answer: A) A withered tree - What does the poem suggest about mortality?
A) It is a curse
B) It is a blessing
C) It is controlled by the gods
D) It is meaningless
Answer: B) It is a blessing - What is Eos’ response to Tithonus’ plea?
A) She agrees to let him die
B) She ignores him
C) She reminds him that he wished for immortality
D) She transforms him into a bird
Answer: C) She reminds him that he wished for immortality - What literary technique is commonly used in “Tithonus”?
A) Simile
B) Metaphor
C) Imagery
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
| Question | Answer |
| Poem Name | Tithonus |
| Author | Alfred, Lord Tennyson |
| Year Published | 1860 |
| Main Themes | Immortality vs. Mortality, Aging, Regret |
| Narration Style | Dramatic Monologue |
| Mythological Source | Greek Mythology (Tithonus & Eos) |
| Tone | Melancholic, regretful |
| Symbolism | Tithonus = aging & suffering; Eos = youth & time |
| Final Message | Mortality is a gift, not a curse |