Given that a critical analysis is based upon a reader's own personal response to a text, any given text will, assuredly, bring about many different responses.

In regard to Tennyson's poem "The Deserted House," one (in order to form a critical analysis of it, would examine the poem in its entirety.

Therefore, when reading the text,one must pay attention to what Tennyson is saying and how he is saying it. For each reader, the message could be dramatically different.

The poem speaks to the fact that the house, based upon the imagery provided, is dark and deserted. This is illustrated by the use of terminology used. The house is described as dark with no light or mummers. The house is naked and vacant. Therefore, the reader has no doubt that no one is about and the house has been left to "fall again to ground."

Tennyson tells the reader to leave the house, for the house has nothing to offer them. Instead, he wishes the reader to go back to the city where the mansions of the city will provide a place which is not subject to the decay the deserted house has been subjected to.

Critically, the poem offers a bleak and hopeless view of life itself. One can only assume that life in the city is far better. Given the fact that the house shows no hope for life, it would be far more assuring to live in a place where one does not need to be afraid of death.

Tennyson is successful in describing the problems associated with life away from the city. He provides a perfect picture of what happens when a home lacks the support of others around it. One could interpret that mankind needs to be surrounded by others in order to survive. Based upon the poem, without others one will only succumb to decay.