consists of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one, as seen in words like “forgive” and “embrace.” This pattern can vary, particularly at the start of stanzas; phrases like “strong son” and “thine are” might naturally place stress on the first syllable outside the poem's context. The term tetrameter includes the Greek prefix “tetra,” meaning “four,” indicating there are four iambs in each line. This metrical form is closely linked with Tennyson’s poemIn Memoriam A. H. H., for which “Proem” serves as an introduction, and is often called the In Memoriam stanza.

Monologue
In this poem, the speaker addresses God directly, seeking understanding and forgiveness while frequently offering praise. It is structured logically, beginning with the establishment of God’s greatness in the first three stanzas, followed by a discussion of free will, an explanation of how faith helps humans cope with the unknown, and finally touching on the speaker’s personal sorrow over a friend’s death, which underlies these reflections on existence. The monologue frequently invokes God, requesting His assistance, yet it can also be interpreted as a portrayal of the mental journey through which grief leads a person in their search for comfort.

1850s: During this decade, Great Britain stands as the world's dominant political and economic power.

Today: Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United States remains the sole superpower globally.

1850: At this time, most of the world is primarily agricultural. The subsequent year, Britain becomes the first country where the majority of its population resides in urban areas.

Today: Currently, the majority of the global population lives in cities and their surrounding suburbs.

1850s: In Great Britain, life expectancy ranges between 43 and 47 years. Tennyson lived nearly twice as long, while his friend Arthur Hallam, honored in Tennyson's poem, lived less than half the average lifespan.

Today: The average life expectancy in Great Britain is now 75 years for men and 80 years for women.

1850s: For the first time, tea surpasses coffee sales in Great Britain, largely due to the introduction of afternoon tea a decade earlier.

Today: Even though an afternoon break is often seen as impractical in the global business environment, many Britons still find time for the traditional tea break.

1850s: In an era without mass media, the poet laureate is a widely recognized figure throughout Great Britain.

Today: Poets do not hold as much significance for most people compared to musicians and film stars. However, students can quickly access information about the current poet laureate online.

1850s: If Tennyson wished to visit America, he could travel from London to New York on the fastest clipper ship, taking ten days to reach his destination.

Today: A trip from London to New York on the Concorde can be accomplished in under three and a half hours.

British actor Sir John Gielgud recorded the piece "Proem" along with other parts of In Memoriam on an audiocassette named Stanzas from “In Memoriam” in 1972. This recording was produced by the Tennyson Society and released by the Tennyson Research Centre.

Sources
Eliot, T. S., “In Memoriam,” in Tennyson: A Collection of Critical Essays, edited by Elizabeth Francis, Prentice-Hall, 1980, p. 133, originally published in Selected Essays, Faber and Faber, 1932.

Marshall, George O., Jr., “Tennyson the Teacher,” in A Tennyson Handbook, Twayne Publishers, 1963, p. 122.

Young, G. M., “The Age of Tennyson,” in Critical Essays on the Poetry of Tennyson, edited by John Killham, Barnes & Noble, 1960, p. 25.

Further Reading
Campbell, Matthew, Rhythm and Will in Victorian Poetry, Cambridge University Press, 1999.

Campbell dedicates an entire chapter to In Memoriam, contextualizing its structure alongside the writings of Tennyson’s peers.

Kingsley, C., “On In Memoriam (1850) and Earlier Works,” in Tennyson: The Critical Heritage, edited by John D. Jump, Barnes & Noble, 1967, pp. 172–85.

Examining a contemporary review of Tennyson’s lengthy poem provides insight into how it diverged from his typical style and how his reputation was uncertain before In Memoriam solidified his fame.

Tennyson, Charles, and Christine Falls, Alfred Tennyson: An Annotated Bibliography, University of Georgia Press, 1967.

This comprehensive bibliography, though several decades old, serves as a valuable reference for numerous studies of the poet published in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Turner, Paul, Tennyson, Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1976.

Turner's work stands out from other extensive analyses of Tennyson due to his presentation of well-researched background information in a clear and accessible manner.

Beetz, Kirk H. Tennyson: A Bibliography, 1827-1982. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1984. An introduction explains the organization of the work. Multiple references to In Memoriam and Arthur Henry Hallam are provided in the lengthy subject index.

Bradley, A. C. A Commentary on Tennyson’s “In Memoriam.” 3d ed. Hamden, Conn.: Arachon Books, 1966. Provides a close study of the poem, showing the relation of each section to others. Confronts difficulties in interpretation. Traces origin, composition, and structure of the eulogy, with other discussion, prior to commentary. Chart of changes in the text, appendix.

Buckley, Jerome Hamilton. Tennyson: The Growth of a Poet. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1960. Chapter 6 is devoted to In Memoriam and provides biographical background to—and explication of—the work. Relates critical response to it. Sees Tennyson as a major poet, whose work must be understood by familiarity with the imagination that produced it.

Chesterton, G. K., and Dr. Richard Garnett. Tennyson. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1903. This reprint of a classic is important for researchers. Numerous illustrations; long biographical note on Tennyson.

Lang, Cecil Y., and Edgar F. Shannon, Jr. The Letters of Alfred Lord Tennyson. 2 vols. Cambridge, Mass.: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1981. Volume 1 contains 32 separate references to In Memoriam. The synthesis of primary sources (letters) with secondary sources (books about Tennyson’s In Memoriam) strengthens good research.

Pinion, F. B. A Tennyson Companion: Life and Works. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1984. Illustrated, indexed, chronology, notes, and appendices. Provides a brief coverage of the poet’s life and long coverage of the poet’s writings, including a chapter about In Memoriam.