The Poem from In Memoriam A.H.H.

by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

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Discussion Topic

Themes and Metaphors in Section 27 of In Memoriam A.H.H

Summary:

Section 27 of "In Memoriam A.H.H." explores themes of grief and the passage of time. The poet uses metaphors such as the "calm despair" to express the numbing effect of prolonged mourning and the "worn-out cares" to depict the erosion of intense emotions over time. These metaphors highlight the struggle to find solace and acceptance after loss.

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What is the theme of section 27 in In Memoriam A.H.H.?

He speaks in section 27 about how he does not envy those who show rage.  All of his anger and frustration from the loss of his best and closest friend.  Yet he does not want to vent his rage.  He does not envy the beast who is able to murder without conscience.  He says,

"I envy not the beast that takes
His license in the field of time,
Unfetter'd by the sense of crime,
To whom a conscience never wakes"

Then he finishes the section with saying that he would have rather found love in life and lost it than to never had loved at all.  So the theme of this section is acceptance--or at least he is in the stages of learning to accept his friend's death.  By saying that he doesn't want to rage on, and he doesn't want to harm another for his benefit, he is able to control his anger at this point.  He would rather have had a good friend for a short time than to never have met him. The poem does have a long way to go, but he is showing signs of acceptance here.

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