The Lotos-eaters by Alfred Lord Tennyson | Explanation [PART 1]

Summary

In this video, the speaker explores Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem 'The Lotus-Eaters,' set in the Victorian era. Tennyson, known for his long and influential literary career, draws inspiration from his travels to Spain and Greek mythology, particularly the Odyssey. The poem, first published in 1832 and revised in 1842, tells the story of Odysseus and his men who, upon reaching an island, encounter the lotus fruit that induces a dreamy, sluggish state, making them reluctant to leave the island and continue their journey home. The speaker highlights the poem's vivid imagery, slow and drowsy tone, and its use of the Spenserian stanza, creating an immersive and picturesque experience.

Takeaways

• 📜 Alfred Lord Tennyson is renowned as a prominent Victorian poet with a long literary career, starting to write at a young age and continuing until his death at 82.
• 🌟 Tennyson's work reflects the turbulent Victorian era, making him a representative poet of his time, with 'The Lotus Eaters' being one of his notable poems.
• 🗺️ 'The Lotus Eaters' was inspired by Tennyson's visit to Spain and the Pyrenees Mountains, as well as his friend Henry Hallam, whom he commemorated in 'In Memoriam A.H.H.'.
• 📖 The poem was first published in 1832 and revised in 1842, showing Tennyson's evolving perspective and poetic development.
• 🎭 Greek mythology, particularly the story of Ulysses from 'The Odyssey,' serves as a significant influence for 'The Lotus Eaters,' with Ulysses as a central character.
• 🌅 The poem is set during the afternoon, a time associated with drowsiness and lethargy, which is mirrored in the poem's tone and imagery.
• 🏞️ Tennyson's vivid imagery and use of language create a picturesque scene of the island, evoking a sense of tranquility and slow pace.
• 🎼 The poem's structure includes two parts: the first with a specific stanza pattern and rhyme scheme, and the second, 'Choric Song,' with varying lengths and rhyme schemes.
• 🌾 The lotus fruit given to Ulysses and his men by the island's inhabitants induces a state of dreamy lethargy, causing them to forget their desire to return home.
• 🎶 The poem's rhythm and language induce a sense of drowsiness in the reader, mirroring the experience of those who partake in the lotus fruit.
• 🌍 The 'Lotus Eaters' serves as a metaphor for the allure of complacency and the struggle between the desire for adventure and the temptation of an easy, unchanging life.

Q & A

Who is Alfred Lord Tennyson and why is he significant?

Alfred Lord Tennyson is a prominent Victorian poet known for his long literary career, having started writing at a young age and continuing until his death at 82. He is significant as he is considered the most eminent poet of the Victorian era, reflecting the changes of the time in his poetry.

What is the poem 'The Lotus Eaters' about and what inspired it?

The poem 'The Lotus Eaters' is about the journey of Ulysses and his crew to an island where they encounter the lotus plant. It was inspired by Tennyson's visit to Spain and the Pyrenees mountains, as well as Greek mythology and the story of Ulysses from the Odyssey.

What is the significance of the lotus in Greek mythology and the Odyssey?

In Greek mythology, the lotus represents a plant with fruits that, when eaten, induce a state of forgetfulness and a desire to stay in the land where the lotus grows, as experienced by Ulysses and his crew in the Odyssey.

What is the structure of 'The Lotus Eaters' in terms of stanzas and rhyme scheme?

The poem is divided into two parts. The first part consists of five nine-line stanzas with a Spenserian stanza pattern and a rhyme scheme of a b a b b c b c c. The second part, titled 'Choric Song,' has eight stanzas of varying lengths and no standard rhyme scheme.

How does Tennyson use imagery and tone in 'The Lotus Eaters' to create a sense of lethargy and drowsiness?

Tennyson uses rich and highly visual imagery, describing the scenic beauty of the island and the slow-moving elements like the waterfall and the languid air. The tone is slow and sluggish, inducing a sense of lethargy and drowsiness in the reader, mirroring the effects of the lotus fruit.

What is the effect of the lotus fruit on Ulysses and his crew in the poem?

The lotus fruit induces a state of deep drowsiness and forgetfulness in those who eat it. The crew members who taste the fruit become disoriented, unable to hear their companions clearly, and feel a strong desire to remain on the island, forgetting their homeland and the need to return.

What is the significance of the setting of the poem being always 'afternoon'?

The setting of the poem being always 'afternoon' contributes to the overall sluggish and drowsy atmosphere. Afternoon is traditionally a time associated with rest and relaxation, which aligns with the effects of the lotus fruit and the lethargic state of the crew.

How does Tennyson's use of language in 'The Lotus Eaters' enhance the poem's themes?

Tennyson's use of language, with its rich descriptive words and slow-paced sentences, enhances the themes of the poem. The choice of words and the rhythm of the lines reflect the tranquility and the seductive pull of the lotus island, drawing the reader into the experience.

What is the 'Choric Song' section of the poem and how does it differ from the first part?

The 'Choric Song' is the second part of 'The Lotus Eaters,' which is a series of eight stanzas with varying lengths and no standard rhyme scheme. It differs from the first part in structure and may represent the song of the lotus eaters themselves, adding another layer to the narrative.

How does Tennyson's poem 'The Lotus Eaters' relate to the broader themes of the Victorian era?

The poem can be related to the broader themes of the Victorian era by reflecting the period's exploration and discovery, as well as the moral and emotional complexities that can arise from such encounters. The lotus island represents an alluring but potentially dangerous distraction from one's duties and goals.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Introduction to Alfred Lord Tennyson and 'The Lotus-Eaters'

This paragraph introduces the renowned Victorian poet, Alfred Lord Tennyson, highlighting his long and illustrious career that spanned his entire life. Tennyson began writing at a young age and is recognized as the most eminent poet of his era. The speaker discusses the poem 'The Lotus-Eaters,' published in 1832 and later revised in 1842. The poem was inspired by Tennyson's visit to Spain and the Pyrenees mountains, as well as the Greek mythology of Ulysses from the Odyssey. The narrative focuses on the journey of Ulysses and his men after the Trojan War, emphasizing the challenges they faced due to the wrath of the gods.

05:03

🌅 The Arrival and Scenery of the Lotus-Eaters' Island

The second paragraph describes the arrival of Ulysses and his crew at an unknown island after being adrift at sea for nine days. The crew is relieved to see land, and the poem begins with their landing. The island is depicted as a place of perpetual afternoon, with a serene and sluggish atmosphere that induces a sense of lethargy. The speaker discusses the structure of the poem, which is divided into two parts: the first with a specific stanza pattern and rhyme scheme, and the second part titled 'Choric Song' with varying lengths and rhyme schemes. The paragraph also touches on the poem's rich imagery and the effect it has on the reader, inducing a similar sense of drowsiness as experienced by the characters.

10:04

🏞️ Describing the Enchanted Island and Its Inhabitants

In this paragraph, the detailed description of the island's landscape is provided, including its waterfalls, streams, and mountains. The imagery is vivid, with the waterfall appearing like 'downward smoke' and the landscape being filled with a 'languorous air.' The paragraph also introduces the inhabitants of the island, the Lotus-Eaters, who are described as having pale faces against the rosy flame of the setting sun. They are characterized as melancholic and passive, offering the crew of Ulysses an enigmatic plant with a sweet fruit that induces a dreamy state.

15:07

🍂 The Effect of the Lotus Fruit and the Crew's Reaction

The fourth paragraph discusses the immediate effect of consuming the lotus fruit given by the island's inhabitants. Those who tasted the fruit found themselves in a state of deep drowsiness, unable to hear their companions clearly and feeling as if they were in a dream. The narrative describes the psychological impact of the fruit, which makes the crew members feel disconnected from their past and reluctant to continue their journey home. The paragraph captures the conflict between the desire to return home and the allure of the tranquility offered by the island.

20:10

🛌 The Decision to Remain on the Island

The final paragraph of the script reveals the crew's decision to stay on the island, seduced by the tranquility and the effects of the lotus fruit. They express a longing for their homeland but ultimately decide not to return, succumbing to the allure of the island's eternal afternoon and the dreamy state induced by the lotus fruit. The paragraph concludes with the crew singing about their decision to no longer roam, signifying their acceptance of a new, peaceful existence on the island.

Keywords

💡Alfred Lord Tennyson

Alfred Lord Tennyson was a prominent Victorian poet known for his long literary career and his status as a national poet. His works, including 'The Lotus-Eaters,' reflect the changes and sentiments of the Victorian era. In the script, Tennyson is introduced as the author of the poem 'The Lotus-Eaters,' which is central to the video's theme of exploration and the search for peace.

💡Victorian Era

The Victorian Era refers to the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 1837 to 1901, characterized by significant social, political, and technological changes. In the script, the Victorian Era is mentioned as the backdrop of Tennyson's life and work, influencing the themes and styles of his poetry.

💡The Lotus-Eaters

The Lotus-Eaters is a poem by Tennyson, published in 1832 and revised in 1842. It draws inspiration from Greek mythology and Tennyson's personal experiences, such as his visit to Spain. The poem is central to the video's narrative, exploring themes of escapism and the allure of a tranquil, unchanging life.

💡Ulysses

Ulysses, also known as Odysseus in Greek mythology, is the main character in the poem 'The Lotus-Eaters' and the epic 'Odyssey.' In the script, Ulysses represents the journey of the Greek warriors returning home from the Trojan War, facing challenges and temptations, including the allure of the lotus fruit.

💡Odyssey

The Odyssey is an ancient Greek epic poem by Homer, which tells the story of Odysseus's journey home after the Trojan War. In the script, the Odyssey is referenced as a source of inspiration for Tennyson's 'The Lotus-Eaters,' particularly the episode in Book 9 where Odysseus and his crew encounter the lotus eaters.

💡Lotus Fruit

In the context of the poem and the script, the lotus fruit is a symbolic element representing the temptation to abandon one's journey and responsibilities for a life of ease and forgetfulness. It induces a state of drowsiness and contentment, as experienced by the crew members who taste it in the poem.

💡Ithaca

Ithaca is the island home of Ulysses in Greek mythology and the ultimate destination of his long and perilous journey home. In the script, Ithaca symbolizes the homeland and the end of the journey, a place of longing and the goal that the lotus fruit tempts the sailors to forget.

💡Pyrénées Mountains

The Pyrénées Mountains are a range separating France and Spain. In the script, Tennyson's visit to the Pyrénées is mentioned as one of the inspirations for 'The Lotus-Eaters,' influencing the poem's vivid and picturesque descriptions of landscapes.

💡Languid

Languid describes a state of being slow, weak, or lacking energy, often associated with a sense of relaxation or lethargy. In the script, the term is used to characterize the atmosphere of the island and the effects of the lotus fruit, inducing a dreamy, sluggish state in those who consume it.

💡Choric Song

The 'Choric Song' is the second part of 'The Lotus-Eaters,' featuring eight stanzas of varying lengths and rhyme schemes. It represents the voices of the lotus eaters and the allure of their lifestyle, contrasting with the structured stanzas of the poem's first part.

💡Imagery

Imagery in literature refers to the use of vivid descriptions to appeal to the reader's senses and create a mental picture. In the script, Tennyson's rich imagery is highlighted as a key feature of 'The Lotus-Eaters,' allowing readers to visualize the poem's settings and emotions.

Highlights

Alfred Lord Tennyson is recognized as a prominent Victorian poet with a long literary career.

Tennyson began writing poetry at a young age, composing an epic poem of nearly 6,000 lines by the age of 12.

Despite a nine-year hiatus from publishing, Tennyson continued to write and emerged as a leading poet of the Victorian era.

The Victorian period was marked by significant changes, which are reflected in Tennyson's poetry.

Tennyson's poem 'The Lotus-Eaters' was inspired by his visit to Spain and the Pyrenees mountains with his friend Henry Hallam.

The poem 'The Lotus-Eaters' was first published in 1832 and revised in 1842.

Greek mythology and the story of Ulysses from 'The Odyssey' served as a source of inspiration for 'The Lotus-Eaters'.

The poem uses a unique stanza pattern, the Spenserian stanza, with a rhyme scheme of a b a b b c b c c.

The 'Choric Song' section of the poem features eight stanzas of varying lengths and rhyme schemes.

Ulysses, the main character in 'The Lotus-Eaters', is depicted as a leader encouraging his crew amidst a long and arduous journey.

The poem vividly describes the serene and sluggish atmosphere of the island, inducing a sense of lethargy in the reader.

Tennyson's use of imagery in 'The Lotus-Eaters' creates a highly visual and picturesque scene reminiscent of a postcard.

The poem's setting is established as perpetually afternoon, evoking a time of drowsiness and relaxation.

The lotus fruit given to Ulysses and his crew by the island's inhabitants has a hypnotic effect, causing them to forget their homes.

The poem explores themes of escapism and the allure of a life free from the burdens of the past.

The lotus eaters' melancholic demeanor and the poem's slow pace reflect the emotional state of the characters.

Tennyson's language choices in 'The Lotus-Eaters' contribute to the poem's overall tone of sluggishness and tranquility.

Transcripts

hello friends welcome back to yet

another session with me

today i have taken the poem the lotus

eaters

by alfred lord tennyson lord tennyson

as you know is the most prominent of the

victorian poets

and he had a very long literary career

the span of his career was pretty long

he lived up to 82 years and he had

actually started writing poetry when he

was very little

by the time he was 12 years he had

written an epic poem which amounted to

almost

6 000 lines and then he never really

stopped writing

though he kind of kept away from

publishing his poems for

a spell of nine years he continued to

write

and he uh emerged to become or

emerged as the most eminent poet of the

victorian

era and he was considered the national

poet

and he was a man who lived through the

entire victorian period and victorian

period

was a turbulent time of a lot of changes

and all that happened during the

victorian era

can be seen you can read in his poems

about all the changes that happened then

so he is the most representative poet of

his age

so now talking about the poem the lotus

eaters

it was published in 1832 when we think

of what exactly prompted him to write

this poem

one is that he had visited spain

with his friend with his very close and

dear friend are the henry hallem

and it is this very other henry harlam

who died very young a few years later

and tennyson wrote the poem in memoriam

to commemorate

this friend of his and so when he

visited

spain and the pyrenees mountains he was

awe struck by the scenic beauty of the

land

and that is believed to be one

inspiration

for this poem and to others written

along with this

and this was published first in 1832 and

then

a revised version came out in 1842

and yet another source of inspiration

for this poem was

greek mythology and the story of

ulysses or the odyssey you know in odc

you have the character called odysseus

who is also known as ulysses and i

guess most of you would have read the

poem ulysses by alfred lord tennyson

which is the most anthologized of his

poems and here too in this poem we have

ulysses as a main character there

but there is not much of action

attributed to

odysseus here and so there is this

incident now you know the story of

ulysses

please don't get confused when i say

ulysses and odysseus both of them

refer to the same person in book 9 of

the odyssey

homer has written now this story of the

odyssey

it happened somewhere in the 12 000 and

1180 bc

and there in book nine this whole book

is about this adventure of

odysseus that is why the book is called

odc

and there is this these people that is

ulysses and his band of warriors

they are returning from troy after the

battle of troy

when helen of troy was taken away by

paris the prince of troy

and she was the wife of manolos and so

all the greek heroes and warriors they

went to support manolos

and so paris and his party lost the war

and it was a long drawn-out war of

almost 10 years

and now they are on their journey back

to their home in itaka the island of

ithaca

is where ulysses belongs and all the

people along with him are also from

itaka and they're all going back to

itaka

and this going back this journey again

takes another 10 years

because in the course of the trojan war

and even before that a lot of events

happen that is what

is the main story of the iliad

and many things happened and somehow or

the other ulysses

had made enemies with a few gods and

goddesses

in the greek mythology we know that

there are a lot of gods and goddesses

who are very touchy

very sensitive who get angry and who

take revenge

that kind of gods and so ulysses had

trouble with a few of them and they kept

passing impediments and obstacles on his

way back

and uh so the journey it took

i should say voyage not the journey

because it's a sea

uh journey and so it's a voyage and uh

it takes a long time almost 10 years and

it is these adventures that is described

elaborately in the book called the

odyssey

and so what happens in book nine of the

odc

is that our man and his band of warriors

his

sailors their ship has been

kind of it has been blown uh away out of

their path by the stray winds

and there's a strong wind they cannot

control their ship and so

the for nine days the ship is just

floating aimlessly in the sea

and finally on the tenth day they

look out and they see land far away

and they are relieved and so that is how

the poem begins

with their landing in this particular

island and

this island again is believed to be the

island

citera somewhere maybe in north africa

according to the odyssey but here in

this poem

nothing is said about the the the

whereabouts

it's just only the beauty of the island

is described and

the topography is described we don't

really know which island he's talking

about

and again the lotus eaters in this form

the lotus

okay maybe i'll come to that later and

now the poem is divided into two parts

the first five stanzas and the first

five stanzas

are all nine line stances what you would

call this pencilian stencil

this is the stanza pattern stansack

pattern that was used by

edmund spencer in his fairy queen and it

comprises of eight

iambic pentameter lines and one last

alexandrine

okay and the rhyme scheme of this nine

line

stanza is a b a b b c b c

and c so first part comprises of

five nine lined stances now the second

part

has a title it is called coric song

and that has eight stanzas but here

these eight stanzas

are of varying length and there is no

what a standard rhyme scheme there

all the eight stanzas are different in

their length and in their

rhyme scheme so the second part is a is

titled choric song

and has eight stanzas and so the poem

begins uh with this leader

it's elise's most probably he is

pointing out they're still in the ship

and he's pointing out to the land and

now the people you can imagine eight

nine days of just roaming around

aimlessly in the sea

they had lost all hope that they reached

somewhere they thought they'd all die

hungry

and so that is when they see land and so

the leader or

ulysses tries to encourage them tries to

boost them

boost their declining draining morale

and so he tells them courage

that he points to the island and says so

i have begun the first stanza

courage he said and pointed towards the

land this mountain wave will roll us

shorewood soon so he assures them that

we are going to reach the land

and finally in the afternoon because

when you are at sea

the land seems closer than it really is

and so

by afternoon they finally came to the

land

they reached that island and there

it was a very special island because it

seemed always

afternoon see what is very beautiful or

special about this poem

is that one thing it is very very

beautiful it's so scenic because all

that he saw in spain

that landscape he rise to present here

before us so beautifully

and one thing it's as i said it's

beautiful and the tone

the tone is very slow it is sluggish

it is so porific as you would see it

kind of induces a lethargy

and a kind of a drowsiness and what is

amazing

is that tennyson has managed to

write the poem in such a way that a

reader who reads the poem

would feel the same drowsiness and would

feel the same sluggishness i wonder how

the poet has managed to do that anyway

you will understand better of what i'm

saying

when you listen to the poem and the poem

is very it's

rich in imagery all kind of imagery it's

highly visual because you it's so

colorful you can see

everything that you can see the poem see

in inverted you know though you read it

you can see it and his friend ada hallam

called this poem a picturesque poem it's

almost like a postcard on which you can

see

a picture and uh so the the picture

also matches the picture and the tone

and everything you know

it matches with the dominant emotion of

the poem

which is sluggishness and slowness and

drowsiness

so the poem courage he said and pointed

towards the land

and so okay they landed there and they

came onto a land

bitsy which it seemed in which it seemed

always afternoon so it was a kind of a

yellowish glow there almost like

afternoon

all around the coast the language aired

its moon

now afternoon itself you know is a time

when all of us feel quite drowsy after

lunch it's a time when all of us feel

that it would be nice if you could take

a siesta or a short nap

so the purpose of setting this

poem in the time of the afternoon

itself you know he has done it with a

purpose

and he describes the place to us

everything all around you look all

around there was a languid air

or it is hot and so everything is kind

of languid

lifeless slow breathing like one that at

the very dream

okay so air seems to be breathing a slow

breath as if you are seeing a dream a

very weary and a tiresome dream

and in the afternoon too you can see the

full faced moon

full faced above the valley stood the

moon and like a downward smoke

the slender stream along the cliff to

fall and pause and fall did see

so from the place where they are

standing far away they may be

may are standing on some kind of an

elevated ground maybe on a hilltop

or a mount and from there far away into

the island they can see a distant

waterfall

and the way the waterfall falls down it

looks like downward smoke

because you know that waterfall it it

looks white and it's hazy because it's

moving

and the falling and passing and falling

you know that is it is so

true i don't know how many of you have

watched

a waterfall from a distance from a long

distance it's not just standing far away

but maybe a few kilometers away you see

this

thing far off and this is exactly how

you would see the waterfall the movement

of the waterfall

you would feel as if the water is

falling down in steps

it falls and then it stops it falls and

it stops

so that that motion of the fall of

skating of the water

it is so beautifully portrayed i don't

think anybody can say it

more you know correctly and more

beautifully than this

along the cliff to fall and pass and

fall did seem

it's only an optical illusion because it

doesn't fall that it looks

the distance make it appear so and then

he says they looked around they must

have explored the island

because they want to know where they

have reached and it is a land of streams

there are many many many streams flowing

some like a downward smoke slow dropping

whales of thinness

lawn did go lawn again is a material

okay it's not the lawn

that we have in front of our houses the

grassy lawn it's not that

it's a material that he's talking about

so the waterfalls are like

whales of thinnest lawn very lacy la

cy lazy kind of material some are

waterfalls

and then you and some through wavering

lights and shadows broke

rolling a slumberous sheet of foam below

and some are more

slow and light is playing on the waters

and they are first some are just falling

very lazily

as if it is slumberous feeling sleepy

and then they saw a gleaming river

seawater there is another big river that

is flowing towards the sea

and again far away they can see three

uh mountains three silent pinnacles of

aged snow

why does he say aged snow because it

looks as if that snow has been there

forever

and the three silent pinnacles stood

sunset flushed

because there is this yellow sunset

light

falling on the snow so it stands sunset

flushed and dewed with showery drops you

have showery drops of dew also

or it is spotted with moisture that's

what he means

and uh he can also see the pine forest

so down up cloam cloam i think

is the past tense of claim claimed

up claimed so he has coined the word up

cloam the shadow in pine tree because we

know that

in mountainous and in cold regions it is

in the higher

reaches off the mountain as the mountain

goes higher that is where you have pine

trees

all the other vegetation stops in the

lower levels of the hills

so here below you see a woven cups

and up in the higher levels of the

higher reaches of the mountain

you see the pine forests the shadowy

pine because far

from far they look very shadowy or hazy

and here you can see a word cups

c-o-p-s-e

so let me take this opportunity to

introduce you to

similar words there so c-o-p-s-e cups

is actually a small thicket or a wooded

region a small wooded region it's not

exactly a

thick forest but then a place an area

where a lot of trees are there

it's called the cups then what other

word do we know which is very similar to

this which has

almost a similar pronunciation we have

cops c-o-r-p-s-e

cops a corpse is a dead body a lifeless

okay so that is the cops

and then you we also have cop cop which

is the word that we use it's a

colloquial usage for a policeman

a cop he's a cop okay that is their cop

and then there is also another one which

many of us

pronounce as cops c-o-r-p-s

but it is wrongly pronounced as cops now

this is what

ncc you know what the ncc stands for it

is a national

cadet cops cops that is how most of us

pronounce it

but actually it is cars

a car is a military organization so the

ncc

is not the national cadet cops but it is

the national cadet course

c-o-r-p-s the p is

silent there okay so this is how we uh

you know enhance our vocabulary when you

get a word

when we just investigate and find more

words

with a similar pronunciation or a

similar meaning

or similar spelling it makes it easier

for you to learn

a few more words so he says so this is

what they see they see waterfalls and

they see this

cups and the mountains and all that and

the

charmed sunset lingered low down in the

red

west so then slowly it is evening and

the whole

western part has become red through

mountain clefts

the dale was seen far inland and the

yellow down bordered with palms so far

away they can see

a very downy kind of place with grass

and such things and it's bordered with

palm trees

and they can see valleys and meadows set

with slender gallingale

galengale is a kind of a grass it's very

commonly seen in our places

it almost looks like a miniature coconut

tree it has

what do you the top part of this plant

is almost resembles a coconut tree

that plant is called a gallingale and it

like

if you walk through this gallinger it

sticks onto your

cloth sticks onto your socks and your

skirt so

that is gallingale and so they can see

areas of gallingale and a land where all

things almost

seem the same always seem the same and

round about the keel with faces pale

dark faces pale against that rosy flame

the mild-eyed melancholy lotus eaters

came and so

they uh have just got down from the ship

heel is the front part of the ship so

they have come

got got down from the ship uh they have

elected

from the ship and the natives of that

land

they come forward to meet these people

they are dark

faces so because as i told you in the

odyssey

this island was somewhere in africa so

people with

dark skin they come but they're all pale

against the rosy flame the rosy flame

might be the flame of the sun or the

setting sun

and they are all melancholy very quiet

they

don't display any kind of excitement at

seeing these

newcomers so they just come there they

very mild

passive and they have something with

them

branches they bore of that enchanted

stem laden with flower and fruit so they

as when they come they have brought

along with them a special kind of a

plant which these people have not really

seen these people from the ship ulises

and his men

this plant is new to them and so

he they as a sign of welcome

they gave each one of them this fruit

and

this flower and uh i think we also it's

good to remember that

this load don't picture lotus as we have

here the tamara or

tamara or kamal don't ever imagine that

in the place of this lotus this is

something else we don't

know the identity of this particular

it's maybe a fancy

kind of a imaginary plant

it is definitely not the lotus that we

have

in our mind and so um the lotus flower

and fruit they bring it and they give it

to each one of them

so all of them took it maybe because

when somebody gives you something you

take it

and some of them they tasted it also

because they were asked to eat it and so

they

in odc it says that this fruits were

very tasty

it was sweet it tasted like dates sweet

and juicy like dates that is what

is said in the odc so here he doesn't

say anything about the day about how it

tastes

so what happened to the people who

tasted this

fruit to him the gushing of the way far

away it seemed to moan and rave on alien

shows

and if his fellow speak his voice was

thin his voice is from the grave

and deep asleep he seemed it all awake

and music in his ears his beating heart

did peak

so then what happened to the people who

ate it some of them

would have readily very readily eaten

what they got some people are a little

careful

so ulysses was very ulysses did not

right away eat the fruit so he just held

it maybe in his hand

and we can picture all these things you

know and but uh some others immediately

soon and

must they must have been very hungry too

because they've been roaming around for

a long time and so as soon as they got

it they ate it and what happened when

they ate it

was that they couldn't hear what their

friends were saying

they seem to be in deep deep sleep but

they're awake

and in their years the only music that

they can hear

is the beating of their hearts so that

that was an immediate

impact of the eating of this particular

fruit

and then these uh we've come to the

stand fifth stanza

and so these people they started feeling

very drowsy they immediately sat there

on this yellow sand

between the sun and the moon and upon

the shore

and sweet it was dream of father land of

child and wife and slave

but ever more most weary seemed to see

weary the ore

theory the wandering fields of barren

form then someone said

we will return no more and all at once

they sang

our island home is far beyond the wave

we will no longer roam

so all these people who ate this fruit

they just sat

down there and they remembered their

fatherland and their wives and children

and everything but and the slave course

because

those days greeks the noble greeks used

to have slaves so they could remember

all of them

but then they suddenly felt that they

just didn't want to go back

because going back home home was far

away and going back is a long journey

across a bar and foam baron foam here

means the sea

and so one of them suddenly said let's

not go back

let's all just sit here because the

island is too far away

and we will no longer roam okay so that

is the end of the

first part and here in this section and

all these stances you have so many

words that spell of

sluggishness and slowness because we

have the word

right from the beginning you have this

languid air

then always afternoon afternoon itself i

told you

signifies uh slowness and drowsiness and

then you have the word weary dream

and the falling of the waterfall is fall

and paws

and then slow dropping whales slumberous

sheet

everything is slow so slow and the

sunset is lingering as though it doesn't

want to go off

and the people again are pale and they

are

melancholy and so there is this air of

slowness

everywhere so this is what happens in

part one