Tennyson: Ulysses

Alfred Tennyson was born on 6 August 1809 in Somersby, Lincolnshire. From a young age, he displayed a keen interest in poetry, deeply influenced by the works of Romantic poets such as Wordsworth and Byron.

·       His first publication, Poems by Two Brothers (1827), was a collection co-authored with his brothers Charles and Frederick.

·       He achieved early recognition when he was awarded the Chancellor’s Gold Medal at Cambridge for his poem Timbuktu (1829), showcasing his early skill in grand, visionary themes.

Poet Laureate and Public Recognition

Tennyson emerged as the dominant Victorian poet with his ability to capture the melancholy, doubt, and dilemmas of the era.

·       In 1850, following William Wordsworth’s death, Tennyson was appointed Poet Laureate of England and Ireland—a role that solidified his national prominence.

·       His poetry resonated deeply with Victorian sensibilities, expressing themes of progress, faith, doubt, and personal loss.

·       Queen Victoria greatly admired his work, and in 1884, she conferred upon him the title Baron Tennyson of Aldworth and Freshwater, elevating him to the House of Lords—a rare honor for a poet.

Major Themes and Literary Style

Tennyson was a master of poetic composition, distinguished by musicality, visual imagery, and psychological depth. His poetry is marked by:

·       Melancholy and Doubt: His works often explore existential uncertainty, deeply influenced by the Victorian crisis of faith (In Memoriam).

·       Heroism and Resilience: He depicted figures of perseverance, such as in Ulysses, a reflection on enduring strength.

·       Arthurian Legends and Mythology: His Idylls of the King (1859–1885) reimagined the myth of King Arthur, blending chivalry with Victorian morality.

·       Patriotism and Nationalism: Poems like The Charge of the Light Brigade (1854) immortalized British military valor.

Major Works

·       In Memoriam A.H.H. (1850): A poetic elegy mourning the death of Arthur Henry Hallam, blending personal grief with reflections on faith.

·       Ulysses (1842): A dramatic monologue portraying the aging hero’s yearning for adventure.

·       The Lady of Shalott (1832, revised 1842): A haunting ballad depicting artistic isolation and fate.

·       Idylls of the King (1859–1885): A poetic cycle retelling the Arthurian legends, exploring duty, love, and destiny.

·       Locksley Hall (1835): A poem addressing themes of progress, lost love, and Victorian optimism.

·       The Charge of the Light Brigade (1854): A tribute to British soldiers in the Crimean War, celebrating courage despite tragic loss.

Influence and Critical Reception

Tennyson’s legacy was immense. He had a pervasive influence on Victorian literature and modernist poets.

·       T.S. Eliot described him as “the saddest of all English poets,” reflecting the melancholic tone of his works.

·       W.H. Auden offered a harsher critique, calling him “the stupidest” of English poets, while acknowledging his mastery of melancholia.

·       Matthew Arnold admired his technical brilliance but considered his themes conventional.

·       Harold Bloom acknowledged his poetic influence but saw him as less radical than the Romantics.

His ability to capture the anxieties of his age, coupled with his musical mastery, ensured that his poetry remains timeless.

Background and Composition

·       Ulysses was written in 1833 and published in 1842.

·       It was composed in the wake of Arthur Henry Hallam’s death, reflecting Tennyson’s personal grief and existential contemplation.

·       The poem is a dramatic monologue, presenting Ulysses as an aging hero yearning for adventure.

Literary Influences

·       Homer’s Odyssey: Tennyson’s Ulysses is based on Odysseus, the Greek hero who longs for continued exploration.

·       Dante’s Inferno: The poem echoes Dante’s portrayal of Ulysses, particularly in its final movement.

·       Shakespeare’s Hamlet: The line “That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me” (5) recalls Hamlet’s soliloquy: “What is a man, / If his chief good and market of his time / Be but to sleep and feed? A beast, no more.”

·       Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida: “How dull it is to pause, to make an end, / To rust unburnish’d, not to shine in use!” (22–23) reflects Shakespeare’s Ulysses: “Perseverance, my dear lord,/ Keeps honour bright: to have done is to hang/ Quite out of fashion, like a rusty mail,/ In monumental mockery.”

·       Milton’s Paradise Lost: The final line recalls Satan’s defiance: “courage never to submit or yield.”

Themes and Interpretation

·       Victorian Ennui: The poem has been interpreted as an expression of Victorian restlessness.

·       Autobiographical Element: Some critics see Hallam’s presence in the line “And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.”

·       Heroic Perseverance: Ulysses embodies the relentless pursuit of knowledge and experience, refusing to succumb to stagnation.

·       Mortality and Aging: The poem explores the tension between aging and ambition, portraying Ulysses as a figure who refuses to accept decline.

Structure and Style

·       Blank Verse: The poem is written in unrhymed iambic pentameter, enhancing its dramatic and reflective tone.

·       Symbolism: The sea represents the unknown, adventure, and the passage of time.

·       Dramatic Monologue: Ulysses speaks directly to his audience, creating an intimate and persuasive tone.

The Final Movement and Dante’s Influence

·       The last movement recalls Dante’s portrayal of Ulysses, particularly in his speech to his men: > “O brothers,” said I, “who are come despite / Ten thousand perils to the West, let none, / While still our senses hold the vigil slight / Remaining to us ere our course is run, / Be willing to forgo experience / Of the unpeopled world beyond the sun. / Regard your origin,—from whom and whence! / Not to exist like brutes, but made were ye / To follow virtue and intelligence.”

Modern Interpretations

Modern readings of Ulysses reveal new layers of meaning, transforming it from a Victorian meditation on heroism into a complex exploration of identity, ambition, and existential uncertainty.

Psychological and Existential Readings

·       Recent analyses, including psychoanalytic approaches, explore Ulysses’ inner conflicts, motivations, and subconscious desires.

·       Some critics view the poem as a meditation on aging and mortality, rather than just heroic perseverance.

·       The existentialist lens views Ulysses as a figure grappling with the meaning of life and the inevitability of death, much like modern existential heroes.

Postmodern Reinterpretations

·       Some scholars argue that Ulysses’ relentless pursuit of adventure reflects modern anxieties about purpose and stagnation.

·       The poem has been linked to postmodern themes of fragmentation, where Ulysses’ identity is seen as fluid and unstable, rather than a fixed heroic archetype.

·       Feminist critiques highlight the absence of Penelope and question the masculine ideal of heroism and its implications.

Postcolonial Reading

·       In contemporary discourse, Ulysses is sometimes viewed as a symbol of European imperialism. His missionary zeal for the “civilizing mission” is linked to colonial expansion and the desire for conquest.

Gender Dynamics

Feminist interpretations of Ulysses focus on gender dynamics, the absence of female voices, and the portrayal of masculinity in Tennyson’s dramatic monologue. It reveals deep-seated gender biases in Victorian literature.

Absence of Penelope and Domestic Life

·       Unlike Homer’s Odyssey, where Penelope plays a crucial role, Tennyson’s Ulysses completely omits her presence.

·       Feminist critics argue that this reinforces a patriarchal narrative, where the hero’s journey is prioritized over domestic responsibilities.

·       The poem idealizes male ambition while neglecting female agency. It portrays home life as dull and restrictive.

Masculine Heroism and Victorian Ideals

·       Ulysses embodies Victorian masculinity and emphasizes restlessness, ambition, and conquest.

·       His rejection of domestic life betrays Victorian anxieties about stagnation, but feminist scholars critique this as a dismissal of traditionally feminine roles.

·       The poem glorifies male adventure while devaluing caregiving and stability.

Power and Control Over Others

·       Ulysses speaks authoritatively, commanding his men to follow him on another journey, like the imperial heroes of his time.

·       Some feminist readings uncover the hierarchical structure in the poem, where Ulysses exerts control over others, following the norms of Victorian patriarchal leadership.

·       His dismissal of his subjects (“That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me”) suggests elitism and a disregard for communal life.

Ulysses as a Fragile Figure

·       Some feminist scholars reinterpret Ulysses as a vulnerable figure, struggling with the challenges of aging and existential doubt.

·       Instead of a heroic leader, he can be seen as a man clinging to outdated ideals, unable to accept change.

·       This reading challenges traditional notions of masculinity and suggests that Ulysses’ restlessness is a symptom of insecurity rather than a sign of strength.

Writers like Virginia Woolf and Margaret Atwood have explored alternative narratives in which female characters reclaim agency and challenge the hero’s journey trope.

Influence on Popular Culture

·       The poem’s themes of perseverance and exploration have influenced modern literature, cinema, and motivational rhetoric.

·       Lines like “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield” are frequently quoted in political speeches, leadership discussions, and self-improvement narratives.

·       Ulysses is written as a dramatic monologue, meaning the poem is delivered by a single speaker, Ulysses, addressing his old comrades, the sailors.

·       This form allows Tennyson to create a psychological portrait of Ulysses that reveals his inner conflict, restlessness, and longing for adventure.

·       Unlike typical dialogue, the listener’s response is absent. This makes the speech intensely introspective.

·       The dramatic monologue form was later refined by Robert Browning, making Ulysses an early example of Victorian monologue poetry.

Blank Verse (Unrhymed Iambic Pentameter)

·       The poem is composed in blank verse; it follows a regular metrical structure without rhyme.

·       Each line generally follows iambic pentameter—five metric feet per line, with an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one: > “It lit tl’ pro fits | that an idle king | > By this still hearth, | a mong these bar ren crags“

·       Blank verse gives the poem a natural, flowing rhythm, akin to conversational speech.

·       It also provides a noble, elevated tone, reinforcing Ulysses as a heroic and commanding figure.

Enjambment and Fluidity

·       Tennyson frequently employs enjambment, where sentences run across multiple lines without a pause: > “How dull it is to pause, to make an end, > To rust unburnished, not to shine in use!”

·       This mirrors Ulysses’ restless nature, as the momentum of his thoughts continuously spills over.

The absence of full stops in key sections reflects his urgency and unwillingness to settle.

Occasional Spondees for Emphasis

·       While iambic pentameter dominates, Tennyson strategically uses spondees (two stressed syllables in a row) to create forceful moments: > “That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me.”

·       The repetitive stressed syllables emphasize Ulysses’ disdain for complacency, making the rhythm more dramatic.

·       This technique also adds weight and solemnity to certain phrases, reinforcing heroic intensity.

Metaphor

·       “I will drink / Life to the lees” – Life is compared to a drink, emphasizing Ulysses’ desire to experience it fully.

·       “Much have I seen and known; cities of men / And manners, climates, councils, governments” – His experiences are metaphorically an accumulation of knowledge, reinforcing his worldly wisdom.

·       “All experience is an arch wherethro’ / Gleams that untravell’d world” – Experience is likened to an arch, symbolizing endless possibilities beyond the known world.

Simile

·       “To follow knowledge like a sinking star” – The pursuit of knowledge is compared to a star sinking beyond the horizon, suggesting an endless quest.

·       “Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will” – The contrast between physical weakness and inner strength highlights Ulysses’ resilience.

Personification

·       “The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs: the deep / Moans round with many voices” – The moon and sea are personified, creating a vivid, dramatic atmosphere.

·       “Thro’ scudding drifts the rainy Hyades / Vext the dim sea” – The Hyades (a star cluster) are depicted as troubling the sea, reinforcing nature’s power and unpredictability.

Allusion

·       Homer’s Odyssey – Ulysses is based on Odysseus, the Greek hero.

·       Dante’s Inferno – The final movement echoes Dante’s portrayal of Ulysses, particularly his speech to his men.

·       Shakespeare’s Hamlet – The line “That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me” recalls Hamlet’s soliloquy: “What is a man, / If his chief good and market of his time / Be but to sleep and feed? A beast, no more.”

·       Milton’s Paradise Lost – The final line recalls Satan’s defiance: “courage never to submit or yield.”

Synecdoche

·       “Souls that have toil’d, and wrought, and thought with me” – Souls represents the sailors as a whole, emphasizing their shared spirit and determination.

Symbolism

·       The sea – Represents adventure, the unknown, and the passage of time.

·       The arch – Symbolizes the gateway to new experiences.

·       The sinking star – Represents the pursuit of knowledge beyond human limits.

By this still hearth, among these barren crags,

Match’d with an aged wife, I mete and dole

Unequal laws unto a savage race,

That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me.

I cannot rest from travel: I will drink

Life to the lees: All times I have enjoy’d

Greatly, have suffer’d greatly, both with those

That loved me, and alone, on shore, and when

Thro’ scudding drifts the rainy Hyades

Vext the dim sea: I am become a name;

For always roaming with a hungry heart

Much have I seen and known; cities of men

And manners, climates, councils, governments,

Myself not least, but honour’d of them all;

And drunk delight of battle with my peers,

Far on the ringing plains of windy Troy.

I am a part of all that I have met;

Yet all experience is an arch wherethro’

Gleams that untravell’d world whose margin fades

For ever and forever when I move.

How dull it is to pause, to make an end,

To rust unburnish’d, not to shine in use!

As tho’ to breathe were life! Life piled on life

Were all too little, and of one to me

Little remains: but every hour is saved

From that eternal silence, something more,

A bringer of new things; and vile it were

For some three suns to store and hoard myself,

And this gray spirit yearning in desire

To follow knowledge like a sinking star,

Beyond the utmost bound of human thought.

This is my son, mine own Telemachus,

To whom I leave the sceptre and the isle,—

Well-loved of me, discerning to fulfil

This labour, by slow prudence to make mild

A rugged people, and thro’ soft degrees

Subdue them to the useful and the good.

Most blameless is he, centred in the sphere

Of common duties, decent not to fail

In offices of tenderness, and pay

Meet adoration to my household gods,

When I am gone. He works his work, I mine.

There lies the port; the vessel puffs her sail:

There gloom the dark, broad seas. My mariners,

Souls that have toil’d, and wrought, and thought with me—

That ever with a frolic welcome took

The thunder and the sunshine, and opposed

Free hearts, free foreheads—you and I are old;

Old age hath yet his honour and his toil;

Death closes all: but something ere the end,

Some work of noble note, may yet be done,

Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods.

The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks:

The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs: the deep

Moans round with many voices. Come, my friends,

‘T is not too late to seek a newer world.

Push off, and sitting well in order smite

The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds

To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths

Of all the western stars, until I die.

It may be that the gulfs will wash us down:

It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,

And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.

Tho’ much is taken, much abides; and tho’

We are not now that strength which in old days

Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;

One equal temper of heroic hearts,

Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will

To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

Expl: Ulysses can be considered a dramatic monologue because the poet, first of all, does not speak in his own person, but rather through a character, as in a drama, and secondly because only one character presents his speech, which gives us insight into his character and opinions. Again, we perceive the presence of imaginary listeners, the old mariners, who are supposed to listen to Ulysses.

Q2: Whom did Tennyson model his Ulysses on in the poem Ulysses?

Expl: On both Homer’s Ulysses and Dante’s Ulysses and his own 19th-century construction.

Q3. “It profits little… by this still hearth…crags”. What is the meaning of the word ‘hearth’ here?

Expl: Literally, ‘hearth’ means the floor at the bottom of a fireplace. However, Ulysses uses the word in its literary sense, where it refers to domestic life. He says so because, as a man of adventure and heroic actions, he is not accustomed to leading a calm and quiet family life, nor does he like to be confined to a barren and sterile place like Ithaca, which fails to satisfy his wild imagination.

Q4. “It profits little…know not me.” How does he present his life in Ithaca?

Expl: Ulysses, who came back to his kingdom from the Trojan War after twenty years of adventure on the seas, is now naturally dissatisfied with his present life. He finds his kingdom sterile, unproductive and unromantic. He finds that his wife has now become an old woman. Again, as a king, he is forced to rule the people of Ithaca with unfair and imperfect laws, as they are uncivilized and lead their lives by accumulating wealth and possessions while sleeping. They do not show any desire either to know or follow Ulysses’ heroic ideals.

Q5.”I cannot rest…to the lees.” Explain the comparison implicit here.

Expl: Ulysses, who came back to his kingdom from the Trojan War after twenty years of adventure on the seas, is now naturally dissatisfied with his present life. He detests being confined to a single place. He wants to set sail again because he wants to explore the unknown. Again, as a drunkard drinks his bottle of wine to the last drop, Ulysses intends to enjoy life to his last breath, that is, until death.

Q6.”…when/ Thro’ scudding drifts the rainy Hyades/ Vext the dim sea…” Explain the significance of the lines here.

Expl: Ulysses, who came back to his kingdom from the Trojan War after twenty years of adventure on the seas, is now naturally dissatisfied with his present life. He recounts how he both enjoyed himself and suffered greatly during his adventures on land and at sea. Even when there was the constellation of stars, the Hyades that forecast heavy rain and storm and when the sea was actually disturbed by the winds and the waves of clouds in the sky, he faced the situation and won over it.

Q7. “I am become a name”. Who says this and why?

Q8. “Myself not the least, but honoured of them all.” Who is referred to here as “honoured of them all”? Why does he say so?

Q9. Explain the expression “the ringing plains of windy Troy”.

In Homer’s Iliad, Ulysses’ glory as a heroic figure reaches its pinnacle with his contribution to the Trojan War. Here he recounts his past experience. Troy was besieged by the attacking Greek king. So the planes outside were always resounded with the sound of battles. Again, the movements of the battles created the impression that it was always being swept over by some winds.

Q10. “Yet all experience…when move.” Who is the speaker here? Explain how he compares experience to an arch.

Expl: Ulysses, who came back to his kingdom from the Trojan War after twenty years of adventure on the seas, is now naturally dissatisfied with his present life. He wants to set sail again because he wants to explore the unknown. From his experience, he has seen that just as the arch of the sky or the horizon recedes in the distance once it is reached, thereby creating another arch to be explored, every new human experience leads one to another, creating a never-ending series of experiences.

Q11. “How dull it is…to shine in use…!” Explain the metaphor implied in the lines.

Q12. “…Life piled on life…bringer of new things…” what attitude of the speaker to life is reflected in these lines?

Expl: Ulysses– back to his kingdom from the Trojan War after twenty years of adventure on the seas– is now naturally dissatisfied with his present life. As he reflects on his past life, he finds that, if he were given many lives instead of the present one, it would still have fallen short of his activities and achievements. He knows that every moment of life, saved from death, is precious since, utilised properly, it can bring fresh new things like knowledge and experience. This is the attitude of a mythical hero who wants to set sail again even in his old age.

Q13. “Vile it were…hoard myself.” What does the speaker mean by three suns here? Why does he detest his present life?

Q14. “ This gray spirit…sinking star…human thought.” Why does Ulysses evoke the image of a ‘sinking star”? What does he mean by the “ utmost bound of human thought?”

Expl: During ancient times, sailors would depend on the stars to determine the right direction. But Ulysses plans to go further: he wants to explore knowledge and gather experience by crossing the human limit; that is, he is willing to venture into the unknown world by pushing beyond the limits of this world.

Q15. “This is my son…I mine.” How does Ulysses present his son, Telemachus

Expl: Ulysses presents Telemachus as a sharp contrast and as a foil to himself. As an embodiment of domesticity and responsible kingship, Telemachus is fit to rule Ithaca. Ulysses is confident that his son will be able to transform the rugged, wild and uncivilised people into a civilised nation by passing gradually appropriate laws, and to canalise their energy and spirit towards doing useful and good activities. Not only does Telemachus have the decorum, but he also has the propriety to take care of the deities of their family and worship them properly.

Q16. “There lies the port…dark broad seas.” Explain the dramatic context of the lines.

Q17. “Souls that have toiled…..free hearts and free foreheads.” Who are referred to here as ‘soul’? How does Ulysses glorify their past?

Q18. “Old age hath…be done.” Explain.

Q19. “Not unbecoming of man…gods”. Explain.

Expl: In Homer’s Odyssey, Ulysses had to struggle with the sea god Poseidon, and as a result, he had to wander on the waters for a long time. Again, in the Iliad, different gods took sides with the warring parties out of their whims. Ulysses, along with his faithful companions, fought with them and came out victorious at the end, though they had to suffer miserably for this. This line is actually a reference to those incidents.

Q20. “The lights…many voices.” What is the context of the description? Do you find any symbolic significance of the description?

Expl: As Ulysses decides to set sail again, he exhorts his old mariners to start preparing for the journey. He is in a hurry because he knows that his life is also going to close. In the lights twinkling from the coast, he finds a clear call that it is time to go. But if the images are closely examined, Ulysses’ journey into the unknown becomes one unto death.

Q21. Explain the expression, “…in order smite/ The sounding furrows.” Where did Tennyson borrow the expression?

In ancient times, ships were rowed by warriors in a particular order, with the king sometimes acting as the helmsman. A furrow actually refers to a long, narrow cut in the ground, especially one made by a plough. Here, Ulysses refers to the roaring waves created by the moving ship on water. Tennyson inserted this expression reminiscent of a Homeric one in the Iliad to inject some heroic note in the monologue.

Q22. “…for my purpose…until I die.” Explain. What is the ancient belief reflected in the lines? What does Ulysses mean when he says so?

In ancient Greece, people believed that the Earth was flat, that the ocean was a river surrounding the Earth, and that the stars set at the western limit of the sky. Ulysses declares this because he wants to travel beyond the boundaries of this world. In this, however, the journey becomes one unto death.

Q23. “It may be…the Happy Isles…the great Achilles.” What does Ulysses refer to as the “Happy Isles? Do you find any personal notes contained in the lines?

Expl: As Ulysses sets the indefinite aim of sailing beyond the limit of this world before his old mariners, he informs them that, they will be either devoured by the waves of the ocean or able to reach Elysium, the legendary abode of the blessed after death and meet Achilles, one of the greatest heroes of the Trojan War. Tennyson may have been thinking of his own highly talented friend, Arthur Hallam, who died young.

Q24. “We are not … moved heaven and earth…” What does the speaker want to mean by the line?

ANS: Ulysses here tries to encourage his old companions to undertake the journey to explore the unknown world by reminding them that, despite not retaining the same degree of physical strength as they had in their prime, they still have some energy left. Not only that he reminds them that it was they who fought against the gods and came out victorious in the Trojan War and other adventures,

Q25.”We are … not to yield.”

Expl: Ulysses here tries to encourage his old, faithful companions to undertake the journey into the unknown by reminding them that, despite not retaining the same degree of physical strength as they had in their prime of life, they still have some energy left. They have a strong determination to try their hands at some heroic deeds, and it is this determination that compels them to attempt explorations and adventure and forbids them to surrender to fate.

A.     Arthur Henry Hallam and William Henry Brookfield

B.     Arthur Henry Hallam and William Henrison

C.    Arthur Henry Hallam and Henry Brook

D.    Arthur Henry Hallam and Brook Henrison

A.    Heroic

B.     Misogynistic

C.     Irresponsible

D.    Modern 

A.     Victorian civilizing mission

B.     Racial hatred for the colonizers

C.    Victorian missionary zeal

D.    NOTA

A.    Metaphor

B.     Metonymy

C.    Simile

[Do it yourself]

A.    the constellation of stars, the Hyades that forecasts heavy rain and storm, according to the ancient Greek people

B.     the conspiracy of spirits of the  Hades that causes heavy rain and storm, according to the ancient Greek people

C.    Constellation of the star  on the eastern horizon

D.    Conspiracy of Poseidon, the Sea-god

A.     I became famous far and wide because of my adventures and heroism

B.     I lost my name because of my adventures and heroism

C.    I lost my person because of my adventures and heroism

D.    I lost my personality because of my adventures and heroism

A.     The besiege of Troy is here presented from the perspective of a sailor from the sea who could hear the sounds of the battle

B.     At the time of the besiege of Troy the island of Troy was resounded with the arms

A.     Metaphor

A.     Just as the arch of the sky or the horizon recedes in the distance once it is reached at, thereby creating another arch to be explored, every new human experience leads one to another, creating a never-ending series of experience.

A.    What is the figure of speech?

A.      Three days

B.      Three years

C.       Thirty years

D.      NOTA

A.      Ambiguous

B.      Philosophical

C.       Narrative

D.      NOTA

A.     Telemachus

B.     Ulyssses

C.    Both

D.    NOTA

A.      Noun

B.      Verb

C.       Adverb

D.      Adjective

A.     Fight against the will of the gods during the Trojan War.

A.     To seek a superhuman journey and death

A.      Good times and bad times

B.      Peace and war

A.     Remains

A.    Darkness

B.     Sea