Diction In Tears, Idle Tears

Through the use of diction in the poem "Tears, Idle Tears" by Alfred Tennyson, his message concerning the aftermath of loss is expressed. He begins by elaborating on the confusion and emotion one would feel when something is lost, “I know not what they mean, Tears from the depth of some divine despair/ Rise in the heart, and gather to the eyes,(1-3)”. The first line expresses his confusion, then he elaborates by saying “from the depth of some divine despair”, the use of the word ‘depth’ highlights how loss is bottomless, the pain that comes as its aftermath is an endless chasm that never truly fades. Then he furthers his message through the use of the phrase ‘divine despair’, because life is a work of imagination each one is unique and intricate

Tennyson had experienced a fair share of loss in his lifetime; his father George, his best friend Arthur Hallam, and his son Lionel, all lost to the abyss that is death. He goes on to say in concern to himself, “Within was weeping for thee: / Shadows of three dead men / Walk'd in the walks with me:”(2-4). His use of the word ‘shadow’ conveys how even though they are beyond his reach, those who are lost never truly leave because they are a part of one’s mind their memories. Tennyson wished to convey that there is loss however it is nothing but a shadow, an imprint of the real thing. By saying “weeping for thee”, he is referring to the sadness he felt at the loss of the creator of the shadow that remains in his mind. However Tennyson realizes that there is more than one way to grieve, after addressing sadness he goes on to express anger on line 10, “Still in the house in his coffin the Prince of courtesy lay”. This phrase though containing meaningful diction also contains a symbol which in turn adds to the diction and then to the message. Here the symbol of death is represented by the ‘Prince of courtesy’. The poet was attempting to expresses how like death cares nothing of formality or kindness; it is a final, sudden act devoid of courtesy which is shown when he writes the “Prince of courtesy lay”, meaning that the prince cared nothing for the loss and decided to contentedly lay still at home. The symbolism adds more meaning to the rest of the line which makes his word choice all the more memorable. Tennyson finishes his poem by saying “Three dead men have I loved, and thou art last of the three.”(15). This final bout of diction is a powerful way to end a very meaningful poem. For it expresses how he has felt loss before and despite that he chose to love again and then that love was ripped away from him once more. The finality in