Question

What is the main theme reflected in this excerpt from “Ulysses” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson?

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.

A.
The old have free hearts and free minds.
B.
The mariners have toiled hard to avoid the dark and broad seas.
C.
It is very important to have free time and sunshine in life.
D.
The old can regain honor by taking up challenges again.

Answer 1

It’s D. The old can regain honor by taking up challenges again.

Answer 2

D. The old can regain honor by taking up challenges again.

Step-by-step explanation:

In his poem "Ulysses", Alfred, Lord Tennyson wrote of the hero Odysseus' old age living. He addresses the adventurous streak of Odysseus, saying that he can't stay at home and do nothing and how he wished to be out at sea again.

Based on the excerpt provided from the poem, the narrator admits that his mariners are old but that "Old age hath yet his honor and his toil". Being old is not the end of living one's life. "Some work of noble note, may yet be done," claims the narrator, saying that even in old age, one can still do things he wants to. They are still capable of attaining greater achievements. So, the main theme of this excerpt is that the old can regain honor by taking up challenges again.