Final answer:
Tennyson's Lotus Eaters are compared to figures of lethargy and escapism. The poem reflects a theme common in romantic poetry, which compares humans to animals or nature as a means of reflecting on the human condition.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem, the Lotus Eaters are juxtaposed with figures of lethargy and escapism, often compared to beings that shun the typical labors and troubles of life. The comparison that Tennyson makes in his poem is not explicitly mentioned in the source material provided; however, if we look at Tennyson's oeuvre, we often find that his characters seek solace from the harshness of reality in various ways. This can include withdrawing into idyllic or imaginary landscapes, or succumbing to a dreamy state of forgetfulness as the Lotus Eaters do.
While the source texts provided do not directly answer the student's question regarding Tennyson's poem, they do illustrate a theme common to many poems, which is the comparison of humans to animals or nature in order to emphasize traits or to encourage reflection on the human condition. The practice of comparing people to nature, as seen in Tennyson's work and other romantic poetry, is a technique intended to evoke introspection on the complexities and simplicities of human life.