Alfred Tennyson, born on August 6, 1809 at Somersby, Lincolnshire, England, was the fourth of 12 children. At home, the children had to live on what they had. The father was an intelligent but unstable clergyman. For seven years (from 1820-1827), Alfred was home schooled by his father. Even though faced with hardship, Tennyson was able to receive a wide literary education. During his pre-teens, Tennyson had a

"Idylls of the kings" is an epic poem telling the story of King Arthur, the British Christian Kin who fought off the heathen Saxon aggressors during the absence of the Roman legions. Tennyson thought of it as "the greatest of all poetical subjects." That reason justifies the 50 years Tennyson used periodically to work on and ultimately complete the set of 12 books that represented his "life's work" (Abrams, pg.1282).

Being the Poet Laureate of England, Tennyson was given a pension of 200 pounds a year. This newfound status and funds allowed him to marry. Right after receiving the title, Alfred tied the knot with his beloved Emily. June 13, 1850 was their wedding day. The ceremony was chaotic and disorganized, however, problems were taken cared of "the cake had not arrived in time nor the dress, and the white gloves had disappeared in a carpetbag" (Emily recalled telling her son).

Alfred's business venture left him broke, and consequently too broke to marry. Emily's father was unhappy with Alfred's financial condition so he forbids her from marrying poor Alfred. Throughout his early life up to his midlife, he will be haunted by money problems.

After Hallam's unfortunate death, Tennyson felt the need for companionship, and therefore begins the courtship of Emily Selwood. They got along quite well, and fell in love. Marriage was not yet possible.

In 1830, both Arthur and Alfred joined the Spanish insurgent army. On their way to France to complete a mission, the duo found that the armies were in disarray and therefore they felt that they were no longer needed so they returned to England. On their return to Somersby, Alfred introduced Hallam to his family. Hallam then fell in love with Alfred's sister, Emily Tennyson, and later got engaged.

Married life was bliss for Tennyson. He was lucky enough to marry someone who knows his abilities and spends every waking hour of her life inspiring and lifting his spirits (TB, page 7). For the 42 years of family life, Emily kept all the troubles of the world away from Tennyson, leaving him alone to work in peace to create "the treasure useful to man and pleasing to god".

special talent in writing poetry. He was composing styles of Pope, Scott, and Milton (well accomplished poets). At the age of 12, he composed a 6000 line epic poem, and two years later composes a play called "The Devil and the Lady".

Alfred indeed lived a life full of poetry. He wrote a total of 13 well known works: "The Devil and the Lady", "Poems by Two Brothers", "Timbuctoo", "Poems, Chiefly Lyrical", "Poems", "In Memoriam", "Maud, and Other Poems", "Idylls of the King", "Enoch Arden", "The Holy Grail and Other Poems", "Tiresias and Other Poems", "Ballads and Other Poems", and "Demet

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Approximate Word count = 1850
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)