In Memoriam Prologue
By Lord Alfred Tennyson
Strong Son of God, immortal Love,
Whom we, that have not seen thy face,
By faith, and faith alone, embrace, believing where we cannot prove;
Thine are these orbs of light and shade;
Thou madest Life in man and brute;
Thou madest Death; and lo, thy foot
Is on the skull which thou hast made.Thou wilt not leave us in the dust:
Thou madest man, he knows not why,
He thinks he was not made to die;
And thou hast made him: thou art just.Thou seemest human and divine,
The highest, holiest manhood, thou.
Our wills are ours, we know not how;
Our wills are ours, to make them thine.Our little systems have their day;
They have their day and cease to be:
They are but broken lights of thee,
And thou, O Lord, art more than they.We have but faith: we cannot know;
For knowledge is of things we see
And yet we trust it comes from thee,
A beam in darkness: let it grow.Let knowledge grow from more to more,
But more of reverence in us dwell;
That mind and soul, according well,
May make one music as before,But vaster. We are fools and slight;
We mock thee when we do not fear:
But help thy foolish ones to bear;
Help thy vain worlds to bear thy light.Forgive what seem’d my sin in me;
What seem’d my worth since I began;
For merit lives from man to man,
And not from man, O Lord, to thee.Forgive my grief for one removed,
Thy creature, whom I found so fair.
I trust he lives in thee, and there
I find him worthier to be loved.Forgive these wild and wandering cries,
Confusions of a wasted youth;
Forgive them where they fail in truth,
And in thy wisdom make me wise.
Welcome to an exploration of Lord Alfred Tennyson’s profound “In Memoriam Prologue,” a poem that serves as a powerful gateway to one of the English language’s most significant elegies. This prologue, a standalone masterpiece in its own right, invites readers into a deeply personal yet universally resonant meditation on faith, doubt, grief, and the human search for meaning. Prepare to uncover the layers of wisdom and artistry woven into Tennyson’s timeless verse.
In Memoriam Prologue Summary: A Glimpse into the Heart of Grief and Faith
The “In Memoriam Prologue” acts as a solemn and introspective introduction to Tennyson’s monumental elegy, “In Memoriam A.H.H.” This larger work was penned over seventeen years in response to the sudden death of his beloved friend, Arthur Henry Hallam, in 1833. The prologue, however, transcends the immediate personal tragedy to address universal questions about existence, divinity, and human suffering.
Central Idea: At its core, the “In Memoriam Prologue” grapples with the intricate relationship between human knowledge and divine faith. It acknowledges the limitations of human understanding and the pervasive presence of doubt, particularly in the face of inexplicable loss. Yet, it ultimately affirms a profound trust in a benevolent, immortal Love, even when such belief cannot be empirically proven. The poem seeks reconciliation between the human condition of fallibility and the perceived justice of a divine creator, paving the way for the extensive exploration of grief and spiritual questioning that follows in the full elegy.
Noteworthy Knowledge: This prologue is not merely an opening; it is a theological and philosophical statement. It sets a tone of humility and earnest seeking, preparing the reader for a journey through intense sorrow, intellectual struggle, and eventual, if hard-won, hope. Tennyson’s choice to place this deeply spiritual address to God at the very beginning signals that the entire poem, though born from personal grief, is ultimately a quest for spiritual solace and understanding within a larger cosmic framework.
In-Depth Analysis of “In Memoriam Prologue”
Addressing the Divine: Faith Beyond Proof
The poem opens with a direct and powerful address to God, immediately establishing a tone of reverence and supplication. The phrase “Strong Son of God, immortal Love,” identifies the divine not just as a powerful entity, but as the embodiment of everlasting affection. Tennyson then delves into the nature of human belief:
Whom we, that have not seen thy face,
By faith, and faith alone, embrace, believing where we cannot prove;
These lines highlight a fundamental human dilemma: how to believe in that which cannot be seen or scientifically demonstrated. The poet asserts that faith is the sole conduit for embracing the divine, a crucial distinction from empirical knowledge. This sets the stage for the poem’s ongoing dialogue between reason and belief, a central tension in the Victorian era. The divine is portrayed as the ultimate creator, responsible for both life and death, as seen in:
Thou madest Life in man and brute;
Thou madest Death; and lo, thy foot
Is on the skull which thou hast made.
Here, the imagery of “thy foot / Is on the skull” powerfully symbolizes God’s absolute dominion over mortality, a stark reminder of the inevitability of death and its divine origin.
The Paradox of Human Existence and Divine Justice
Tennyson explores the perplexing nature of human existence, created by a just God yet seemingly destined for an uncertain end. The speaker voices a common human bewilderment:
Thou madest man, he knows not why,
He thinks he was not made to die;
And thou hast made him: thou art just.
This stanza presents a profound paradox. Humanity questions its purpose and resists the idea of mortality, yet the poet firmly concludes, “thou art just.” This affirmation of divine justice, despite human suffering and lack of understanding, is a cornerstone of the prologue’s theological stance. It suggests that even when God’s ways are inscrutable, His inherent righteousness remains unquestioned. The poem further acknowledges the mystery of free will:
Our wills are ours, we know not how;
Our wills are ours, to make them thine.
This couplet suggests a complex relationship between human autonomy and divine will. While humans possess free will, the ultimate aspiration is to align that will with the divine, implying a surrender to a higher purpose.
The Transience of Human Endeavor
The prologue offers a humbling perspective on human achievements and systems, portraying them as fleeting in comparison to the eternal divine. Tennyson observes:
Our little systems have their day;
They have their day and cease to be:
They are but broken lights of thee,
And thou, O Lord, art more than they.
Here, “little systems” can refer to human philosophies, scientific theories, political structures, or even individual lives. The repetition “have their day” emphasizes their temporary nature. The powerful metaphor “broken lights of thee” suggests that all human understanding and creation are merely imperfect, fragmented reflections of a greater, divine truth. This perspective encourages humility and redirects focus from transient earthly pursuits to the enduring divine.
The Harmony of Knowledge and Reverence
Tennyson advocates for a balanced approach to intellectual and spiritual growth, where knowledge is tempered by reverence. He expresses a desire for progress, but with a crucial caveat:
Let knowledge grow from more to more,
But more of reverence in us dwell;
That mind and soul, according well,
May make one music as before,
But vaster.
This passage champions the advancement of knowledge, a hallmark of the Victorian era, but insists that such growth must be accompanied by increased reverence for the divine. The beautiful metaphor of “mind and soul, according well, / May make one music” envisions a harmonious integration of intellectual pursuit and spiritual devotion, leading to a deeper, more profound understanding of existence, described as “vaster.” This suggests a holistic approach to truth, where intellect and spirit are not at odds but work in concert.
A Plea for Forgiveness and Wisdom in Grief
The prologue culminates in a series of heartfelt pleas for forgiveness, revealing the speaker’s profound humility and the personal sorrow that underpins the entire elegy. The poet acknowledges human fallibility and the limitations of earthly merit:
Forgive what seem’d my sin in me;
What seem’d my worth since I began;
For merit lives from man to man,
And not from man, O Lord, to thee.
These lines underscore the idea that true worth and forgiveness ultimately derive from God, not from human judgment or self-perception. Most poignantly, the speaker seeks divine understanding for his overwhelming sorrow:
Forgive my grief for one removed,
Thy creature, whom I found so fair.
I trust he lives in thee, and there
I find him worthier to be loved.
This is the direct acknowledgment of the personal loss that inspired “In Memoriam.” The poet asks for forgiveness not for the grief itself, but perhaps for its intensity or for questioning divine will. He expresses a hopeful trust that his departed friend, “thy creature,” now resides with God, made “worthier to be loved” in that divine presence. The prologue concludes with a plea for wisdom to navigate life’s complexities:
Forgive these wild and wandering cries,
Confusions of a wasted youth;
Forgive them where they fail in truth,
And in thy wisdom make me wise.
These “wild and wandering cries” encapsulate the emotional turmoil and intellectual struggles of the speaker, particularly in his youth. The ultimate request is for divine wisdom, a guiding light to transcend confusion and find truth amidst life’s challenges and the profound mystery of loss.
Literary Devices in In Memoriam Prologue: Crafting Meaning and Emotion
Tennyson’s mastery of language and poetic form is evident throughout the “In Memoriam Prologue,” employing a rich array of literary and poetic devices to convey its complex themes and deep emotion.
Anaphora and Repetition
Anaphora, the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, is used with striking effect to build emphasis and rhythm. Consider the repeated “Thou madest” in the second stanza:
Thou madest Life in man and brute;
Thou madest Death; and lo, thy foot
Is on the skull which thou hast made.
This repetition powerfully underscores God’s omnipotence as the creator of all existence, including mortality. Similarly, the repetition of “Our wills are ours” in the third stanza highlights the paradox of human free will and its potential alignment with divine purpose.
Imagery and Symbolism
The prologue is rich with vivid imagery and potent symbolism that deepen its philosophical and emotional impact. The “orbs of light and shade” in the first stanza symbolize the dualities of existence, such as life and death, knowledge and mystery, or even good and evil, all under divine purview. The “skull” in the same stanza is a stark and universal symbol of mortality and the inevitability of death, emphasizing God’s ultimate control over human fate. The “beam in darkness” used to describe knowledge in the fifth stanza symbolizes hope and enlightenment piercing through ignorance or despair.
Metaphor and Personification
Tennyson employs metaphor to create imaginative and insightful comparisons. A standout example is the description of human systems as “broken lights of thee” in the fourth stanza. This metaphor compares human endeavors and philosophies to fragmented, imperfect reflections of divine truth, suggesting their transient and incomplete nature. Personification is also subtly used, as when “Our little systems have their day,” attributing a lifespan and agency to abstract concepts, making their eventual cessation more poignant.
Apostrophe
The entire prologue is a sustained example of apostrophe, a direct address to an absent or imaginary person or an abstract entity. By addressing “Strong Son of God, immortal Love” directly, Tennyson creates an intimate and devotional tone, allowing the speaker to engage in a personal dialogue with the divine, expressing his doubts, questions, and pleas without mediation.
Rhyme Scheme and Meter
The “In Memoriam Prologue” is structured in quatrains, or four-line stanzas, with a consistent ABAB rhyme scheme. For example, “Love” (A), “face” (B), “embrace” (B), “prove” (A). This interlocking rhyme scheme creates a sense of continuity and musicality, lending a formal elegance to the poem’s profound subject matter. The predominant meter is iambic tetrameter, meaning each line typically consists of four iambs (an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable). This regular, flowing rhythm contributes to the poem’s meditative and solemn tone, making it both memorable and aesthetically pleasing.
In Memoriam Prologue: Key Quotes for Deeper Reflection
These selected lines from “In Memoriam Prologue” encapsulate its core themes and offer profound insights into Tennyson’s spiritual and intellectual journey:
We have but faith: we cannot know;
For knowledge is of things we see
This couplet is central to the poem’s exploration of epistemology, distinguishing between empirical knowledge and the realm of faith. It highlights the human condition of seeking truth beyond what is observable.
Our little systems have their day;
They have their day and cease to be:
They are but broken lights of thee,
And thou, O Lord, art more than they.
These lines offer a humbling perspective on human endeavors, emphasizing their transient nature and their ultimate subservience to an eternal, divine truth. It encourages a broader, more spiritual outlook on existence.
Let knowledge grow from more to more,
But more of reverence in us dwell;
That mind and soul, according well,
May make one music as before,
But vaster.
This passage articulates Tennyson’s vision for a harmonious integration of intellectual progress and spiritual humility. It suggests that true wisdom arises from a balance between scientific inquiry and profound respect for the divine mysteries.
Forgive my grief for one removed,
Thy creature, whom I found so fair.
I trust he lives in thee, and there
I find him worthier to be loved.
These deeply personal lines reveal the emotional heart of the prologue, connecting the philosophical discourse to the speaker’s profound sorrow. They express a hopeful belief in the afterlife and the transformative power of divine presence.
The “In Memoriam Prologue” stands as a testament to Tennyson’s poetic genius and his ability to articulate the deepest human questions. It is a powerful invitation to contemplate the interplay of faith and doubt, the nature of grief, and the enduring search for meaning in a world often shrouded in mystery. By engaging with this prologue, readers gain not only a deeper appreciation for Tennyson’s artistry but also a profound insight into the timeless human condition.