Studies in English Language and Literature

  Dost thou look back on what hath been, As some divinely gifted man, Whose life in low estate began And on a simple village green... These lines have been taken from Lord Tennyson’s elegiac poem 'In Memoriam'. The poet, after the untimely death of his intimate friend named Arthur Henry Hallam, was mentally broken down. That is to say, he composed these lines in the remembrance of his deceased chum. Here, the poet asks Hallam in a trance whether he is looking back on this earth or not "as some divinely gifted man", whose humble life began in a low land of a simple village. Tennyson seems to wonder if his departed friend thinks of him from heaven or not, because of the poet's constant contemplation of Hallam from the earth. Moreover, the tone of speaking of the poet sounds as if his heavy heart is wallowing in utmost lamentation for Arthur, his crony. Such distress makes him wonder whether the deceased chum ever looks back to ruminate the past unison of thei...