Tennyson's 'In Memoriam' : Explanation 2 / Reference to Context

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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 theirs. Apart from that, even though he is known for his naivave, he used to be a talented person. Such a conspicuous combination can be assigned by God alone.

In the expression "a simple village green", we find an instance of transferred epithet. That is to say, Hallam had been a very simple man who hailed from a village full of greenery. The poet, here, has perfectly interwoven simplicity and flair in his reminiscences about his departed comrade.

This stanza is written in the rhyme scheme of ABBA that constitutes a quatrain. Right here, the poet's question sounds reflective. This speaks of Tennyson's unfathomable faith in his dear friend.
 

 

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