Tithonus by Tennyson – Reasoning Q&A (20+ Questions)

Complete the following sentences by providing a brief reason. Do not write the question.

1. The opening lines "The woods decay, the woods decay and fall" establish the poem's argument because __________

2. Tithonus is described as a "gray shadow, once a man" because __________

3. Eos forgot to ask for eternal youth along with immortality because __________

4. Time's "strong Hours" are personified as actively destructive because __________

5. Tithonus's suffering is described as "cruel immortality" rather than blessed eternal life because __________

6. The poem contrasts Tithonus's condition with natural cycles of death and renewal because __________

7. Tithonus asks Eos to "take back thy gift" rather than requesting a cure because __________

8. Eos's tears and her inability to grant Tithonus's wish reveal that __________

9. The phrase "Immortal age beside immortal youth" captures the essence of Tithonus's torment because __________

10. Tithonus was once chosen by Eos for his "beauty and thy choice" but is now rejected because __________

11. The goddess cannot release Tithonus, despite his pleas, because __________

12. Death is portrayed as preferable to the immortal existence Tithonus experiences because __________

13. Tennyson's modification making Tithonus request immortality himself emphasizes that __________

14. The dramatic monologue form is effective for this poem because __________

15. Eos will "renew thy beauty morn by morn" while Tithonus will "earth in earth forget" because __________

16. The poem can be read as Victorian critique of "progress" and immortality because __________

17. Tithonus describes himself as "all I was, in ashes" because __________

18. The gods "can not recall their gifts" according to the poem because __________

19. Tithonus emphasizes that "no man would desire" immortality if they understood its reality because __________

20. The poem's ending offers no hope or resolution for Tithonus because __________

21. Mortality, though seemingly a limitation, is presented as necessary and valuable because __________

Answer Key

i) They establish the natural cycle of decay and renewal that Tithonus alone is excluded from, emphasizing his unique curse.

ii) He has been diminished from full humanity through endless aging without death, reduced to a hollow shadow of his former self.

iii) The poem attributes this to forgetfulness or careless granting of wishes without full consideration of consequences.

iv) They represent time as an active destructive force that beats and scars Tithonus while he remains unable to escape or die.

v) Immortality destroys rather than elevates him, consuming his vitality and reducing him to physical decay without release.

vi) All living things naturally decay, renew, and die; Tithonus's violation of this cycle through immortality creates suffering.

vii) Only complete release through death can end his torment; no partial cure or compensation can address the fundamental problem.

viii) Even divine love cannot overcome the fundamental incompatibility between immortal youth and aging mortality in a relationship.

ix) It captures the ironic torture of being eternally alive but aging—both immortal age and immortal youth existing together impossibly.

x) Beauty fades with age even in the immortal, transforming divine love into emotional pain and physical rejection.