"In Memoriam A.H.H."

Paper Summary:

The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss and analyze the poem "In Memoriam A.H.H.", by Alfred Lord Tennyson. Specifically, it discusses Tennyson's struggle with faith and doubt as seen in excerpts of the poem. Tennyson wrote this poem as a memorial for friend and fellow Cambridge professor, Arthur Henry Hallam, who died quite suddenly of a brain hemorrhage.

From the Paper:

"Another passage continues this theme of faith by faith itself, rather than seeing and knowing God exists. Tennyson continues, "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" (Tennyson). It is clear that Tennyson is attempting to convince himself and his readers that faith must continue if they are to make any sense out of life, and out of tragic death. Without faith, this death seems to mean nothing, and therefore life means nothing, as well. Faith makes life (and death) more meaningful and bearable, and that is why Tennyson struggles with his faith and his need for more understanding. Without it, his friend's life will seem to mean nothing, and that is more than he can bear."

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