Welcome to “Tithonus Workbook Answer : ISC Rhapsody (Evergreen),” where we delve into Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poignant poem “Tithonus” through the ISC English Literature Rhapsody by Evergreen Publications. In this post, we provide comprehensive answers to multiple-choice and contextual questions, enriching your understanding of Tennyson’s exploration of immortality and the melancholy of eternal life. We meticulously analyze the themes of aging, desire, and the natural order. Each question serves as a gateway to dissecting the poem, urging readers to examine its subtle nuances and extract deeper meanings. Contextual inquiries broaden our canvas for exploration, encouraging critical engagement with the socio-cultural backdrop and universal themes presented in Tennyson’s narrative. Through this detailed examination, readers sharpen their analytical skills and develop a profound appreciation for the literary craftsmanship of Alfred Lord Tennyson. Whether you are a student navigating ISC English Literature or an avid reader exploring the complexities of timeless themes, “ISC Rhapsody: Tithonus Workbook Solutions” offers valuable insights. Join us on this literary journey as we illuminate the path to understanding, one workbook solution at a time.
Table of Contents
Poem In Details :
In this poem Tithonus, the son of king Laomedon talks about his miserable plight resulting from the boon of immortality granted to him by his wife Goddess Eros. He says that from the boon of tree that everything including human beings grow old and meet their end. But the immortality or eternal life bestowed on him has turned him Into decrepit old man.
Instead of blaming the Goddess for his miserable condition, Tithonus believes that It was all the result of him own doing. In youth he considered himself like any other heavenly being. He himself demanded immortality. He regrets how he lost his youth and is helpless to die. Therefore, that very boon of immortality has turned into a curse for him. He has become old whereas his wife, the Goddess of dawn, has remained young and charming as ever before.
Tithous now wants the Goddess to take the gift of immortality back from him. He agrees that there is no reason for him to continue living whereas all human beings are destined to die. He then contrasts the youthful beauty of the Goddess Aurora with his own hopeless old age. He expresses his pain in not being able to match the youthful passion of his beloved young wife.
When the Goddess Aurora does not respond to his arguments, Tithonus says that he realizes her pain also. She may not shed tears like him, a human being, but her tearful eyes remind him of a saying which he had learnt in his earlier days. It frightens him to realize that the saying may be true. He had learnt that Gods cannot recall or take back the gifts or boons granted by them to others.
Tithonus remembers his earlier youthful days and feels miserable. He regrets the loss of the passion he used to have for the beauty of the dawn and the youthful passion of the Goddess. But now he has turned old and lost that earlier energy, passion and zest for life. He wonders if he is the same person. His words also suggest that it was perhaps destined for him to marry the beautiful goddess and suffer. Therefore, neither the Goddess nor he himself is to be blamed for his present plight.
Ultimately, he pleads with Goddess not to let him remain in his present plight. He does not want to share immortality with her as he has grown old, wrinkled and withered. In his deathless old age he feels no passion for her. The sight of vapours from the fields of the mortal men reveals their happiness as they do not have to grow old without meeting their death. He feels that even the graves under the grass reveal that the dead are happy as they do not have to experience the pain of immortality without eternal youth. He expresses the desire to die and get rid of this sorrowful existence. The Goddess, he admits, will continue to live and enjoy immortality. It implies that human being are meant to die and leave this earth.
The poem is no doubt, based on the Greek myth related to Tithonus and the Goddess Aurora, but it does not reproduce the mythical story as such. In the poem. there is no reference to Tithonus being transformed into grasshopper. It rather concentrates on human limitations and the problems that occur when natural cycle of existence is tampered with by human beings or even the gods.
Line Wise Explanation :
Lines 1-10
The speaker here is Tithonus. In a remorseful mood, he addresses the Goddess of Dawn. He says that the trees perish and drop down on the ground, In the same way. the drops of water fall on the earth when the air carrying them throws these vapours as a burden. Human beings work and then have to mingle with the dust of the earth they worked on. After living for some years even swans meet their death. But immortality has become cruel for him to bear. Old age is taking away the strength from his body while he is decaying to her arms. He now appears like a shadow with his white hair. The region where he wanders about is always covered with mist. But he can see the light and shine of early morning from a distance only.
These lines depict a dismal picture of Tithonus’s existence. He considers all the perishable things of nature better than him. He realizes that the end of life or death and destruction are necessary. A life without passion is useless. The gift of immortality has taken away from him what he finds in nature and the human world around.
Lines 11-17
Tithonus laments that his youthful looks have withered and he is no more than a poor shadow of the person he used to be. Once he used to be handsome, energetic and youthful. He looked so handsome that the Goddess chose him as her lover which made him the happiest man. He had asked the Goddess to grant him the boon of eternal life so that he could love her forever. She granted this boon to him as rich people give money to someone without thinking much. It also indicates that the Goddess gave him the gift of immortality without thinking about the consequences of the boon for the receiver.
Tithonus regretfully thinks of the time when the Goddess gave him the gift of eternal living without eternal youth. As a results of this, a passionate young man now suffers as he has grown old while his beloved wife is still young. In a way, these lines point out the way Eros carelessly granted eternal life and forgot to grant him eternal youth also. The comparison with the rich people’s manner of giving money without much thought also suggests that the Goddess behaved in an arrogant manner.
Lines 18-23
The goddess of dawn, Aurora granted Tithonus eternal life. But Time has taken its toll and made him weak, withered and old. As a result of the gift or boon of immortality. Tithonus did not die. But he is a crippled and deformed old man. He still lives with his wife, the Goddess of dawn, who is forever young. Tithonus did not die, of course, but his youth has passed and he is now living with his young and passionate wife whereas he is quite old and withered.
Tithonus speaks of the natural cause of life that makes one old with the passage of time. On the other hand, gods enjoy eternal youth and, do not become or look old. It implies that human beings cannot follow the ways of gods. These lines bring out the psychological aspect of man’s helpless before the onslaughts of time.
Lines 23-31
Tithonus asks Aurora, the Goddess of dawn, if she can take back the boon of eternal life given to him. He wants to ask if she can make amends to her error of giving him such a gift. The tears in her eyes make Tithonus realize that she cannot do that and take the boon back. While asking the Goddess to take that gift back, Tithonus explains that there is no reason for him not to accept the lot of other human beings. He says that like other human beings, he too should die and wither away. It is the common fate of all and there should be no exception in his case.
These lines again emphasize that no human being should be an exception so far as death is concerned. It comes to all and the one who does not follow the course of nature has to suffer. Interestingly, gods too are helpless in their own way. The tears in the eyes of the Goddess point out that it is not easy for her to take back the gift once granted by her.
Lines 32-36
Tithonus says that a soft breeze is separating the clouds from one another. The earth can be seen through the gap created by this separation of the clouds. He describes the mild light coming from the beautiful face of the Goddess. He notices the passionate heart of the Goddess palpitating and her bosom heaving. He depicts a beautiful picture of the dawn. This description brings out the contrast between the youthful beauty of his wife and his own withered and received looks due to old age.
These lines present a contrast between the world of the Goddess of dawn and the mortal, earthly world to which Tithonus belongs. The words ‘renewed heart’ refers to the Goddess’s ever-fresh beauty. But on the other hand, Tithonus’s world is full of darkness. It once more emphasizes the absence of compatability between Tithonus and the Goddess. The poet here gives a beautiful picture of early morning with all its brightness and charm. But for Tithonus this beauty of the dawn makes him think of his own decrepit situation.
Lines 37-42
These lines describe how the Goddess of dawn appears. Her cheeks turn red and eyes shine with light. Her arrival marks the end of the darkness of the night. Tithonus looks at her beauty before which the shining stars get blinded into invisibility. The white horses drawing her chariot yearn for the yoke, to start pulling her chariot again. As the chariot starts its journey the whole sky shines with flakes of light. Before answering Tithonus’s request the goddess disappears again.
These lines present a vivid picture of dawn. The day dawns as if the cheeks of the beautiful Goddess were getting red. The appearance of the morning light after the darkness of the night has been beautifully depicted here. It shows the poet’s sense of beauty and ability to create word pictures. The reader can visualize the movement of stars and the chariot of light as the day dawns.
Lines 43-49
Instead of answering the request to take back the gifts of immortality from Tithonus, the Goddess silently goes back. Tithonus notices her helplessness and says that he realizes her helplessness in not being able to make him mortal again. The tears of the Goddess remind him of the saying he had heard long ago. It was that gods cannot take back the boon granted to someone.
Tithonus observes that his pain and agony is known to the Goddess also. But she herself seems to be helpless. It points out that even gods are unable to act according to their will. In other words, they too have their limitations like human beings.
Lines 50-61
Tithonus remembers the days when he was the young lover of the beautiful Goddess. He realizes that he is perhaps not the same person who used to look at the changing colours and shapes of Aurora at dawn. At that time he could see her curls changing into bright sunny rings. It used to bring a change in Tithonus also. His blood would glow with passion and desire. The same kind of glow would appear in her also. He still remembers the way his eyelids, mouth and forehead would turn moist when his beloved Goddess kissed him. He felt lying in the fragrance of soothing flower beds. At that time he heard her loveful words which he could not understand. Her words sounded like those of the God Apollo when he created the Towers of Troy by playing upon his flute. The Towers rose as if coming out of mist.
The lines again express Tithonus regret and sense of loss resulting from the gifts of immortality he received from the goddess. His talking of the days before he became immortal and was ruined because of this, highlight the depth of his suffering and pain.
Lines 62-74
Tithonus asks the goddess not to keep him in his immortal state with her in the East where she lives. He tells her that their natures do not and cannot match as she is an immortal goddess whereas Tithonus is a mortal human being. She is forever young and beautiful whereas he is adversely impacted by old age. His feet tremble when he finds himself at her cold threshold. On the other hand, a look at the steam floating from the homes of men who are destined to die tells him that they are very happy. They do not have to suffer eternal life without permanent youth. The same kind of feelings come into his mind when he looks at the graves of the mortal men. The goddess too will understand all this when she watches or finds him going to his grave or meeting his death. The goddess will be able to see him lying in his grass-covered grave even after his death. Her beauty and youth are ordained to get renewed for ever. But Tithonus will not remember her beautiful court as he cannot match her in youth and beauty. If he is set free from immortality, he will die and go to his grave. The goddess will remain beautiful and young as she is immortal.
Workbook MCQs :
(i) The speaker in the poem is :
(a) The Goddess Aurora
(b) The Goddess of Sky
(c) Tithonus
(d) The sun God Apollo
Answer :- (b) The Goddess of Sky
(iI) The immortality and old age seem cruel to the speaker and he wants to :
(a) live longer
(b) live in the company of human beings
(c) die and get release from the boon
(d) become young again
Answer :- (d) become young again
(iII) Tithonus felt like a God:
(a) in his earthly house with his family and friends
(b) when the goddess of dawn chose him as her lover
(c) in his dream
(d) in the morning only
Answer :- (c) in his dream
(iV) Tithonus lives in the company of the goddess of dawn in:
(a) The East
(b) The West
(c) The South
(d) The North
Answer :- (c) The South
(v) The line, “A soft air fans the cloud apart means”:
(a) A breeze separates a cloud from other clouds.
(b) It turns the clouds dark.
(c) It makes vapours out of clouds.
(d) It looks like vapours.
Answer :- (d) It looks like vapours.
(vI) The goddess of dawn departs and Tithonus notices:
(a) her beauty in his eyes
(b) the ugly aspect of the boon
(c) tears in her eyes
(d) the tears of the goddess on his cheek
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(vII) Due to the boon of immortality Tithonus as an old man has to love with his :
(a) old and withered wife
(b) young and beautiful wife
(c) a young woman cursed to die soon
(d) youthful passion for beauty
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(vIII) The goddess of dawn:
(a) shows her unwillingness to take the gift of immortality back
(b) cannot take back the gift of immortality
(c) is cursed to lead an unhappy life without eternal youth
(d) does not like Tithonus in his old age
Answer :- [ For Full Workbook Answers , Get The Full E-Book Access – View ]
(iX) Tithonus is unhappy:
(a) with the goddess of dawn
(b) with other gods
(c) because he has become immortal but grown old
(d) as he has to die like other human beings
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(x) The beauty of the goddess of dawn:
(a) will come to an end after fifty years
(b) will be renewed every morning keeping her always the same
(c) makes Tithonus jealous of her
(d) brings negative thoughts to Tithonus
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Logic Based Questions :
(i) The woods have to fall because they have to decay and fall as a law of nature.
(iI) Tithonus calls immortality cruel because he is withering slowly and becoming old but unable to die.
(iII) Tithonus withers slowly but does not die because the Goddess of dawn has granted him eternal life.
(iV) Tithonus felt like God because he was chosen by the goddess of dawn.
(v) Tithonus compares the goddess with wealthy men because the goddess did not care while giving the boon to Tithonus and behaved like the rich men.
(vI) The goddess remains young and beautiful whereas Tithonus grows old and withered because [ For Full Workbook Answers , Get The Full E-Book Access – View ]
(vII) The poem shows that even the powers of gods are limited because[ For Full Workbook Answers , Get The Full E-Book Access – View ]
(vIII) The speaker in the poem does not want an old saying to come true because [ For Full Workbook Answers , Get The Full E-Book Access – View ]
(iX) According to the speaker in the poem, a mist rose into Towers because [ For Full Workbook Answers , Get The Full E-Book Access – View ]
(x) Tithonus calls the earthly people happy because [ For Full Workbook Answers , Get The Full E-Book Access – View ]
Short Answer Questions :
(i) Why does Tithonus call the boon of his immortality cruel?
Answer :- The boon of immortality does not allow Tithonus to die. He is getting old and weak. It has made his condition miserable. He has to face the problems of old age forever. Therefore, he calls the boon of immortality cruel.
(iI) Describe the place where Tithonus lives with Aurora, the goddess of dawn.
Answer :- The Goddess of Dawn, named Aurora lives above the clouds in the East. This is a place far away from the earthly world. The world of the Goddess is full of light, youth and beauty. When the clouds get separated a view of the earthly world can he had from the world where the Goddess lives.
(iII) Explain the circumstances under which Tithonus was granted immortality.
Answer :- Tithonus was a young and glorious man. The goddess of dawn chose him rather than any other God. At that moment Tithonus was very happy. He asked the goddess to grant him immortality.
(iV) What similarity is mentioned between the grant of immortality to Tithonus and the way wealthy people give money to someone?
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(v) Why does the speaker want the goddess to rectify the error she has made?
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(vI) Give a description of the appearance of dawn on her chariot.
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(vII) What is the limitation of the gods that Tithonus point out? When does he realize this?
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Long Answer Questions :
(i) Who has made Tithonus immortal? Why is he unhappy? What does he long for?
Answer :- Tithonus was chosen by goddess Aurora as her lover. He asked for the boon of immortality from her. She granted the boon which made Tithonus immortal. According to this boon, Tithonus will remain alive and never meet his death.
This boon made Tithonus unhappy. He grew old and his body turned weak though he still had youthful passion and desires. He considers his present death less condition a kind of curse and something cruel. He has to remain suffering due to old age as he cannot die. So, he is unhappy with his present condition.
As a result of his sorrowful existence resulting from the boon granted by Aurora, he longs for death. He believes that only death can provide him release from his present condition of immortality which has become a cause of his endless sufferings in old age. He longs for death, in a way itis his longing for an end to his miseries resulting from an old body with a youthful heart.
(iI) Discuss the poem as a dramatic monologue.
Answer :- The poem ‘Tithonus’ by Tennyson is in the form of a dramatic monologue. A mythological figure Tithonus falls in love with Aurora, the Goddess of Dawn who grants him the boon of immortality. This boon appears cruel to Tithonus as he grows old but cannot die. The poem about his regret and lamentation has several characteristic features of a dramatic monologue.
It begins at a crucial juncture and a serious situation related to Tithonus’s condition due to the boon. He laments the boon granted to him and wants the goddess to take it back. It develops a dramatic situation important for a dramatic monologue. The dramatic situation becomes more serious when the goddess disappears indicating her inability to accept the request.
“In a dramatic monologue, there is only one speaker who expresses his feelings, thoughts views in a dramatic situation. The presence of a listener there is only realized and pointed out through different hints. Tithonus is the one who speaks in this poem. The goddess’s presence can be understood from the way Tithonus comments about her gestures and movements. He tells how she moves about and expresses her helplessness in taking the boon back.
Like a typical dramatic monologue, Tithonus, the only speaker in the poem, reveals much about his own self. He tells about the way he was granted the boon and felt happy without realizing its consequences. While talking to the goddess, he reveals many things about his own life.
The conversational style of the poem adds to the dramatic elements to the speech of the single speaker. Tithonus also uses several expressions like ‘Lo !’ ‘I asked thee” Ay me! ay me!” which add to the dramatic elements in this poem.
All these features of the poem ‘Tithonus’ make it a dramatic monologue.
(iII) How does Tithonus describe his past life as a human on the earth ?
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(iV) How does the poet describe the journey of the goddess across the sky ?
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(v) Compare Tithonus feelings and attitude towards immortality in his youth and in his old age.
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(vI) How does Tithonus try to convince the goddess at the end of the poem that she should not keep him in the East where she lives ?
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