Imagery and Figurative Language in Tennyson's "Morte d'Arthur"

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King Arthur: then, because his wound was deep,

The bold Sir Bedivere uplifted him,

Sir Bedivere, the last of all his knights,

And bore him to a chapel nigh the field,

A broken chancel with a broken cross,

That stood on a dark strait of barren land.

-"Morte d'Arthur,"

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

What does the imagery in this passage help readers envision?

What does this imagery most clearly emphasize to readers?

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Terms in this set (8)

-the chapel and its surroundings
-the gloomy environment

Three Queens with crowns of gold—and from
them rose

A cry that shiver'd to the tingling stars,

And, as it were one voice, an agony

Of lamentation, like a wind, that shrills

All night in a waste land, where no one comes,

Or hath come, since the making of the world.

Then murmur'd Arthur, "Place me in the barge,"

And to the barge they came.

-"Morte d'Arthur,"

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Which line contains a simile?

Which line contains personification?

-an agony,Of lamentation, like a wind, that shrills
-A cry that shiver'd to the tingling stars,

Three Queens with crowns of gold—and from
them rose

A cry that shiver'd to the tingling stars,

And, as it were one voice, an agony

Of lamentation, like a wind, that shrills

All night in a waste land, where no one comes,

Or hath come, since the making of the world.

Then murmur'd Arthur, "Place me in the barge,"

And to the barge they came.

-"Morte d'Arthur,"

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

What does the figurative language help convey to the reader?

The queens are sad about King Arthur dying.
The queens are regal and important people.
The queens are the only ones who can help King Arthur recover.

The queens are sad about King Arthur dying.

There drew he forth the brand Excalibur,

And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon,

Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth

And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt:

For all the haft twinkled with diamond sparks,

Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work

Of subtlest jewellery. He gazed so long

That both his eyes were dazzled, as he stood,

This way and that dividing the swift mind,

In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd

Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd

-"Morte d'Arthur,"
Alfred, Lord Tennyson

What does the imagery in this passage help readers imagine?

the cold winds that Bedivere withstands
the moon's light reflecting off the sword
the jewelry that Bedivere is wearing
the way that Bedivere hides the sword

the moon's light reflecting off the sword

There drew he forth the brand Excalibur,

And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon,

Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth

And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt:

For all the haft twinkled with diamond sparks,

Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work

Of subtlest jewellery. He gazed so long

That both his eyes were dazzled, as he stood,

This way and that dividing the swift mind,

In act to throw: but at the last it seem'd

Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd

-"Morte d'Arthur,"
Alfred, Lord Tennyson

What does the imagery identified in this passage help readers understand?

why Arthur would want to get rid of the sword
why the Lady of the Lake gave up the sword
why Bedivere would want to keep the sword
why Bedivere would want to throw the sword

why Bedivere would want to keep the sword

Which lines from the poem contain personification? Check all that apply.

"So all day long the noise of battle roll'd"
"A cry that shiver'd to the tingling stars"
"Dark as a funeral scarf from stem to stern"
"Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang"
"Moved from the brink, like some full-breasted swan"

"A cry that shiver'd to the tingling stars"
"Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang"

Thou therefore take my brand Excalibur,

Which was my pride: for thou rememberest how

In those old days, one summer noon, an arm

Rose up from out the bosom of the lake,

Clothed in white samite, mystic, wonderful,

Holding the sword—and how I row'd across

And took it, and have worn it, like a king:

And, wheresoever I am sung or told

In aftertime, this also shall be known

-"Morte d'Arthur,"
Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Which phrase contains a metaphor?

Which phrase contains a simile?

-take my brand Excalibur, Which was my pride
- and have worn it, like a king

Thou therefore take my brand Excalibur,

Which was my pride: for thou rememberest how

In those old days, one summer noon, an arm

Rose up from out the bosom of the lake,

Clothed in white samite, mystic, wonderful,

Holding the sword—and how I row'd across

And took it, and have worn it, like a king:

And, wheresoever I am sung or told

In aftertime, this also shall be known

-"Morte d'Arthur,"
Alfred, Lord Tennyson

What do the metaphor and simile identified in this passage most strongly emphasize?

the beauty of the Lady of the Lake
the importance of Excalibur to King Arthur
the authority of King Arthur over Bedivere
the timeless appeal of King Arthur's legend

the importance of Excalibur to King Arthur