Harold: A Drama by Alfred Tennyson
"A Drama" is a poem written by Alfred Tennyson in 1842. The poem tells the story of a man who has lost his love and is left to contemplate his own mortality. The speaker of the poem reflects on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death, as he wanders through a desolate landscape. Despite the bleakness of the poem's themes, Tennyson's masterful use of language and imagery creates a sense of beauty and wonder that underscores the fragility of human existence.
By Alfred Tennyson · First published 1861 · Genre: Drama, Historical, Tragedy · 11 chapters · 29,627 words
First lines
"DRAMATIS PERSONAE"
KING EDWARD THE CONFESSOR.
What this Textopian page supports
Harold: A Drama is listed on Textopian as a play by Alfred Tennyson, dated 1861 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Play
- Author: Alfred Tennyson
- Date: 1861 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Drama, Historical, Tragedy, Poetry
- Length: 29,627 words
- Structure: 11 chapters, 891 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Harold: A Drama by Alfred Tennyson
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Harold: A Drama?
- How does this play by Alfred Tennyson fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Drama first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Drama — The book's title directly mentions it as a Drama, and the narrative form supports this.
- Historical — The story revolves around historical events and characters, notably Harold II, the last Anglo-Saxon king of England.
- Tragedy — The narrative involves Harold II's rise to power and his subsequent tragic fall in the Battle of Hastings; thus, it fits the category of Tragedy.
- Poetry — Alfred Tennyson, being a poet, wrote this work as a poetic drama which is evident in the writing style and overall structure.
Tags
drama · tragedy · poetry · historical · romance · conflict · heroism · love · betrayal · fate · sacrifice · medieval
Contents
- LONDON. THE KING'S PALACE
- SEASHORE. PONTHIEU. NIGHT
- THE KING'S PALACE. LONDON
- IN NORTHUMBRIA
- A TENT ON A MOUND, FROM WHICH CAN BE SEEN THE FIELD OF <br/> SENLAC
- IN THE GARDEN. THE KING'S HOUSE NEAR LONDON. SUNSET
- BAYEUX. PALACE
- IN THE GARDEN. THE KING'S HOUSE NEAR LONDON
- A PLAIN. BEFORE THE BATTLE OF STAMFORD-BRIDGE
- FIELD OF THE DEAD. NIGHT
- SCENE III