Merlin and Vivien by Alfred Tennyson
"Merlin and Vivien" is a narrative poem written by Alfred Tennyson in 1870. The poem tells the story of King Arthur's sorcerer, Merlin, who falls in love with a woman named Vivien. Despite their love for each other, their union is forbidden due to Vivien's low social status. The poem explores themes of love, class, and societal expectations, as well as the power dynamics between Merlin and Vivien. Throughout the poem, Tennyson uses imagery and symbolism to convey the emotions and experiences of the characters, creating a rich and immersive reading experience.
By Alfred Tennyson · First published 1880 · Genre: Poetry, Fantasy, Myths and Legends · 3,551 words
First lines
Vivien was a very clever, wily and wicked woman, who wanted to become a greater magician than even the great Merlin, who was the most famous man of all his times, who understood all the arts, who had built the king's harbors, ships and halls, who was a fine poet and who could read the future in the stars in the skies.
He had once told Vivien of a charm that he could work to make people invisible. Whenever he worked it upon anyone that person would seem to be imprisoned within the four walls of a tower and could not get out.
What this Textopian page supports
Merlin and Vivien is listed on Textopian as a poem by Alfred Tennyson, dated 1880 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Alfred Tennyson
- Date: 1880 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Fantasy, Myths and Legends, Romantic, Historical
- Length: 3,551 words
- Structure: 1 section, 41 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Merlin and Vivien by Alfred Tennyson
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Merlin and Vivien?
- How does this poem by Alfred Tennyson fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Poetry — The book is a part of Idylls of the King, a series of narrative poems written by Alfred Tennyson. Poetry is the primary form of these narratives.
- Fantasy — The book revolves around figures from Arthurian Legends, a well-known source of European high fantasy, with characters like Merlin and Vivien who perform magic and actions beyond human capability.
- Myths and Legends — The tale involves characters and story arcs from the Arthurian Legends, a collection of various myths and tales dating back to medieval times.
- Romantic — The story involves a romantic plot between Merlin and Vivien, making the book fall under the Romantic genre.
Tags
historical fiction · Arthurian legend · magic · romance · fantasy · adventure · poetry · classic literature · British literature · Victorian era · Tennyson · Merlin