The Passing of Arthur
The Passing of Arthur is a poignant exploration of mortality and the passage of time. Tennyson's use of imagery and symbolism creates a vivid picture of King Arthur's final moments and the transfer of power to his son. The poem's themes are timeless and continue to resonate with readers today.
By Alfred Tennyson · First published 1885 · Genre: Poetry, Literature, Fantasy · 1,804 words
First lines
One night King Arthur saw Sir Gawain in a dream, and Gawain, who had been killed, shrilly called out to him through the wind:
"Hail King! to-morrow you are going to pass away, and there's a land of rest for you. Farewell!"
What this Textopian page supports
The Passing of Arthur is listed on Textopian as a poem by Alfred Tennyson, dated 1885 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: 1885 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Literature, Fantasy, Historical Fiction
- Length: 1,804 words
- Structure: 1 section, 37 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Passing of Arthur 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 The Passing of Arthur?
- How does this poem by Alfred Tennyson fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Poetry — The book is a narrative poem, a form of poetry that tells a story, in this case the story of Arthur's passing.
- Literature — The book is a recognized work of literary importance and quality, written by a celebrated poet, Alfred Tennyson.
- Fantasy — The book is set in the fantasy world of King Arthur and his knights.
- Historical Fiction — While not strictly historical, the book draws on cultural and mythological elements from a historical period, thus it can be classified under historical fiction.
Tags
poetry · classic literature · Victorian era · Arthurian legend · mythology · nature · death · grief · loss · longing · melancholy · romanticism