In 1842, Alfred Tennyson published his ingenious poem Ulysses to the readers in England. The story of Ulysses derives from Homer's The Odyssey and Dante's Inferno; Homer tells the legend of the courageous and persevering hero that returns to his home, Ithaca, from an odyssey. Dante tells the tragic flaw of the Greek war hero's ambition for traveling that leads to his death and his forever stay in hell. Tennyson combines the two myths into one as propaganda for imperialism during the Victorian Era in England. In order to represent imperialism as a heroic deed, the poet uses symbolism, figurative language and a unique poetic form to enhance the content of the poem.

Ulysses represents a valiant symbol for imperialists in England during the mid 18th century. For instance, Ulysses stands as a "king" that "mete and dole unequal laws unto a savage race, that hoard...sleep...feed...and...