Alfred Lord Tennyson · English Literature

The poem 'Break, Break, Break' was written as a reaction to:

  1. A shipwreck Tennyson witnessed
  2. The death of Arthur Henry Hallam
  3. The failure of his first publication
  4. His father's illness
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Correct answer: The death of Arthur Henry Hallam

Like 'In Memoriam', this short lyric is an expression of Tennyson's grief over Hallam. The cold, unfeeling waves breaking on the rocks mirror the poet's inability to express the 'thoughts that arise' in him.

Difficulty: Medium Question 14 of 20

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