Born on August the sixth eighteen nine, Alfred Tennyson was born into a family, who wasn't rich but, was well off. His first publication was a collection of poems all written by him and his siblings .He, of course, attended school at Louth Grammar School for four years and later attended Trinity College, Cambridge. He became Poet Laureate in 1850 and held the position until his death in 1892. He used a wide range of subjects such as medieval legend to classical myths.
The poem Iphigenia was written about a girl who is being sacrificed. It is told from the girl’s perspective and her memory is anything but crystal clear. She names the location of her sacrifice “that sad place” and through saying “My father held his hands upon his face” she lets us know her father is there. The mythical allusion in this poem refers to a time during the Trojan war when Agamemnon sacrifices a stag, one of Artemis’ sacred animals. The Greeks come to the conclusion that, one of Agamemnon's daughters has to be sacrificed. He decides it will be Iphigenia, but just as she is about to be murdered Artemis swoops down and saves her. Iphigenias becomes a priestess of Artemis and the poem is simply her reflecting on the past. …show more content…
In the hall of columns where Iphigenia is being sacrificed to Artemis, I can’t help but look at a deer pelt on a cloud swooping down to rescue Iphigenia from the cruel fate. Also I notice Agamemnon covering his face in order to shield his eyes from the sight of his daughter being sacrificed for his mistake. The painting tells a story of man’s folly ,which is all too common, redemption from a higher power, something we all hope for, and how one miniscule mistake can lead to such catastrophic consequences. Now, of course the painting is beautiful, i can say that all day, but it’s more than that. This painting peeks into man's nature and the divinity so many people surround themselves