ABSTRACT
Although several musical references in the poems could be explored, one work which has particular potential for detailed study is "The Lotos-Eaters". This chapter highlights the significance of Tennyson's use of musical imagery. It presents at a study day on The Idea of Music in Fiction at Reading University in May 2000. To return to Tennyson's poetic representation of music, however, in terms of wider issues it is striking that Tennyson's musical imagery is associated with other elements which were major concerns in nineteenth-century culture. Despite the range of poetic texts set by Parry, selective criticisms by particular writers have being associated with a narrower field of literature. An awareness of the importance of the soprano's role is also illustrated by concerns voiced by Parry after a rehearsal of the work. Rather than Parry's technique of covert transformation of tonality, therefore, Elgar relies upon juxtaposition to suggest disorientation.
