In Memoriam

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of illness or death.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Tennyson’s journey through grief in In Memoriam spans from raw despair to eventual acceptance. Which stage of his emotional journey resonated most powerfully with you? What specific cantos captured your own understanding of loss?

2. What did you make of the fragmented yet connected structure of In Memoriam with its 133 separate cantos written over 15 years? How does Tennyson’s approach to grief compare with other poetic examinations, like Milton’s Lycidas or Ross Gay’s “Sorrow is Not My Name,” that deal with loss?

3. The poem moves from questioning God to eventually affirming faith despite suffering. Did you find Tennyson’s ultimate affirmation convincing? How did his integration of scientific knowledge with religious belief strike you as a modern reader?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. In Canto 27, Tennyson writes the famous line, “’Tis better to have loved and lost / Than never to have loved at all” (Lines 13-16). How does this sentiment resonate with your life experiences? Has there been a time when you’ve questioned or affirmed this idea?