Question

What problem does the poet critique by using the allegory of sailors in the passage?

a disinterest in exploration and discovery

a narrow view of the world

a lack of imagination

the sluggishness of the human mind

Answer 1

The Lotos-Eaters
by Alfred, Lord Tennyson (excerpt)

I
There is sweet music here that softer falls
Than petals from blown roses on the grass,
Or night-dews on still waters between walls
Of shadowy granite, in a gleaming pass;
Music that gentlier on the spirit lies,
Than tir'd eyelids upon tir'd eyes;
Music that brings sweet sleep down from the blissful skies.
Here are cool mosses deep,
And thro' the moss the ivies creep,
And in the stream the long-leaved flowers weep,
And from the craggy ledge the poppy hangs in sleep.

II
Why are we weigh'd upon with heaviness,
And utterly consumed with sharp distress,
While all things else have rest from weariness?
All things have rest: why should we toil alone,
We only toil, who are the first of things,
And make perpetual moan,
Still from one sorrow to another thrown:
Nor ever fold our wings,
And cease from wanderings,
Nor steep our brows in slumber's holy balm;
Nor harken what the inner spirit sings,
"There is no joy but calm!"
Why should we only toil, the roof and crown of things?

Answer 2

I'm thinking lack of imagination because they tried something to see if something happened and it did, But I also have a thought of narrow view of the world only because during their experience they are isolated from the world 'narrow'.

Answer 3

im thinking the marrow view of the world because there is quite a bit of imagination right>

Answer 4

I agree with Awsome_stuff. The people back then had a narrower view, and they needed to explore more so they could...well explore! They had PLENTY of imagination, just look at the statues they built, the paintings the made! Magnificent!