When I Set out for Lyonnesse Summary Analysis and Explanation

Students can also check the English Summary to revise with them during exam preparation.

When I Set out for Lyonnesse Summary Stanza Wise Explanation

About The Poet Thomas Hardy
The poem was written in 1869 and was first published in 1914 in Thomas Hardy’s collection of poems, Satire of Circumstances, Lyrics and Reveries. Lyonnesse is a mythical place of the Arthurian legend and the poet’s employment of a mythical atmosphere adds a mystical flavor to the poet’s subsequent journey.

Poet Name Thomas Hardy
Born 2 June 1840, Stinsford, United Kingdom
Died 11 January 1928, Dorchester, United Kingdom
Poems The Darkling Thrush, Neutral Tones, The Man He Killed
Movies Far from the Madding Crowd, The Mayor of Casterbridge
Thomas Hardy - when i set out for lyonnesse summary class 8
Thomas Hardy

Short Summary of When I Set Out For Lyonnesse in English

When I Set out for Lyonnesse Introduction
Thomas Hardy was born in Dorset, England in 1840. As a novelist, he is best known for his work set in the semi-fictionalized county of Wessex including, Tess of the d’Urbervilles and Jude the Obscure. He was also an accomplished poet. Hardy died in 1928.

The poet is a young architect who went to Lyonnesse to supervise the renovation work of a dilapidated church. It was 100 miles away. It was winter season and snowfall was at the peak. He was in a solitary state and during his journey he witnessed starlight.

He becomes conscious of what would happen at Lyonnesse when he would stay there. According to him no prophet can declare this and even a wizard would not be able to say what would happen at Lyonnesse.

When he returned from Lyonnesse, he had magic in his eyes. All could understand that he was filled with a rare and immeasurable radiance.

When I Set out for Lyonnesse Introduction

When I Set out for Lyonnesse Summary of the Poem

The poem comes from Hardy’s memory of three days of his life. The poet is a young architect who went to Lyonnesse to supervise the renovation work of a dilapidated church. It was 100 miles away. It was winter season the foliage of the tree was covered with frost he had to travel very far.

No prophet on the wisest wizard could guess the experienced poet had at Lyonnesse. He himself couldn’t predict his future.

After his journey to Lyonnesse, his eyes were bright with happiness. It was his experience which no one can measure it was revelation of life, his happiness was silent to everyone. All could understand that he was filled with a rare and immeasurable radiance.

When I Set out for Lyonnesse Summary

FAQs On When I Set out for Lyonnesse Summary

Q1. What is the summary of when I set out for Lyonnesse?
Ans: To commemorate their union, the poet composed this poem and used Lyonnesse as a setting of his poem. Thus the poem is also an autobiographical allegory where the poet was in search of his love that resulted into fulfillment. The mythical Lyonnesse thus becomes here a land of joyfulness, gaiety and contentment.

Q2. What is the theme of when I set out for Lyonnesse?
Ans: What is the theme of the poem ‘When I set out for Lyonnesse’? Dear Student, … In the poem ‘When I set out for Lyonnesse’ the poet talks about the journey to the place, and the uncertainty of what would happen there. He states that no prophet would be able to say what he would see there or what his journey is all about.

Q3. What is the poet name in when I set out for Lyonnesse?
Ans: When I set out for Lyonnesse: As a young apprentice architect, British poet and novelist Thomas Hardy once visited a parish to supervise the restoration of a church.

Q4. Why did the poet go to Lyonnesse?
Ans: why did the poet go to lyonnesses. It is not mentioned in the poem why the poet went to Lyonnesse. This is a lyrical poem that was inspired by and describes the poet’s trip to Lyonnesse, the mythical birthplace of Sir Tristam who was an Arthurian knight. In reality the trip was made by the young poet to restore a church.