Tennyson's Idylls of the King

Katie Louise Garner

doi:10.1017/9781009031684.009

Tennyson's Idylls of the King

Katie Louise Garner

School of English

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

Abstract

This chapter traces the growth of Tennyson’s Idylls of the King from his earliest ideas for an Arthurian epic in his notebooks from the 1830s to the completion of his twelve-book epic in 1886. It examines his treatment of his Arthurian sources, most importantly Malory, and attempts to capture the reactions of nineteenth-century readers to the Idylls by drawing on a range of contemporary reviews. It is difficult to overestimate Tennyson’s role in recentring the Arthurian legend in popular consciousness, and the final section briefly explores the influence of the Idylls on aspects of Victorian popular culture.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	The Cambridge history of Arthurian literature and culture
Subtitle of host publication	Arthurian literatures and cultures: 1500 to the present
Editors	Raluca L. Radulescu, Andrew Lynch
Place of Publication	Cambridge
Publisher	Cambridge University Press
Chapter	7
Pages	166-187
Volume	2
ISBN (Electronic)	9781009031684
ISBN (Print)	9781316516010
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009031684.009
Publication status	Published - 19 Feb 2026

Keywords

Tennyson
Medievalism
Malory
Poetry
Popular culture

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10.1017/9781009031684.009

Cite this

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AB - This chapter traces the growth of Tennyson’s Idylls of the King from his earliest ideas for an Arthurian epic in his notebooks from the 1830s to the completion of his twelve-book epic in 1886. It examines his treatment of his Arthurian sources, most importantly Malory, and attempts to capture the reactions of nineteenth-century readers to the Idylls by drawing on a range of contemporary reviews. It is difficult to overestimate Tennyson’s role in recentring the Arthurian legend in popular consciousness, and the final section briefly explores the influence of the Idylls on aspects of Victorian popular culture.

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KW - Medievalism

KW - Malory

KW - Poetry

KW - Popular culture

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BT - The Cambridge history of Arthurian literature and culture

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PB - Cambridge University Press

CY - Cambridge

ER -

Tennyson's Idylls of the King

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