 For much of this poem 's history , readers viewed Ulysses as resolute and heroic , admiring him for his determination " To strive , to seek , to find , and not to yield " . The view that Tennyson intended a heroic character is supported by his statements about the poem , and by the events in his life — the death of his closest friend — that prompted him to write it . In the twentieth century , some new interpretations of " Ulysses " highlighted potential ironies in the poem . They argued , for example , that Ulysses wishes to selfishly abandon his kingdom and family , and they questioned more positive assessments of Ulysses ' character by demonstrating how he resembles flawed protagonists in earlier literature . 
 For much of this poem <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>history , readers viewed Ulysses as resolute and heroic , admiring him for his determination " To strive , to seek , to find , and not to yield " . The view that Tennyson intended a heroic character is supported by his statements about the poem , and by the events in his life — the death of his closest friend — <a href='null_relcl' title='2'><mark>that</mark></a>prompted him to write it . In the twentieth century , some new interpretations of " Ulysses " highlighted potential ironies in the poem . They argued , for example , that Ulysses <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>wishes</mark></a> to selfishly abandon his kingdom and family , and they questioned more positive assessments of Ulysses <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'</mark></a>character by demonstrating how he <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>resembles</mark></a> flawed protagonists in earlier literature . 
Fa much of dis poem  history , readers viewed Ulysses as resolute and heroic , admiring him ffahis determination " To strive , to seek , to find , and not to yield " . da view that Tennyson intended a heroic character is supported by his statements bou tdapoem , and by the events in his life — the death of his closest friend — prompted em to write it . In the twentieth century , some new interpretations of " Ulysses " highlighted potential ironies in thdaoem . They argued , for example , that Ulysses wish to selfishly abandon his kingdom and family , and they questioned more positive assessments of Ulysses  character by demonstrating how he resemble flawed protagonists in earlier literature .