Religious Doubt and the Force of Nature Christine Zopf College

Although it is commonly understood that God created the natural world, Nature is often depicted as a force working in opposition to God and His creation. In lyric 56 of the poem In Memoriam by Lord Alfred Tennyson, Nature seems to have conquered God, leading to a cold, unfeeling world that shows no remorse for creation. This depiction, which today can be supported by evidence of mass extinction throughout history, presents an interesting way to view the way in which God and the world interact. Within this lyric, the speaker of the poem concludes that God is absent, leaving Nature’s ruthlessness to determine that fate of mankind.

In Memoriam is a poem written by Lord Alfred Tennyson as a eulogy for the death of his friend and brother-in-law to be, Arthur Hallam, who died at the age of 22 (Robson 1186). The poem, which mimics the stages of grief, can be divided into four sections: despair, doubt, hope, and faith (Caleb 3/3/2016). Lyric 56 falls into the second stage of the grieving process and focuses on religious doubt. The rhyme scheme of this poem is ABBA, which enfolds the reader into the poem. This rhyme scheme also creates a monotonous droning, which is characteristic of grieving because when one grieves, everyday...