Lord Alfred Tennyson was the most famous poet of the Victorian age. Ever since he was little, Alfred had an extreme interest in poetry. During his years in Cambridge University, he made many life long friends, but one in particular, Arthur Hallam was his most beloved and best friend. When Arthur died at the age of 22, Alfred was overwhelmed and therefore thrown into a state of depression. Twenty-seven years after Arthur's death, Tennyson published "In Memoriam", a poem written in memory of Arthur Hallam. In the poem lies the quote "so many worlds, so much to do, so little done, such things to be". Tennyson wrote the quote to show his regret for the early and sudden death of his best friend, Hallam, and subsequently, his life was lived up to the essence of the quote, he lived an eventful life of fame, and fortune.
             Alfred Tennyson, born on August 6, 1809 at Somersby, Lincolnshire, England, was the fourth of 12 children. At home, the children had to live on what they had. The father was an intelligent but unstable clergyman. For seven years (from 1820-1827), Alfred was home schooled by his father. Even though faced with hardship, Tennyson was able to receive a wide literary education. During his pre-teens, Tennyson had a special talent in writing poetry. He was composing styles of Pope, Scott, and Milton (well accomplished poets). At the age of 12, he composed a 6000 line epic poem, and two years later composes a play called "The Devil and the Lady".
             Having a passion for poetry, many legendary poets affected Tennyson, but the dominant influence on his poetry was Lord Byron. At the news of Byron's death in 1824 (Tennyson was 14 years old), Tennyson flung himself on the ground in a passion of grief, and carved in a sandstone, "Byron is Dead".
             In 1827, Tennyson enters Cambridge University with his brother. It is there where they published "Poems By 2 Brothers"...