Tennyson

There was something very intriguing to me about Tennyson’s “The Kraken.” At first glance, I was very excited to see a poem about a sea monster. What could be more exciting? However at a deeper look, Tennyson seems to b making an interesting theological comment. After a lengthy description of the monster and his habitat, Tennyson says the creature will remain in the deep “Until the latter fire shall heat the deep; / Then once by men and angels to be seen, / In roaring he shall rise and on the surface die” (586; ll.13-15). This seems to me to bring to light what might happen on the Judgment Day. There are many things on this Earth that people do not understand, but that will not matter after the Judgment Day. No only will the answers to these questions be seen by men and angels, but these questions will find their deaths in this eternal resolution. It is somewhat of a comforting message (of course this follows a very suspenseful and frightening description of the mysterious creature) that is presented in “The Kraken.” The world is indeed filled with mysteries, but all of these mysteries will be solved by the All-Mighty on the Judgment Day and the answers will be given to all believers. The Kraken could also represent the many problems and conflicts in this world that will be solved by God on the last day. Once God calls an end to the world, none of these issues will be relevant any more and the Kraken “shall rise and on the surface die” (586; ll. 15).