Tennyson uses the repeated refrain__ and his poem, tears, idle tears to help the readers understand the speaker, sadness and thinking back on past regrets and things he cannot change
The repeated refrain "tears, idle tears" serves as a lexical and rhythmic device employed by Tennyson to convey the speaker's profound sense of melancholy and reflection on the past. By repeating this refrain throughout the poem, Tennyson emphasizes the speaker's sorrowful state of mind and highlights the theme of nostalgic longing.
The word "tears" signifies a deep emotional pain or grief that the speaker experiences. However, the adjective "idle" suggests a sense of futility or purposelessness associated with these tears. This juxtaposition of intense emotion with a feeling of uselessness conveys the speaker's underlying sense of regret and the inability to change or undo past mistakes or losses.
Through the repetition of "tears, idle tears," Tennyson invites the readers to empathize with the speaker's profound sadness and the weight of unchangeable past events. It emphasizes the theme of time passing and the speaker's longing for what is lost, symbolizing the universal human experience of reflecting on the irretrievable past.
Furthermore, the refrain acts as a rhythmic anchor in the poem, creating a musical quality that accentuates the speaker's contemplative mood. The repetition of this phrase reinforces the poem's structure and helps to emphasize the central theme of longing and regret.
Overall, Tennyson's use of the repeated refrain "tears, idle tears" assists in creating a powerful emotional connection between the reader and the speaker. Through this technique, Tennyson effectively conveys the speaker's sadness and introspective contemplation of the past, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.