Today the poetry of Alfred Lord Tennyson is widely known and appreciated, although this was not always the case. In his early years of writing his poems were criticized for their content and writing style. This had a strong impact on Tennyson and forced him to stop writing for nine years. Tennyson's childhood influenced his writing and this is often seen in many of his poems. He was considered the main representative of the Victorian age in poetry. He became Poet Laureate in 1850 and was appointed by Queen Victoria and served for 42 years. Alfred Lord Tennyson's poetry was heavily influenced by his early childhood, his best friend, and his religious beliefs; while his rhyme scheme was traditional; his morbid style was not popular for his time. This melancholy style of writing and use of arguments from moral and intellectual beliefs of his time were particularly vulnerable to later critics. Tennyson's life at home was not always happy. His father, George, began tutoring Tennyson after four unhappy years of school. George taught his children in classical and modern languages. However, George, along with some of Tennyson's brothers, suffered from fits of epilepsy. One of Tennyson's brothers had violent arguments with their father, one was committed to an asylum later in life, and yet another became an opium addict. George often suffered from depression and his drinking led him to become violent, violent and paranoid. “Tennyson's grandfather named his uncle his heir, and his father was placed in the ministry.” (The Victorian Web) This large difference in money between his family and that of his uncles led Tennyson to worry about money throughout his life. In 1827 Tennyson left home in hopes of a better life. Followed by two of his older... mid-writings... very engaging. Alfred Lord Tennyson's poetry was greatly influenced by his environment. His father was a priest who later in life suffered from epilepsy and fell into bouts of alcoholism and depression. His close friend and brother-in-law Hallam died suddenly, leaving Tennyson hurt and deeply saddened. His wife Emily Sellwood's family annulled the marriage when he lost his money, then rearranged it when he became a well-known writer. Somewhere in each of Tennyson's poems you will find an example of his life, or his feelings about his life and events. "TS Eliot called him 'the great master of meter as well as melancholy' and that he possessed the finest ear of any English poet since Milton." (Online literature) Despite Tennyson's family history of poor health, he lived a long life and died at the age of 83 in October 6, 1892