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“Ulysses” is a poem about a man who has, over many years, defined himself has a distinct individual in his society in many ways. Ulysses is above the normal run of people. He is a great king, a natural leader, and a born quester and adventurer. In this poem, he tells his story, and lets us, the reader, see just how extraordinary and unique he really was. We are introduced to Ulysses as a king in the very first line. The way the poem starts gives an instant impression of the stature and individuality of the man. He doesn’t dwell on the position of king for even a second, instead sweeping straight on to the next line, almost as if it is meaningless in the scheme of his life. When he is talking in the poem, Ulysses is already an old man. He has, since youth, gone on missions of extraordinary bravery, for years at a time. Travel and discovery is all he has known, and all he wants to know. As he recounts in the poem, he has learned and suffered greatly, both with others and alone. He has seen a great deal of things and become a part of it all. Through the many, many years, Ulysses has forged a distinct name for himself, by “always roaming with a hungry heart”. Ulysses has defined himself as an individual within