Explications from Idylls of the King

  

(Dedication)

We have lost him: he is gone:
We know him now: all narrow jealousies
Are silent; and we see him as he moved,
How modest, kindly, all-accomplished, wise,
With what sublime repression of himself,
And in what limits, and how tenderly;
Not swaying to this faction or to that;

Death of King Arthur

Tennyson wrote the end of his poem at the beginning. In this excerpt from the dedication of his epic, he enumerates qualities which Arthur possessed. Tennyson's Arthur is of course the Victorian ideal for men. Extremely capable but yet not imposing, with his "sublime repression of himself". He knew his capacity but chose to be a benevolent king instead of a despot. He is a fine model of self-awareness, being unswayable by thoughts of the day, and demonstrating a judgement that encompassed time. In essence, this is the summary of what a Victorian man aspired to be.

The Coming of Arthur

For many a petty king ere Arthur came

Ruled in this isle, and ever waging war

Each upon other, wasted all the land

Another aspect of Victorian masculinity includes an idea of Nationalism and Empire. Arthur set the example of what to do with warring states. By unifying the Britons (like the only historical source, Gildas, said he did at the battle of Badon Hill) he created stability. The Victorian's were in a similar state but on a larger scale. As the British empire expanded there was a sense of historical justification, because the idea was to spread prosperity rather than oppression. That of course is a discussion for a different project, but it is not wholly irrelevant to the marriage of Victorian masculinity to Medieval perceptions.

(Also from The Coming of Arthur)

"Man's word is God in man;
Let chance what will, I trust thee to the death."

This quote speaks to the ideal of inherent nobility. There is an expectation for men to act chivalrous. Not that chivalry was ever practiced according to the Victorian ideal in the Medieval age, but due to the romanticism attached with their medieval fascination the Victorians included this nuance to the tradition of chivalry. It was important for the nobility to feel that theirs was an heavenly calling to be better than the peasantry, rather than just beneficiaries of fortune. Because the notion of nobility was so pervasive in England, it was important for there to be restrictions on their behavior. Therefore, it was a smart move to include chivalry to their image of nobility.