Mockery and “Mocked Heroism” in Tennyson’s “Gareth and Lynette”

Abstract This article reexamines how Tennyson’s depiction of mockery and self-mockery in “Gareth and Lynette” contributes to the idyll’s theme of illusion and reality and reshapes the mock-heroic tradition. Reworking Malory’s narrative, Tennyson highlights the role of mockery as a way of action amid uncertainty and crisis as he has Gareth take on a humble disguise voluntarily and insist on defining reality with deed. Gareth responds to Lynette’s mockery with action, confronts failure with self-mockery, and finally mocks the mockery of Death. Rather than view Tennyson’s use of mockery and disguise as inherently dangerous or ironic, this article argues that mockery is a crucial part of Tennyson’s response to the doubtful spirit of his age. For the poet, mockery wields a constructive power that nourishes a new kind of “mocked heroism”: it invigorates one’s spirit and strengthens one’s resolve in the face of difficulties; it provides a critical distance for one’s agency in the face of uncertainties and failure; and it reveals the possibility of defining reality with action.