In the afternoon, they came into a land In which it seemed always afternoon.

In the afternoon, they came into a land

In which it seemed always afternoon.

Answer: These excellent and remarkable lines have been taken from the famous poem, “The Lotos-Eaters” composed by Alfred Lord Tennyson, a truly dazzling star in the Victorian Period. Here the poet has painted a languid and peace-loving atmosphere of the Lotos land.

The war of Troy is over. The Greek hero Ulysses is returning home along with his fellow mariners. One day in the afternoon, they reached an island. It is a strange island. It seems always afternoon there. A strange lifestyle is seen there. On the island, the inhabitants eat a kind of fruit called lotos. They do not toil hard. They always feel sleepy. They lead their life peacefully and thoughtlessly. They only enjoy the time of leisure. They enjoy the beautiful music of the island. – The music in Lotos-land is extremely soft, sweet, and soothing. Its sound is softer than that of the falling petals of roses. This music is even softer than the sound of the little dew drops falling on the still waters of streams. The lotos-eaters lead a life of melancholy. The soldiers were tired of toiling hard. They were weak and thirsty. They felt drowsy and sleepy. They no longer wanted to toil more. The languid air is blowing all around the island.

Actually, the afternoon is the time when people generally take a rest. It is the time of sleepiness and idleness. So it symbolizes here the sweet and idle atmosphere of the island.