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The two poems, To An Athlete Dying Young and Ulysses, both address the concept of time as their theme however, Housman's poem is about a boy who lives too short and Lord Tennyson poem is about a man who lives too long. In second person using formal diction, Housman attempts to justify a young boy dying young after achieving greatness - the athlete dies before his glory fades. Lord Tennyson wrote Ulysses in first person with a more natural tone to expand on a mans once heroic ability and great strength that fade with age. The retired hero, Odysseus, must watch himself demise as a weak old man whereas the young athlete never had or has to experience such a defeat. In both proems, time is devastating, but the damage time brings upon Odysseus - faded glory - contrasts with the young athletes life being cut too short.