1. Nostalgic and Romantic: Pound evokes a longing for a past age of chivalry and honor, often expressed through vivid imagery of knights, battles, and grand castles. He romanticizes this idealized past, even as he acknowledges its violent realities.
2. Defiant and Rebellious: The speaker expresses disdain for modern life and its perceived lack of purpose and meaning. He embraces a wandering, individualistic spirit, rejecting societal expectations and embracing a more primal, instinctual existence.
3. Melancholy and Reflective: The poem delves into the speaker's disillusionment with the present and the yearning for something more authentic. This creates a wistful, melancholic undertone.
4. Assertive and Proud: Even in his disillusionment, the speaker maintains a sense of self-assuredness and pride. He celebrates his own strength and independence, rejecting the limitations of modern society.
5. Ironical and Sardonic: Pound employs humor and irony to critique the hypocrisy of the modern world. He contrasts the idealized past with the brutal realities of the present, creating a sense of satire.
6. Elevated and Lyrical: The language is often highly poetic and evocative, with rich imagery and rhythm. This elevates the poem beyond simple narrative, giving it a lyrical quality.
Overall, "Sestina: Tramp-Royal" creates a powerful and complex portrait of a restless, disillusioned individual who seeks meaning and purpose in a world he finds lacking. The tone oscillates between yearning, defiance, irony, and melancholy, capturing the complex emotions of a man grappling with the tension between past and present.