Who is Ulysses in the Tennyson poem, "Ulysses"?

Literature is derived from other literature. This is the
case for your Ulysses in Alfred, Lord Tennyson's "Ulysses". This Ulysses is based on the
character originally created by Homer in The Illiad and
The Odyssey. He was a great greek king who fought heroically and
with great military strategy. Known for a close relationship with the gods, we see his
character reappear in Dante's Inferno. Although Homer in his tale
sends Ulysses home, Dante makes him remain in the Land of the Dead. Dante paints a
picture of himself in discussion with Ulysses over the abuse of
power.

Finally we learn that Tennyson's Ulysses never took
Dante's route, but after he arrived back in Ithaca was bored, unfulfilled and
dissatified. Although his wife had waited for him all those years, she is now not as
intriguing to him, nor is the power of a throne.

His
character is still the heroic leader and cheerleader of his troops, but here we see him
long for adventure, even adventure that risks his life.