Epigraphs are like little appetizers to the great entrée of a story. They illuminate important aspects of the story, and they get us headed in the right direction.
These to His Memory -- since he held them dear,
Perchance as finding there unconsciously
Some image of himself -- I dedicate,
I dedicate, I consecrate with tears,
These Idylls. (Dedication 1-4)
Tennyson published four of his idylls—“Enid,” “Vivien,” “Elaine,” and “Guinevere”—in 1859, two years before Prince Albert (Queen Victoria’s husband) died. Apparently Prince Albert loved the poems, so after his death Tennyson decided to dedicate all of them to his memory.
You might think that, being prince consort (a.k.a. husband) of the queen and all, the “image of himself” that Albert saw in them was King Arthur. But actually, as he makes clear in the rest of the 53-line dedication, Tennyson saw Albert’s image in Lancelot because of the knight’s absolute devotion to one woman—Guinevere.
The Dedication compares this to Albert’s total devotion to Queen Victoria. Of course, this comparison kind of glosses over the whole adulterous aspect of Lancelot’s love for Guinevere in favor of what’s noble and good about it: its unwavering nature. Never mind that it brought down a kingdom. And really pissed off the king.
God Save the Queen
Beyond this opening, though, the Dedication actually spends very little time talking about the poem, focusing more on whom it's to, as dedications usually do. At the end, Tennyson addresses Queen Victoria, counseling her to be strong and take comfort in the love of her family and subjects until the day she reunites with Prince Albert in heaven.
This address, and the praise the Dedication heaps upon the prince, makes it one big show. Tennyson's showing the public how much loyalty, love, and respect he's got for the royal family. As poet laureate—the “official” poet of England—that's pretty much par for the course. It was Tennyson's job to be the voice of Britain’s people. With his Dedication, he captures the sentiments many British people were no doubt feeling, thinking, and wishing they could express to the queen as the nation mourned Prince Albert’s loss.