Ulysses and the New Critics

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/174659

I have a question about this poem. How far could we make a connection between Odysseus between this and other works, particularly the Odyssey and Dante's reimagining of the character?

I guess this is the problem with the New Critics is that if you take their theory to the extreme wouldn't you technically have to imagine that this character isn't connected to any other work.

That being said it is also problematic to just read this poem solely in the context of Homer and Dante because Tennyson is also revising the character in someway.