Summary of the poem dover beach by matthew arnold. Dover Beach Summary, Themes, and Literary Analysis 2022-10-20

Summary of the poem dover beach by matthew arnold Rating: 7,3/10 1491 reviews

Dover Beach is a poem by Matthew Arnold, written in 1851. It is a poignant and melancholic meditation on the decline of faith and the loss of spiritual connection in the modern world.

The poem begins with a description of the Dover beach at night, with the sea and the sky merging together in an endless expanse. The speaker observes the ebb and flow of the tide, and reflects on the changing nature of life and the passage of time.

The speaker then reflects on the decline of faith in the modern world, and the loss of spiritual connection that has resulted. He compares the world to a "sea of faith," which has now retreated, leaving only a "desolate shore." The speaker laments the loss of spiritual guidance and connection, and the feeling of isolation that has resulted.

The poem ends with a call to love, as the only source of solace and connection in a world that has become increasingly secular and disconnected. The speaker urges his listeners to hold onto love, and to find comfort in each other, in the face of the bleak and lonely world that surrounds them.

Overall, Dover Beach is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the theme of the loss of faith and spiritual connection in the modern world. It is a poignant reflection on the changing nature of life and the importance of love in a world that can often seem cold and disconnected.

Dover Beach Summary by Matthew Arnold: 2022

summary of the poem dover beach by matthew arnold

Literary Devices Metaphor It is a figure of speech in which a comparison is made between two different things that have something in common. In this way, the tone is peaceful and calm at the beginning and mournful at the end. Stanza 2 This is an allusion to Sophocles, a famous Greek tragic poet. It is a beautiful and evocative work that has been admired and loved by generations of readers. In the second he speaks of armies struggling ignorantly at night. The Also Read: Philomela by Matthew Arnold Summary: 2022 Some online learning platforms provide certifications, while others are designed to simply grow your skills in your personal and professional life.

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Matthew Arnold "Dover Beach"

summary of the poem dover beach by matthew arnold

Stanza 1 The sea is calm tonight. Arnold describes the difference between the appearance and reality of the Victorian world. It is fairly easily understood vocabulary, with the exception of a few words, such as cadence and darkling. A sense of doubt and despair pervaded the Victorian era, leaving man vulnerable and dejected. He says that this is a metaphor for how time takes away everything eventually. The companion, who is standing next to the speaker and gazing out over the sea, seems to be a romantic partner. Looking from this perspective, the poem starts and ends with the speaker calling his new wife.

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Choose one of the british poems below. You will come up with a...

summary of the poem dover beach by matthew arnold

In the second stanza, the characters are described using history as context. Another theme is the conflict between religion and science. As we know the poem was written during the Victorian age. For the speaker, love is the ultimate support in such a chaotic situation. It means that society acts according to the collective self-interest. It is also the setting of the poem.

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Dover Beach Summary

summary of the poem dover beach by matthew arnold

You may use Powerpoint. For when a house hath once been shaken from heaven, there the curse fails nevermore, passing from life to life of the race; even as, when the surge is driven over the darkness of the deep by the fierce breath of Thracian sea-winds, it rolls up the black sand from the depths, and there is sullen roar from wind-vexed headlands that front the blows of the storm. The first stanza starts with a calm and moonlit sea which expresses the serene and peaceful mood of the speaker. Throughout the whole poem, Arnold uses a metaphor to describe his views and opinions. The poet relates to what Greek playwright Sophocles had said about the human misery. The exclamative could suggest excitement, romance, frustration or anger at this point. He looks out upon a calm sea and examines the fullness and highness of the tide.


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Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold: Loss of True Christian Faith [SUMMARY]

summary of the poem dover beach by matthew arnold

The poet notices the White Cliffs, which are lit by the moonlight on the English coast, as the light fades. The boundaries of the world are now without the beautiful and bright covering that the sea provided once. The speaker describes seashore in the moonlight. In the first part, Arnold speaks of the resonances of sea-waves on the pebbly shore. What is the structure ofthe stanzas based on number of lines in this poem? There, the speaker sees that the lights of the French coast have faded away. The dominating and loud roar of religion is no more dominant. The scientific outlook of Victorians increased more when more genealogical discoveries were made.

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Dover Beach Summary And Analysis By Matthew Arnold • English Summary

summary of the poem dover beach by matthew arnold

Arnold begins the poem by using visual imagery about the sea and shifts to sound imagery. Arnold makes use of enjambment to present the action of sea- the beginning of waves, the coming of pebbles and then the withdrawal of the waves that leave the land barren. Stanza 3 Due to advancements in science and the increasing materialistic approach of people, faith in the religion is rapidly losing its significance. Conclusion Dover Beach is one of the most famous and beloved poems in the English language. Sophocles long ago Heard it on the Aegean, and it brought Into his mind the turbid ebb and flow Of human misery; we Find also in the sound a thought, Hearing it by this distant northern sea.

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Summary of Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold

summary of the poem dover beach by matthew arnold

You will use this analysis to introduce and explain your poem. His message in the poem is presented in the last stanza when he calls upon his companion to build a strong, faithful and honest relationship in the falling world. Now he addresses his spouse personally, as well as potentially all the remaining sincere followers of God. Though the two are in different locations at different times, they both experienced the melancholy of life when observing the waves crashing upon the shoreline. The jarring roar of the pebbles caused by the ebb and flow of the sea creates a striking contrast to the pleasant atmosphere described in the first few lines. It shows that the speaker seeks companionship. When the sea retreats, so does faith, and leaves us with nothing.

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Dover Beach Poem Summary and Analysis

summary of the poem dover beach by matthew arnold

However, it is poignant because it reveals a darker potential in the beautiful. This poem condemns the loss of faith, religion and the meaning of life resulting from the industrialization and advancement in science and technology. What natural beauty reminds us of is human misery. It becomes evident in the third verse that Arnold is talking about the dwindling faith of his fellow citizens. When everything is going perfectly, something unfortunate may happen at any given time, with no forewarning. Stanza 4— The final paragraph opens with an expression of intense despair and sorrow pent up in the mind of the speaker. Joy is followed by a transition into sadness.

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Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold: Summary and Analysis

summary of the poem dover beach by matthew arnold

This stanza is also full of religious imagery. According to the poet, in a world that has been tormented by deception, lies, and gloom, love is the ultimate truth. It is the negative effect of the loss of faith. The poem expresses the Victorian uncertainty that came from changing attitudes towards science and God though this is not explicitly mentioned. This is a poem about a sea and a beach that is truly beautiful, but holds much deeper meaning than what meets the eye.

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