Analysis Of Matthew Arnolds Dover Beach English Literature Essay

July 27, 2017 English Literature

Matthew Arnold ‘s “ Dover Beach ” can frequently deceive readers into believing that the talker is really unagitated and content. However, if we dissect and examine the verse form carefully, we notice that the Arnold concerns about life and its significance. The temper of the verse form alterations from one of repose to one of unhappiness. Arnold creates the temper by using different types of imagination, descriptive adjectives, similes, and metaphors. Using these literary elements, he portrays a adult male standing in forepart of a window chew overing about the sound of the pebbles fliping on the shore as the tide goes out. Throughout the verse form, the poet seems to be afraid of what the universe is going. From the literary devices that Arnold employs, the audience may detect what precisely he is afraid of. In “ Dover Beach, ” Matthew Arnold expresses his fright of neglecting to happen significance in adult male, nature, and faith.

Arnold ‘s description of the sea and the realistic scene around him conveys his uncertainness about nature. Although the verse form begins with apparently positive enunciation in the first stanza, the temper rapidly alterations as the talker uses manys more negative words. After first depicting the milieus as “ gleaming ” and “ tranquil, ” ( line 5 ) Arnold starts to use adjectives such as “ grating ” and “ quavering ” ( line 12 ) . Throughout the remainder of the verse form, he describes the landscape and nature in a demoralizing manner. Arnold does indicate out some of nature ‘s attractive qualities ; nevertheless, he indicates that nature ‘s beauty barely conceals its darkness and somberness. For illustration, when he writes, “ for the universe, which seems / To lie before us like a land of dreams, ” he makes usage of the word “ seems ” to connote that the universe is non ever what it appears to be ( lines 30-31 ) . He proceeds to explicate that the universe “ Hath truly neither joy, nor love, nor light, / Nor cocksureness, nor peace, nor aid for hurting ; ” ( lines 33-34 ) . He calls attending to everything that incorrect with the nature and the universe. The last three lines of the verse form give the reader the thought that Arnold is afraid of what will go on to this universe ; he writes, “ And we are here as on a darkling field ” ( line 35 ) . He seems to be afraid that we are on this universe in the dark ; non even nature can steer us.

Arnold ‘s description of the sea and his usage of similes exemplify his apprehensiveness refering the human status. The verse form ends with a three-line simile that most likely refers to a conflict that occurred more than two thousand old ages ago. The conflict occurred on a “ darkling field ” in Sicily where the encroachers became so confused by the darkness that they slaughtered many of their ain work forces ( line 35 ) . Matthew Arnold alludes to a atrocious event where work forces killed their brethren ; he expresses his belief that the human status is neglecting. It seems that he fears worlds are going “ nescient ground forcess, ” neglecting to recognize who is a friend and who is a enemy ( line 37 ) . In other parts of the verse form, Arnold describes the sea and the shoreline. He uses descriptive adjectives and imagination to exemplify what the sea looks and sounds like ; nevertheless, the beach seems to be wholly au naturel and without human being. The lone intimation of humanity is “ on the Gallic seashore the light / Gleams and is gone ” ( lines 3-4 ) . The talker ‘s failure to advert any being of world on the beach seems to bespeak that he is withdrawn from humanity. Arnold ‘s allusions and similes show his fright of neglecting to happen any significance in world.

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Throughout his verse form “ Dover Beach, ” Matthew Arnold conveys his fright of neglecting to happen any significance in the major facets of life. In the verse form, the talker foremost looks to nature for comfort and reassurance, but is left with and nothingness. He seems to believe that nature has a few beautiful facets that fail to cover its glumness. The talker so turns to faith and realizes that the religion the universe has is decreasing wholly. Without religion, joy and love may discontinue to be. Finally, the talker examines world and the current human status. It seems that he thinks we are all “ nescient ground forcess ” lost in a “ darkling field. ” At first glimpse, this verse form may look tempting and delicious ; nevertheless, with farther guess it seems to hold a much more cheerless temper. Basically, Matthew Arnold hunts for some of import significance in his life, but is fearful that he may come up short.

Work Cited

Arnold, Matthew. “ Dover Beach. ” The Norton Anthology: English Literature. Ed. Stephen

Greenblatt and M.H. Abrams. 8th erectile dysfunction. New York: W.W. Norton & A ; Company, Inc. , 2006.



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