“The sea is calm tonight.”

But soon, the sound of the waves makes the poet sad. He feels that human life is full of pain. He remembers the Greek writer Sophocles. Long ago, Sophocles also heard the sound of the sea and thought about human misery. Sophocles also heard:

“The turbid ebb and flow
Of human misery.”

This shows that pain and sorrow are not new. But in Arnold’s time, suffering feels worse because people have lost religious faith.

Arnold compares religious faith to a sea. In the past, faith was strong and comforting. But now the “Sea of Faith” is going away. Faith is withdrawing and leaving the world bare and unsafe. In such a world, Arnold believes that love is the only support. He asks his beloved to remain true to each other. Love becomes the only hope in a faithless world.

Imagery and Symbols: The poem is rich in imagery and symbols. The sea is the most important image. At first, it looks calm and beautiful. But later, its sound becomes sad. It means the world is full of sadness because of the crisis of faith.

The “Sea of Faith” is a powerful symbol. It stands for religious belief. Arnold writes:

“The Sea of Faith
Was once, too, at the full.”

Arnold compares religious faith to a sea that once covered the whole world. In the past, faith was strong and comforting. But now, that sea is going away. Faith is no longer strong.

The image of the “darkling plain” at the end is also very important. It shows a world full of confusion, fear, and struggle. People are like soldiers fighting at night without knowing why. This symbol clearly shows the spiritual confusion of modern society.

Form, Meter, Rhyme Scheme: “Dover Beach” is a free-form lyric. It does not follow a regular rhyme scheme. The lines vary in length. It has 4 stanzas of varying length. This irregular form reflects the uncertainty and confusion of the modern world. The rhythm of the poem rises and falls like the waves of the sea.

Language and Tone: The language of the poem is simple, clear, and serious. Arnold does not use difficult words. His language is calm but deeply emotional. The tone of the poem changes as it progresses.

At first, the tone is peaceful and gentle. Then it becomes sad and thoughtful. In the end, the tone turns serious and urgent. When Arnold says:

“Ah, love, let us be true
To one another!”

Then, the tone becomes personal and emotional. This direct appeal makes the poem very touching and sincere.

In conclusion, “Dover Beach” is a great poem of the Victorian age. Through beautiful imagery, symbols, and simple language, Matthew Arnold shows the loss of faith and spiritual emptiness of modern life. At the same time, he offers love as the only comfort in a troubled world. These make “Dover Beach” a timeless and powerful poem.