Discuss the note of pessimism as reflected in Arnold's Thyrsis Matthew Arnold s - poem Thyrsis is a sad and thoughtful elegy He writes it to mourn the death of his friend Arthur Hugh Clough whom he calls Thyrsis in the poem The poem is full of pessimism which means a feeling that life is full of loss pain and disappointment Death and Change The poet feels deep sorrow because his friend is dead He remembers the happy days they spent together in the Oxford countryside but now everything is changed He feels the darkness of life coming closer as time passes Change in Nature and Life Arnold also notices how the landscape has changed The trees flowers and fields that were once full of joy now seem empty He says even nature no longer brings comfort He misses the old days and feels lost in the present Weakness of