Dover Beach
Poetry
|
Matthew Arnold
Dover Beach Main Text
Dover Beach
By Matthew Arnold
The sea is calm tonight.
The tide is full, the moon lies fair
Upon the straits; on the French coast the light
Gleams and is gone; the cliffs of England stand,
Glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil bay.
Come to the window, sweet is the night-air!
Only, from the long line of spray
Where the sea meets the moon-blanched land,
Listen! you hear the grating roar
Of pebble...
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Dover Beach Summary
1st Stanza Summary (Lines 1–14) – Nature’s Scene and the Rise of Sadness: In the first stanza, the poet describes a peaceful and beautiful night. The sea is calm, the tide is full, and the moonlight is spread across the coasts of England and France. The waves of the sea sparkle under the moonlight. Through this tranquil scene, the poet hears a harsh sound—the waves crash onto the shore’s pebbles a...
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Dover Beach Themes
Loss of Faith: The poem talks about how people no longer believe in religion or spiritual truth as they did before. The “Sea of Faith” is going away, and this makes the speaker feel sad and alone. He misses the comfort and hope that faith once gave to people.
Sadness and Human Suffering: The sound of the sea reminds the speaker of pain and sadness in the world. He says that even the Greek writer S...
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Dover Beach Character
The Speaker: The speaker is a thoughtful man (Arnold Himself). He looks out at the sea and feels sad. He thinks about love, life, and the loss of faith in the modern world. He wants true love and honesty in a confusing and painful world.
The Beloved (the Listener): This person is the speaker’s partner (Frances Lucy Wightman). The speaker talks to her lovingly. He asks for truth and love from her....
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Dover Beach Quotations
"The Sea of Faith
Was once, too, at the full…"
Explanation: The poet wants to say that once people had deep faith in religion and spiritual truth. That faith was like a full sea, bringing peace and stability to everyone’s life. But now, that faith is slowly fading away.
“And we are here as on a darkling plain…”
Explanation: The speaker compares the condition of people to a confusing and dark plai...
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Notes
Explore 7 detailed notes related to Dover Beach. Each note provides in-depth analysis, explanations, and critical insights.