Thyrsis
Poetry
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Alfred Lord Tennyson
Thyrsis Main Text
Thyrsis: A Monody, to Commemorate the Author's Friend, Arthur Hugh Clough
By Matthew Arnold
How changed is here each spot man makes or fills!
In the two Hinkseys nothing keeps the same;
The village street its haunted mansion lacks,
And from the sign is gone Sibylla's name,
And from the roofs the twisted chimney-stacks—
Are ye too changed, ye hills?
See, 'tis no foot of unfamiliar men
To...
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Thyrsis Key Info
Key Facts
Author: Matthew Arnold (1822–1888)
Title of the Author:
Pessimistic poet of the Victorian Age.
The Melancholy Voice of the Victorian Age
Professor of Poetry at Oxford
Full Title:
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Thyrsis Summary
“Thyrsis” is a poem written by Matthew Arnold in memory of his dear friend Arthur Hugh Clough, who passed away in 1861 at the young age of 42. His death brought deep sorrow to Arnold. The title Thyrsis is taken from a character in an ancient Roman pastoral poem by Virgil, where Thyrsis is portrayed as a shepherd.
Background and Setting of the Poem: ...
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Thyrsis Character
The Speaker: The speaker is a young man. He thinks about his dead friend. He talks about memories and nature.
Thyrsis: Thyrsis is the dead friend. His real name is Arthur Hugh Clough. Arnold calls him Thyrsis to show respect.
The Scholar-Gipsy: The Scholar-Gipsy...
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Thyrsis Literary Device
Figures of Speech
Personification: Arnold gives human-like qualities to natural objects to show the poet’s emotional bond with the landscape.
Imagery: Imagery means using vivid and descriptive language that appeals to our senses. Arnold uses strong visual and sound imagery to create a picture of Oxf...
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Thyrsis Quotations
"For Time, not Corydon, hath conquer’d thee."Explanation: Arnold says that it was not a rival shepherd (Corydon) who defeated Thyrsis (his friend Arthur Hugh Clough), but time itself. This means that the hardships and struggles of life defeated him, not another poet.
"Too rare, too rare, grow...
Discuss the note of pessimism as reflected in Arnold's “Thyrsis”
Discuss the note of pessimism as reflected in Arnold's “Thyrsis”.
Matthew Arnold’s (1822-1888) poem “Thyrsis” (1865) 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 p...
Expand Discuss the note of pessimism as reflected in Arnold's “Thyrsis”
Comment on the ending of the poem “Thyrsis”.
Comment on the ending of the poem “Thyrsis”.
The ending of Matthew Arnold’s (1822-1888) “Thyrsis” (1865) is both sad and hopeful. Throughout the poem, the poet feels deep grief because of the death of his friend Arthur Hugh Clough, whom he calls “Thyrsis.” But in the fina...
Expand Comment on the ending of the poem “Thyrsis”.
The Transitoriness of Man-Made Things and the Permanence of Nature in 'Thyrsis'
How does Arnold represent a contrast between the transitoriness of man-made things and the permanence of nature in 'Thyrsis'?
Or, how does Arnold present the contrast between the man-made things and the objects of nature in 'Thyrsis'?
"Thyrsis" (1866) is the most celebrated elegy where Matthew Arnold (1822-88) mourns his friend Arthur Hugh Cloug...
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“Thyrsis” as an Elegy.
What is elegy? Discuss “Thyrsis” as an elegy.
An elegy is a sad poem that mourns someone’s death. It is written to express grief or sorrow. It is usually written in serious and thoughtful language. In an elegy, the poet remembers the life of the person who has died, praises their qualities, and also talks about his own feelings of loss. Elegies also inclu...
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Thyrsis Themes
Friendship and Loss: The poem is about the poet’s deep love for his friend, Arthur Hugh Clough, who has died. Arnold misses him very much and feels sad and lonely without him. He walks through the Oxford countryside, remembering their times together. The poem shows how losing a close friend can hurt for a long time.
Change and Memory:
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