“And we are here as on a darkling plain”
Dover Beach is a notable literary work by Matthew Arnold. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Dover Beach.
Answer
Explain with reference: “And we are here as on a darkling plain / Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight, / Where ignorant armies clash by night.
These lines are from Matthew Arnold’s (1822-1888) famous poem “Dover Beach,” published in 1867. In this poem, the poet talks about the loss of faith in the modern world.
In these lines, Arnold compares the modern world to a “darkling plain.” The word darkling means dark or full of darkness. He says that we (the people of the modern world) are standing on a dark plain, where we do not know what is happening around us.
There is no clear direction, no light, and no peace. People are full of fear, doubt, and confusion. Life is full of “confused alarms of struggle and flight”. This means that people are always fighting, running, or escaping, but they do not know why. They are afraid and lost. This is because they have lost their faith in God and religion.
The poet then gives a strong image. He says that on the dark field, the armies are fighting against each other. But they do not know why they are fighting and killing. They cannot see clearly and do not even know who their enemy is. This is a symbol of the modern world, where there is no clear truth or belief. People only argue and fight without understanding.
In essence, these lines show the poet’s deep sadness. He feels the world is full of darkness, confusion, and fear. People have lost faith, peace, and understanding. The poet wants us to see this and hold on to true love as our only hope.