Comment on the Elegiac Note in Arnold’s Poetry

Answer

Comment on the elegiac note in Arnold’s poetry. 

Matthew Arnold (1822-1888) was a notable English poet and critic. His work often explored themes of culture, society, and the men’s place within it. Arnold’s poetry is known for its reflective and contemplative nature. Two of his poems, “The Scholar-Gypsy” (1853) and “Thyrsis” (1866), particularly highlight his use of elegiac tones to explore themes of loss and longing.

The Loss of Idealism: In “The Scholar-Gypsy,” Arnold expresses an elegiac tone through the loss of the idealistic pursuit. The scholar abandons Oxford to join a group of gypsies. He  symbolizes a quest for truth that contrasts with the superficiality of modern life. Arnold says, 

One summer-morn forsook

His friends, and went to learn the gipsy-lore,…

But came to Oxford and his friends no more.

The elegiac note here is expressed through the contrast between the eternal quest of the scholar and the transient nature of contemporary society.

The Passing of Time: In “Thyrsis,” Arnold directly addresses the passage of time and its impact on both his personal life and the broader world. The poem is an elegy for his friend Arthur Hugh Clough. Arnold writes, 

Here came I often, often, in old days—

Thyrsis and I; we still had Thyrsis then.

The elegiac tone in this poem is evident in Arnold’s reflections on how time has changed the landscape and his own experiences. 

Nostalgia for the Past: Both poems (earlier discussed) convey a strong sense of nostalgia for a past. In “The Scholar-Gypsy,” Arnold contrasts the scholar’s timeless quest with the world of men. This nostalgia is a form of elegy for a past ideal that cannot be recaptured. Similarly, in “Thyrsis,” Arnold reflects on the idealized pastoral world. He expresses a deep sense of loss for the simpler, more beautiful world of the past.

The Role of Nature: Nature plays a significant role in conveying the elegiac tone in both poems. In “The Scholar-Gypsy,”