“The Scholar Gipsy” as a Pastoral Elegy. 

Answer

 Discuss “The Scholar Gipsy” as a pastoral elegy. 

The pastoral elegy is a poem about both death and idyllic rural life, often featuring shepherds. Matthew Arnold’s (1822-1888) poem “The Scholar Gipsy” (1853) is a pastoral elegy. It is set in the countryside around Oxford. The poem tells the story of an Oxford scholar who leaves academic life to live with a group of gypsies. 

The Story of the Scholar: “The Scholar Gipsy” begins with the speaker addressing a shepherd. The author asks him to rest while he recounts the tale of the scholar. The story is derived from Joseph Glanvill’s book. It  tells of a poor Oxford student who is tired of the competitive and superficial life at the university. He hopes to learn their secrets and achieve a higher understanding. Arnold writes,

 The story of the Oxford scholar poor, …

Who tired of knocking at preferment’s door, 

One summer morn forsook 

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

These lines highlight the scholar’s intelligence and his dissatisfaction with conventional paths to success. This  leads to his decision to seek wisdom elsewhere.

The Scholar’s Pursuit: The scholar’s quest for knowledge and truth is a central theme in the poem. Arnold portrays him as a figure of pure dedication, untainted by the distractions of modern life. The scholar’s life is depicted as one of singular purpose, in stark contrast to the fragmented lives of others. Arnold writes, 

For early didst thou leave the world, with powers 

Fresh, undiverted to the world without, 

Firm to their mark, not spent on other things.

This emphasizes the scholar’s commitment and the clarity of his purpose. It  sets him apart from those who are constantly distracted and unsure.

Encounters with the Scholar: Throughout the poem, various encounters with the scholar are recounted. He is seen in different rural settings, always solitary and introspective. These sightings contribute to the sense of the scholar as a