What is the poem “Dover Beach” about? 

Answer

What is the poem “Dover Beach” about? 

“Dover Beach” (1867) by Matthew Arnold (1822-1888) is a sad and thoughtful poem. It talks about the loss of faith in the modern world. The poet looks at the sea and thinks about how life has changed. People no longer believe in religion and truth as they did before. He feels very lonely and upset about the world.

Sea and Sadness: The poem starts with a beautiful description of the sea. The poet says,

“The sea is calm tonight.”

The moon is shining, the waves are moving slowly, and the air is sweet. But this peaceful scene is broken by the “grating roar” of pebbles. The pebbles are being taken back and forth by the waves. The poet thinks it creates a sad sound. He feels sorrow and thinks this sorrow is always present in the world.

Sadness in Human Life: Arnold remembers the Greek writer Sophocles, who also heard this sad sound long ago. It reminded him of human suffering. Arnold says that people still feel the same sadness even today. The sea becomes a symbol of human pain and loss.

Loss of Faith: The poet talks about the “Sea of Faith”. He says:

“The Sea of Faith 

Was once, too, at the full…”

The sea of faith was once full, but now it is not the same. This means that in the past, people had strong faith in God and religion. But now people have lost their faith, and they are in darkness. There is no hope, no joy, and no peace.

The Poet’s Hope in Love: Even though the world is full of pain, the poet asks his beloved to be true to each other. He says love is the only thing that can give meaning in a dark and hopeless world.

In fine, “Dover Beach” is a poem about faith, sadness, and love. It shows how modern