“Dover Beach” by Matthew ArnoldGillian WagnerCorwin EdwardsPeriod 6

Brief Paraphrase

The lyrical poem “Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold begins by highlighting the bright, beautiful aspects that life can bring when he has a couple together looking out at the ocean (extended metaphor) . The speaker begins to realize that life is full of sadness, when he reflects upon the world that came before him and how that led to the hopelessness and misery that surrounds them in the present day. He concludes by saying that they need to try to remain faithful to one another, even though they exist in a world that is like a battlefield, a place where hopelessness exists with only the slightest bit of happiness.

Literary Time

PeriodThis poem was written during the Victorian time period.

Arnold wrote this around the time that England was colonizing all over the world, leaving him on the brink between the old world and the new.

Arnold wrote “Dover Beach” in the lyric style of poetry.

The way that this poem was written demonstrates the struggles and the changes that Arnold was experiencing in his own life.

Style of Poetry

Stanza 1 Annotated

The tone of this stanza is tranquil.

Stanza 2 Annotated

The tone of this stanza is melancholy.

Stanza 3 Annotated

The tone of this stanza is hopeless.

Stanza 4 Annotated

The tone of this stanza is grim.

Theme of “Dover Beach”

Life is grim and hopeless, despite moments of light and happiness.

How does the author reinforce meaning through his use of figurative language, tone, structure, and other literary features?

Essay Prompt

Possible AP Essay Organization

Thesis: Matthew Arnold uses a variety of literary devices to show how life is grim and hopeless, despite moments of light and happiness.

Topic Sentence 1: The poem begins with a happy couple on a beach who start to realize that life is made up of brief moments of joy but prolonged periods of sadness.

Topic Sentence 2: The tone shifts from one of tranquility to one of melancholy when the speaker begins to reflect on life and the misery of past generations.

Topic Sentence 3: The poem returns to the present as the speaker realizes that life’s miseries will be around eternally making him want to treasure the precious time he has with his love.

Works Cited

Cummings, Michael J. "Dover Beach : Analysis." Dover Beach : Analysis. 1 Jan. 2005. Web. 20 Jan. 2015. <http://cummingsstudyguides.net/Guides2/Dover.html>.

Shmoop Editorial Team. "Dover Beach Analysis." Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 20 Jan. 2015.

Annotated Poems