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Matthew Arnold Study Questions

"Dover Beach"

1. What seems to be the poem's subject? What are some features of its language and style? How does it differ from some of the poems we've read earlier?

2. What is the poem’s sequence of thought?

3. What are some implications of the opening metaphor of the sea by the French coast and cliffs of Dover? Why the reference to Sophocles? What metaphor does Arnold use to describe Victorian "Faith"? To what kinds of faith may he refer?

4. What does the speaker advocate as a refuge in a choaotic world? What effect is created by introducting the "love" in stanza 3?

5. What is the speaker's assessment of the world? How do the sounds of the last stanza reinforce its meaning?

6. What effect is created by the classical metaphor "Where ignorant armies clash by night"? What is the poem's final tone?

“The Buried Life”

1. What metaphors are used to convey Arnold’s central idea?

2. What is the poem’s sequence of thought?

3. How are stanza length, rhythm and other sound effects used to reinforce his intention? What is the effect of the frequent use of questions and exclamations?

4. What are some striking tonal features of this poem? How does it differ or resemble other Victorian poems we have read?

5. How are the concerns of this poem related to those of “Dover Beach”? What does the young poet hope may be means to authenticity of feeling, if any?

6. Do you think his poem may be read as in part a commentary aspects of Victorian society?

“Isolation: To Marguerite, Continued”

. What are the basic metaphors and images of this poem? Its use of color and sound?

2. How are its themes reflected in the arrangment of stanzas?

3. What meanings are conveyed by the poem’s startling last line?

"A Summer Night"

1. How is this poem similar in theme and style to "Dover Beach"? What are some contrasts?

2. What is the poem's initial scene, and what seems to trouble the poet? Why do you think the poet sets his meditations at night under the moonlight?

3. What are features of the poem's descriptions and language?

4. What, acording to the "moonlight," seems to be the human psychological condition? What does the speaker see as his options?

5. How do you interpret the speaker's concerns? Among other things, do they offer a critique of his society? What seems represented in the image of the "pale master on his star-strewn deck," and what seems to be the speaker's attitude towards his fate?

6. What metaphorical resolution seems provided by the final stanza? How satisfactory a resolution do you think the poet attains?

7. What is your evlaution of this poem? How does Arnold's poetry differ from that of Browning, Tennyson, EB Browning, Webster, D. Rossetti, C. Rossetti and other poets we've read?

Instructor: florence-boos@uiowa.edu
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