“Dover Beach” by Mathew Arnold is a rational poem. Arnold uses an assortment of literary methods such as, visual and aural imagery, rhythm, figure of speech paradox, symbolism, and metric schemes. Each mechanism is used in an exclusive way, supporting the marvelous theme behind the poem. Arnold articulates the idea behind the poem with the use of three literary methods, aural and visual imagery and metrics. Thus, we get acquainted with the passion, thoughts and atmospheres behind the concept of Love, which is an influential and sensitive subject. The aural imagery emphasizes the visual imagery alongside the metric scheme supplying the authenticity and vision behind the meaning of Love.
First, we can see the visual imagery comprise metaphor, paradox and character. Second, the aural imagery encloses alliteration, assonance and a specific rhyme scheme. Third, the metrical scheme can be seen with quite a few rhythmical beats. The poem consists of 37 lines which are split into 4 stanzas; each stanza having a different amount of lines. Every line contains its exclusive pragmatic eccentricity that substantially mirrors the accuracy of the main theme.
Several qualities of visual imagery are recognized, such as metaphor, paradox and character. Arnold has the metaphor of the sea with the intention of conveying his manner of love to the one he loves. For example, the sea is powerfully seen in the first lines of the first stanza, thus we see “The sea is calm” “The tide is full, the moon lies fair”. The sea is primarily the touching visual image namely used in a replacement for the word “Love”. Love can be the sea, which can be calm and quiet in addition to being beautiful. Arnold uses images such as “sea”, “calm”, “full”, “gleams”, “glimmering”, “tranquil”, “sweet”, “faith”, “bright”, “naked”, “beautiful”, “joy”, “love”, “certitude”, “peace”, “pain”, “night” which can all be connected with the emotion of love, the vivid and mysteriousness behind love. Second, perceptibly is the paradox of “Dover Beach” by the different fundamentals of the poet writing about the calm sea along with the peaceful and fair moon? The paradox is the major scheme behind the poem. For example, the alterations of the sea and the lighting imply the changes in a human’s love feeling. We can see how the “sea is calm” but is destroyed by a “grating roar” meaning, love can be filled of joy as well as sorrow.
In the second stanza we see images such as “turbid ebb and flow” “human misery” and the third stanza shows a sagacity of hope and assurance with images such as “round earth’s shore”, “withdrawing roar”, “night wind” and “naked shingles” highlighting the sense of false impression vs. certainty, love can be beautiful but can can ramble into feeling lost in faith and hope. The final stanza recuperates its faith in love which has been lost “Ah, love, let us be true”. The symbols of the “sea of faith” suggest the sensitivity of the Arnold”s faith.
Quite a few examples of aural imagery can be seen. The poem goes from visual to aural imagery throughout the poem, producing the uncertainty of the false impression and actuality behind our thoughts of love. The aural and visual imagery combine as one. Arnold tried to show the assorted distinctiveness behind love. We hear the waves and see them with a dominant sight and sound. In the poem the alliteration, assonance and end rhyme have no stability. Yet, it may suggest that love is this way as well. Yet we can see that the iambic meter is most dominant.
