The Sea Is Calm Tonight

Dover Beach BY MATTHEW ARNOLD

The sea is calm tonight. The tide is full, the moon lies fair Upon the straits; on the French coast the light Gleams and is gone; the cliffs of England stand, Glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil bay. Come to the window, sweet is the night-air! Only, from the long line of spray Where the sea meets the moon-blanched land, Listen! you hear the grating roar Of pebbles which the waves draw back, and fling, At their return, up the high strand, Begin, and cease, and then again begin, With tremulous cadence slow, and bring The eternal note of sadness in.

Sophocles long ago Heard it on the Ægean, and it brought Into his mind the turbid ebb and flow Of human misery; we Find also in the sound a thought, Hearing it by this distant northern sea.

The Sea of Faith Was once, too, at the full, and round earth’s shore Lay like the folds of a bright girdle furled. But now I only hear Its melancholy, long, withdrawing roar, Retreating, to the breath Of the night-wind, down the vast edges drear And naked shingles of the world. Ah, love, let us be true To one another! for the world, which seems To lie before us like a land of dreams, So various, so beautiful, so new, Hath really neither joy, nor love, nor light, Nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain; And we are here as on a darkling plain Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight, Where ignorant armies clash by night.

Activity Steps for Critical Analysis: 1. We will be in 3 Groups to research the poem. You may use the internet to help in your analysis; some helpful websites include: poetryfoundation.org; victorianweb.org

- Group 1 will analyze Literary Devices – What are the key literary devices and effects of the poem and how do they add meaning?

- Group 2 will analyze Historical Context – What is the important historical and biographical data related to this poem and poet?

- Group 3 will analyze Critical Reception – What are various interpretations of this poem from literary critics?

- ALL GROUPS will also analyze Personal Response – What are your visceral (instinctual rather than intellectual) reactions to this poem? Why?

2. Each group will research and discuss their findings on their assigned topic. Each member of each group will also share their Personal Responses and the group will discuss.

3. When your group feels confident in your research and discussion of the research and Personal Response, each group member will write a detailed summary of the discussion in their journals. Each group member should record the group’s findings in both the assigned topic (Literary Devices, Historical Context, or Critical Reception) and in the Personal Response for the individual and/or the entire group 4. We will now move into mixed groups. In your mixed groups, you will act as a representative of your topic. Each group member will share their findings. The group will discuss its thoughts and reactions and agree upon the important information in each of the four categories/topics.

5. The group will then create a visual of the poem analysis where accurate research/information on all four categories/topics is shown. It is up to the group how the visual is structured (diagram, flow chart, table chart, etc.)

6. We will post the visuals around the room and peruse.