Assignment task: Dover Beach
In Arnold's "Dover Beach," what is the opening scene like? How does it change? Is there any reason for this change? How does he set himself outside society?
He imagines a moment in the past when the "sea of faith" was full? When was this? Does he miss this or does he like it better in the present? Does "Faith" have to refer to religion? Could there be other kinds of faith that are declining as well?
Does this seem like the kind of poem someone would write before a honeymoon? Does this affect our interpretation of it? What does the last stanza do? Why the turn to the lover?