In this excerpt from "Dover Beach" by Matthew Arnold, which two lines or sets of lines suggest that the speaker has undergone a

Question

2 months ago

16

In this excerpt from "Dover Beach" by Matthew Arnold, which two lines or sets of lines suggest that the speaker has undergone a

loss of faith?
The Sea of Faith
Was once, too, at the full, and round earth's shore

A.
Lay like the folds of a bright girdle furled.

B.
But now I only hear
Its melancholy, long, withdrawing roar,

Retreating, to the breath

C.
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

D.
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;

E.
And we are here as on a darkling plain
Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight,

Where ignorant armies clash by night.

English

2 answers:

seraphim [7.4K] · Answer 1 · 2026-03-24T20:27:34+03:00

Answer:

The lines that indicate the speaker has experienced a loss of faith include:

B.

But now I merely hear

Its sorrowful, prolonged, receding roar,[ [TAG_12]]

Receding, to the breath

E.

And here we are on a darkling plain

Swept by mixed alarms of conflict and flight,[ [TAG_20]]

Where unaware armies clash through the night.

Explanation:

These lines suggest a loss of faith due to the choice of words used, such as "melancholy", "darkling plain", "clash by night". All these expressions convey a sense of despair and a lack of hope from the speaker, establishing the tone of the poem.

Bond [7.5K] · Answer 2 · 2026-03-24T20:31:43+03:00

Answer:E. And we are here as on a darkling plain

Engulfed in chaotic alarms of struggle and flight,

Where oblivious armies clash by night.

D. To lie before us resembling a dreamland,

So diverse, so lovely, so fresh,

Hath truly neither joy, nor affection, nor brightness,

Nor certainty, nor tranquility, nor relief for pain;

Explanation:

In "Dover Beach", Arnold employs numerous tones throughout his depiction. This serves to enhance the connection between the sea and faith regarding their impact on humanity. Nonetheless, while the tone fluctuates, the underlying message remains intact. The poet utilizes metaphors to heighten drama for the audience.

Initially, the poem starts with a peaceful rhythm before transitioning to a foreboding tone. This suggests that the poet's message is unconventional and devoid of rhyme.