Matthew Arnold
Text Analysis
Theme
The theme is the central message of a work. Matthew Arnold’s themes often reflect his
concerns about Victorian society. The following elements can contribute to a poem’s theme.
• Mood: the atmosphere that the author creates for the reader. The mood can remain the
same or change during a poem.
• Imagery and figurative language: details that create vivid mental pictures, appeal to the
senses, and help readers understand ideas by making comparisons
• Allusions: references to people, places, or literary works
Directions: Record the key moods, imagery, figurative language, and allusions in each poem.
Then use your notes to write a sentence stating the theme of each poem.
“Dover Beach”
Imagery and
Figurative Language
Mood
Allusions
Theme
“To Marguerite—Continued”
Imagery and
Figurative Language
Mood
Allusions
Theme
Analyze Speaker
The speaker of a poem is the voice that “talks” to the reader. In each of these poems, Arnold
adopts the persona of a specific speaker. You can analyze poetic speakers by asking yourself
specific questions about the speaker’s point of view, state of mind, and attitude.
Directions: Complete the charts to analyze the speaker of each poem. Record your thoughts as
well as evidence from the text that supports your reactions.
“Dover Beach”
Questions About the Speaker My Thoughts
Whom is he addressing?
Where does he seem to be?
What is his state of mind?
Does his attitude change over
the course of the poem? If so,
how?
“To Marguerite—Continued”
Questions About the Speaker
Whom is he addressing?
Where does he seem to be?
What is his state of mind?
Does his attitude change over
My Thoughts
Evidence from the Text
Evidence from the Text
the course of the poem? If so,
how?