Question

What does the phrase “Sea of Faith” symbolize in the poem?

• A. The abundance of natural beauty
• B. The rise of scientific knowledge
• C. A time when religious faith enveloped the world
• D. The dangers of the sea

Answer 1

Answer:

C. A time when religious faith enveloped the world

The Sea of Faith metaphorically represents an earlier time when religious belief was strong and surrounded humanity like a protective girdle. The speaker mourns its “melancholy, long, withdrawing roar,” signifying the retreat of faith in an age of doubt and scientific progress.