Question

What is the central metaphor in the third stanza of Dover Beach?

• A. The "Sea of Faith"
• B. The 'Wave of Doubt'
• C. The 'Ocean of Despair'
• D. The 'Shore of Hope'

Answer 1

Answer:

A. The "Sea of Faith"

• In the third stanza of Dover Beach, Matthew Arnold introduces the central metaphor of the poem: the "Sea of Faith."

• This metaphor represents the strength and presence of religious faith in the past, which once enveloped the world like a protective "bright girdle."

• However, the speaker laments that this "Sea of Faith" is now retreating, much like the tide withdrawing from the shore.

• This symbolizes the decline of religious belief in the face of scientific advancements and growing skepticism during the Victorian era.