After reading “Dover Beach,” a poem by Matthew Arnold, the importance of imagery within the poem became very apparent. While each stanza carries imagery, it is used quite often within the first stanza. While both sound and sight imagery are used, each is used to convey a certain purpose or illustrate a different meaning. Positive descriptions, such as “glimmering,” “vast,” and “gleaming” portray a peaceful, beautiful place where people would want to be. However, when the sound imagery is introduced, it takes on a much more negative tone. Words such as “grating roar” and “tremulous cadence” add a much more eerie and unpleasant tone to the poem. Furthermore, it is this shift in the tone of imagery that connects this first stanza to the rest. Arnold writes, “…and bring the eternal note of sadness in,” portraying the sadness associated with what he is about to mention (Arnold, 892). As the poem discusses the world’s loss of faith, the transition of imagery reflects this. The positive sight imager reflects how, in the past, everyone was faithful and happy, yet with time, the faith has slowly drained, as reflected by the negative and gloomy sound imagery.
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