Abstract

Matthew Arnold is a great British Victorian poet and leading social critic in Victorian Period. Many of Matthew Arnold’s literary works reflect the contradictory psychology in the 19 century, of which Dover Beach ranks high. This thesis takes Matthew Arnold’s Dover Beach as an example. It analyzes this poem to reflect the problem of the crisis of faith at that time from three aspects:  the Victorian Period background, the interpretation of the poem and the phenomenon of the crisis of faith. Then, this thesis supplies suggestions for the crisis of faith: when we face the crisis of faith, we should keep an optimistic attitude.

Key words: Matthew Arnold ; Victorian Period ; Dover Beach ; the Crisis of  faith

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction-1

2. Literature Review-1

3. The Analysis of the Poem-3

3.1 The background of the poem in Victorian Period-3

3.2 The interpretation of the the poem-4

3.3 The phenomenon of the crisis of faith-5

4. The Causes of the Crisis of faith-5

4.1 The cause of the development of industrial revolution-5

4.2 The cause of the development of technology-6

5. Solutions to the Issue-6

5.1 The rise of the middle class-7

5.2 Cultural salvation by means of education-8

6. Conclusion-9

Works Cited-11