Below is the last stanza of a poem, "Dover Beach," written in 1876 by Matthew Arnold.
Ah, love, let us be true
To one another! for the world, which seems
To lie before us like a land of dreams,
So various, so beautiful, so new,
Hath really neither joy, nor love, nor light,
Nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain;
And we are here as on a darkling plain
Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight,
Where ignorant armies clash by night.
Which of these statements best describes the remedy Arnold proposes for the world?
A. Look to your dreams for answers to life's questions.
B. Our faith in each other can shelter us from deceptive chaos.
C. In this deceptive world, ignorance requires faith.
D. The world may end, but love conquers all.
I think the answer is "B"
I agree.
Thank you Ms. Sue
You're welcome, Sandia.
To determine the correct answer, let's analyze the last stanza of the poem. In this stanza, Arnold highlights the bleakness and chaos of the world. He presents a contrast between the illusion of a beautiful and new world and the reality that it lacks joy, love, light, certainty, peace, and help for pain. The last two lines depict the world as a dark plain where ignorant armies clash by night.
In light of this analysis, let's review the answer options:
A. Look to your dreams for answers to life's questions. - This option does not align with Arnold's message in the poem, as he is suggesting that dreams and illusion cannot provide the answers or solutions to the world's problems.
B. Our faith in each other can shelter us from deceptive chaos. - This option is the most accurate and aligned with Arnold's message. He suggests that amidst the chaotic and uncertain world, being true and faithful to one another can provide shelter and protection from the deceptive nature of the world.
C. In this deceptive world, ignorance requires faith. - This option does not directly address Arnold's proposed remedy for the world. While ignorance may require faith in certain situations, it does not directly relate to the context of the poem.
D. The world may end, but love conquers all. - This option does not reflect Arnold's proposed remedy. While love may be a strong force, Arnold does not explicitly state that it will conquer all.
Based on this analysis, it can be concluded that the best answer is B. Our faith in each other can shelter us from deceptive chaos. Arnold suggests that in a world lacking joy, love, and certainty, individuals can find solace and protection through their faith and truthfulness towards one another.