Structuralism in Matthew Arnold’s poem “Dover Beach”

Before beginning the practical analysis of the poem, it is necessary to remember about the fact – naturalization theory (a component of structuralism critical analysis) implies that no item of language has a meaning while it has been interpreted by a reader or listener not only within the boundaries of the poem, but also outside it. There is no one correct version or answer so the reader/listener is free to give his own interpretation of the piece of language. To extend the analysis based on the critical theory of structuralism, one more theory is based on binary oppositions introducing its role in language, cognition and communication that is a fundamental part of literary works.

To comply with naturalization theory, I will provide my own interpretation of the poem. Meaning is something that has to be derived even if the poem is a total nonsense. Reading through this poem, I got a distinct impression that it is a stylistic insight into history of the world and two countries in particular – Great Britain and France. Throughout the history of both these countries there has always been the proportion that ‘’on the French coast the light gleams and is gone” but at the same moment “the cliffs of England stand”.1 That clearly outlines the situation that France has short moments of luck and then it falls again but Great Britain stands tough. It is the same in their interconnection when until 12th century part of France was under the rule of England, then the light gleamed for France, in the effigy of Jane d’Arcy.