By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman | Last updated: February 11, 2025
Empedocles on Etna is a long poem about a Greek philosopher named Empedocles, who feels lost and unhappy with life. He climbs Mount Etna, a volcano in Sicily, and thinks deeply about the world, human suffering, and his own life. He feels disconnected from people and believes that no one understands him.
Empedocles struggles with the idea that humans will never fully understand life or find true happiness. He feels that nature and the universe move on without caring about human problems. In the end, he gives up and jumps into the volcano, choosing death over a life of confusion and pain.
The poem explores deep ideas about loneliness, the limits of human knowledge, and the search for meaning. It shows how some people feel disconnected from the world and struggle to find their place in it.
Summary of Empedocles on Etna by Matthew Arnold
Questions
Answers
Poem Name
Empedocles on Etna
Poet
Matthew Arnold
Year Published
1852
Type of Poem
Dramatic poem (a poem with characters speaking)
Main Character
Empedocles, a Greek philosopher
Setting
Mount Etna, a volcano in Sicily
Theme
Loneliness, human suffering, search for meaning
Tone
Sad, philosophical, reflective
Symbolism
The volcano represents destruction and the power of nature
Famous Lines
“The gods are happy. They turn on all sides their shining eyes”
Message
Humans struggle to understand life, and not everyone finds peace
