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.
| 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 |
MCQs from Some Famous Poems of Matthew Arnold
- MCQs Thyrsis by Matthew Arnold
- MCQs – Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold
- MCQs – The Scholar-Gipsy by Matthew Arnold
- MCQs – Empedocles on Etna by Matthew Arnold
- MCQs – The Forsaken Merman by Matthew Arnold
Summary of Some Famous poems of Matthew Arnold
- Summary – Dover Beach
- Summary – The Scholar-Gipsy
- Summary – Thyrsis
- Summary – Empedocles on Etna
- Summary – The Forsaken Merman
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