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This sonnet, an early work, first appeared in 1848. It was the first poem in the anthology, Strayed Reveller and Other Poems, under the title Sonnet. In the 1853 volume of the poems, even the title was dropped. It gave the impression that the theory of poetry of Arnold, as exemplified in the volume followed the principles of this sonnet. In 1869, the piece acquired the title, Quiet Work.
We find Arnold's attitude to nature, at least his caring attitude, clearly in the poem. The influence of Wordsworth is unmistakable. In Self Dependence also Arnold has expressed similar views as in.
SUMMARY
Arnold declares that he has to learn a lesson from Nature. It is a lesson which is passed on through every activity of Nature like the common wind. Nature propagates the message of quiet work. This message can be noticed in all activities of nature. Man, should work hard in this worldly life, but there is no need that the sick hurry and fretful fever should go along with work. Instead he should remain calm and unperturbed. The aim must be toil unsevered from tranquillity. Nature indulges in unending toil, but remains calm and serene. It is this quiet work of Nature that the poet likes to learn from her. The ordinary people who do not have any sagacity or wisdom think that quiet work is impossible, and that work and serenity conflict with each other. But according to the poet steadfast devotion to work without discarding serenity should be man's ideal. Steady work and serenity are not at all irreconcilable. Work done in tranquillity is better than the work done in fret and fever. The materialistic civilization is causing a lot of sound and fury that is not conducive to serenity. But real and lasting progress is possible only when tranquillity is present. Nature's work is fully reconciled with serenity and it is worthwhile man emulates Nature. Contrasting man's work with Nature's Arnold says that she had admirably reconciled the twin concept of work and serenity, while man does his work amidst a lot of sound and fury, fever and fret. Thus Nature puts the fruitless and fitful human activity to shame. She is always active and fruitful and teaches man the supreme lesson of quiet work.
CRITICAL APPRECIATION AND ANALYSIS
In the poem, Quiet Work we find Arnold's attitude to Nature, especially that of his earlier period, as almost a Wordsworthian. Here we find him indulging in some philosophic speculation. Without spiritualizing or intellectualizing Nature, he sees charm in her work. Truthfully and accurately he presents his observations. He sees in nature an unfailing source of peace and calm, but not of joy. Here he differs from Wordsworth who finds joy pervading in Nature though Arnold is mostly Wordsworthian in this poem. Wordsworth has expressed similar views as that expressed by Arnold. Arnold's philosophy of 'toil unsevered from Serenity' is definitely Wordsworthian. Human life is full of toil in the midst of sound and fury. Arnold seeks some sort of escape from the fretful society by following Nature's quiet work. He wants mankind to emulate the quiet but ceaseless work of Nature and achieve peace and calm.
Coleridge's Biographia Literaria has something similar to this poem in language and spirit. Coleridge writes,
Should anyone interrogate her (Nature), how she works.., she will reply, it behoves thee not to disquiet me with interrogatories, but to understand in silence even as I am silent, and work without words.
From Arnold's Note Book it is known that he read Carlyle's works seriously. A passage from Goethe appeared in Carlyle's Critical and Miscellaneous Essays.
The translation into English is given below:
Like as a star
That maketh not haste
That taketh not rest
Be each one fulfilling
His God given best.
One finds clear echo of Goethe's lines in Quiet Work. The poem shows Arnold's classical attitude. As a true classicist he believes in serenity, not in the romantic, emotional, exuberance.
This sonnet is Petrarchan in form. The end of the octave (the first eight lines) gives a clearly distinct change of thought, characteristic of Petrarchan sonnets. The Sestet (The latter the six lines) contrasts the quiet work of Nature with the fretful work of man.
LINE BY LINE EXPLANATIONS
I. One lesson ... enmity. Line. 3-4
Here Arnold describes the lesson that Nature teaches man continuously. She teaches the twin duty in one lesson: hard work and tranquillity are to go hand in hand. To the average man work and tranquillity are irreconcilable. The poet disagrees with that common view. He has noticed that Nature continuously does her duty in serenity. The blowing of the wind, the shining of the sun and the moon and all the activities go on endlessly but in serenity. Nature is not agitated over her work, neither does she complain that work is hard.
2. Of Toil ... rivalry. Line. 5-9
Here Arnold tells that mankind has failed to learn any lesson from Nature. Her work is hard, does the work ceaselessly and yet she remains calm and serene. Quite differently, man does his work fitfully, often fruitlessly, but complains about the difficulty of his work. Nature, on the other hand, does not have anything to complain, though she put forth permanent achievements. The poet has learnt from Nature that work done in peace and calmness is superior to work done in fret and fever.
3. Still do ... is gone. Line. 11-14
Here Arnold glorifies nature as an ideal teacher. Nature is ceaselessly at work, but she retains her tranquility. The poet contrasts the fitful and fruitless work of man with that of Nature which is always fruitful and serene. The forces of Nature, like the wind, the planetary movements, climatic changes etc. are constantly at work. They put the fitful human activity to shame. Man often fails, but Nature never fails. The elements of Nature have been working from time immemorial and that work will continue to a time, even after the possible extinction of man.