Final answer:
Matthew Arnold is the poet who wrote 'Dover Beach,' which deals with the themes of loss of faith and certainty during the Victorian era, reflecting on the impacts of religious decline and the resulting sense of alienation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The transitional poet who wrote “Dover Beach” is Matthew Arnold. The theme of this poem addresses the loss of faith and certainty in the Victorian era, and it reflects on the erosion of religious belief and the feeling of alienation in a rapidly changing world. Matthew Arnold explores concepts of human misery and the chaotic nature of life without the assurance of religious faith, expressing a sense of longing for stability in contrast to the ebbing “Sea of Faith.” The poem captures a moment of introspection by the seaside, juxtaposing the natural beauty of the beach with the internal turmoil that the poet feels over the decline of religion.