Matthew Arnold

Matthew Arnold's touchstone method of criticism is a comparative method of criticism in which a critic evaluates a poet's work by comparing certain poetic passages from the text to passages in the...

In "The Function of Criticism at the Present Time," Matthew Arnold highlights the essential role of criticism in literature, advocating for a more profound, unbiased analytical approach that...

When Arnold says that "poetry is the criticism of life,” he means that it is the “noble and profound application of ideas to life.” It is therefore a very serious endeavor designed to get at the...

Matthew Arnold envisioned the critic as a selector and guide, identifying the best of available literature and culture and presenting it to the public. Critics should be creative, holding creative...

Matthew Arnold uses nature in his poems as a symbol of retreat and authenticity, as seen in "The Scholar Gypsy" where nature is a refuge from the unsettling changes of industrial capitalism. He also...

Matthew Arnold is classified as a Victorian poet due to his emotional restraint and his uneasiness with the world's departure from core values, reflecting key aspects of the Victorian era. His poetry...

In Matthew Arnold's poem, the line "Geese are swans, and swans are geese" uses irony to highlight the futility of arguing with those who are wrong yet overpowering. The speaker advises a friend, who...

The main theme of Matthew Arnold's "The Future" is the contrast between the past beauty of the earth and the encroachment of modern civilization. The poem reflects on humanity's limited perspective,...

With reference to his poems "Dover Beach" and "The Scholar Gypsy," Mathew Arnold's social critique of his age lies within his elegies to lost opportunities and religious faith. Within his essay...

Matthew Arnold's concept of culture revolves around a centralized authority promoting peace and guiding individuals towards the best way to live. He feared anarchy, seeing it as a potential outcome...

Matthew Arnold viewed "criticism of life" as the pursuit of universal aesthetic standards in art criticism, emphasizing the role of critics in disseminating the best thoughts and ideals. In Culture...

Matthew Arnold's poetry, particularly "Dover Beach," reflects a longing for the vanished past, especially the era when faith was abundant. The poem laments the loss of faith faced by Victorians due...

Matthew Arnold viewed education as a means to balance democracy's freedoms with cultural refinement. He recognized democracy's potential to dissolve class barriers and promote intellectual freedom...

"To Marguerite" by Matthew Arnold is often considered superior to "Longing" due to its more dynamic rhythm, vivid imagery, and universal themes. While "Longing" uses a monotonous iambic meter and...