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    Matthew Arnold was an English poet and Victorian critic born in 1822. He is considered the father of modern literary criticism for his objective theory approach outlined in his influential work "The Function of Criticism at the Present Time." Arnold believed the critic's role was to disinterestedly propagate the best ideas and works through analysis and division in epochs of concentration, balancing the poet's role of creative synthesis in epochs of expansion. His theories emphasized removing personal biases and historical influences to objectively evaluate works based on their own merits.

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    Matthew Arnold was an English poet and Victorian critic born in 1822. He is considered the father of modern literary criticism for his objective theory approach outlined in his influential work "The Function of Criticism at the Present Time." Arnold believed the critic's role was to disinterestedly propagate the best ideas and works through analysis and division in epochs of concentration, balancing the poet's role of creative synthesis in epochs of expansion. His theories emphasized removing personal biases and historical influences to objectively evaluate works based on their own merits.

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    25 views9 pages

    Matthew Arnold

    Uploaded by

    Tria Noufel
    Matthew Arnold was an English poet and Victorian critic born in 1822. He is considered the father of modern literary criticism for his objective theory approach outlined in his influential work "The Function of Criticism at the Present Time." Arnold believed the critic's role was to disinterestedly propagate the best ideas and works through analysis and division in epochs of concentration, balancing the poet's role of creative synthesis in epochs of expansion. His theories emphasized removing personal biases and historical influences to objectively evaluate works based on their own merits.

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    Matthew Arnold

    )1822-1888(
    Introduction Early Life
     Born in 1822 in Laleham, Middlesex,
     Was an English Romantic poet and a England.
    Victorian critic.
     Educated at Rugby school

     He is considered the father of the  Graduated at Oxford University


    modern criticism movement of the
     Elected to a fellowship at Oriel ,
    objective theory.
    taught at Rugby, became private
     His critical thoughts are mainly secretary the Marquis of Lansdowne ,
    highlighted through his important
    critical prose work “The function of and appointed inspector of schools.
    Criticism at the Present Time”.  Went on a number of missions and
    visitations of European schools.
     His most important contribution to
    literary theory is his theories on  Impressed by some of educational
    epochs of expansion and epochs of
    systems & wrote several books about
    concentration.
    them.
    Arnold’s Work Arnold’s Career

     1850s: Large of poems


     Arnold: the poet
    appeared
     1860s: Literary& social criticism  Arnold: the critic
     1870s: Religious& educational
    writing
     1880s: Second set of essays on
    literary criticism
    The Function of Criticism at the Present Time
    (1864)
    Arnold: Objective Theory

     Means a theoretical shift from the poet to the poem


    itself, the shift from expressive theories (the
    relationship between the poem and the poet) to
    objective theories (interested in the relationship
    between the poem and itself).
    Aesthetic Power

     Creative ability
     The Poet

     Synthesizes& put together


     Epoch of Expansion

     Analytical/ critical ability


     The Critic
     Analyzes& divides
     Epoch of Concentration
    Arnold’s Definition of Criticism

     “Criticism is a disinterested endeavor to learn and propagate


    the best that is known and thought in the world.” P. 89

     “Criticism constitutes a higher kind of curiosity, a free play


    of mind that follows the free flow of ideas whatever that
    follow may lead.” P. 94
    Arnold’s Influence
    Function of Criticism& Critic

     “Criticism is a disinterested endeavor to learn and propagate the best that


    is known and thought in the world and thus to establish a current of fresh
    and true ideas.”

     Thus, criticism is not merely “judgment in literature”; its function is


    much more noble, exalted and catholic.

     The critic’s function is that of a missionary.

     R. A. Scott James says “the function of Arnold’s critic in the broadest


    sense of the term is to promote culture; his function as literary critic is to
    promote that part of culture which depends upon knowledge of
    literature.”

     For Arnold, a literary critic is a propagandist not a salesman.


    The Critic: His disinterestedness : P. 97-100
    False standards of Judgment: Personal and Historical

     How is to discover the best and noblest ideas?

     He must have “tact” which is unfailing to guide to the excellent

     He must free himself from certain false and misleading standards of


    judgments in the way of real estimate
     Personal Standards: intrusion of likes & dislikes
     Historical Standards: give more importance to a poem than it really is
     The Right Method: Touchstone

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