The Study Of Poets - Matthew Arnold

Matthew Arnold (1822 –1888) was an English poet and cultural critic. The Study of poetry is the first essay in 1888. It contains many of the ideas for which Arnold is best remembered.

According to Matthew Arnold, the first great principle of criticism is disinterestedness or detachment. Disinterestedness on the part of the critic implies freedom from all prejudices, personal or historical.

“Poetry is criticism of life, governed by the laws of poetic truth and poetic beauty”

As per Arnold, Poetry is "Criticism of Life". In poetry, this criticism of life must conform to the laws of poetic truth and poetic beauty. He was on the side of Art for Life’s Sake.

Matthew Arnold had a viewpoint that one should be free from historical and personal estimate to have a real estimate. For this he gave “Touchstone Method”.

I think the principle of 'Disinterestedness' or 'Detachment' given by Matthew Arnold is interesting and relevant in recent times.

A work of literature should be judged as an independent work rather than considering its effect on author or readers. It should be free from all the prejudices either historical or personal.

For example:- A doctor should detach the emotional self while operating patients, else the doctor might make mistake due to emotional attachment with patients.

The idea of 'The Touchstone Method' given by Arnold is not appropriate in recent times.

Comparing the best lines of the great poets with other poetry it is difficult way to pass judgement. The poet whose work is to be compared with the work of the great poets may differ in expression. I think this idea might create a difficulty to understand the real estimate of a work.

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