The Study of Poetry By Mathew Arnold

 

Mathew Arnold

Mathew Arnold is a famous Victorian-era writer and critic. He refers to the first ‘critic’ writer who said, “Writing and Reading literature can change any mindset”.

According to Arnold, criticism is the “Dissemination of ideas, unprejudiced and impartial efforts to study and spread the best that is known and thought in the world”

He was a grim and grave critic who gave the ideologies of criticism and educated others that how to criticize.  

The Study of Poetry

Introduction

The study of poetry was published in the general introduction of T.H. Ward’s anthology, The English Poets (1880). In his work "The study of poetry”, he comprehends that "After sometime mankind discover the high density of poetry. If we want to analyze the life of men, then one should study poetry because it reflects the life of the man and often discover the meaning and sustainability of life.

Further, he said poetry is better than science and philosophy. He asserts that “Science Is Appearance” therefore, the “Poetry Is an Expression” and there is no appearance without expression. “It is opposite to the platonic point of view”.

 Below are mentioned some ways to ‘Analyze’ the poetry.

• Way to analyze poetry (The method)
• Inspiration and ImitationTouchstone method of Evaluation
• Analysis of English Poetry
• Continuity of the Classics

2. Personal Estimates

The personal Estimate refers to the concern of the reader.

3. Real Estimates

Arnold argues that some Poets often deliberately obtain the works of poetry of their favorite classics and tends to steal their impressions, content, and ideas. Arnold believes, this is often an issue for the poet because they are neglecting their own thoughts and cannot be able to detach themselves from their favorite classics and therefore are prone to an erroneous conclusion, which does not have meaningful content.

Ways to analyze the poetry

There are three ways to analyze poetry.

1. ·    Historical Estimates
2. ·    Personal Estimates
3. ·    Real Estimates
   
   

1. Historical Estimates

The component of literature can be comprehended by historical context.

“Dealt with the poet’s Past”

The personal Estimate refers to the concern of the reader.

To do justice with Poetry whether the work is good or not. According to Mathew, individuals want to analyze the real estimate rather than analyze the shadow of both estimates. (Personal and Historical)

People escape the real estimate in order to cover both personal, and historical estimates.

 

2. Inspiration and Imitation

• Historical Estimate in the case of Poets from earlier times and Personal Estimate in the case of contemporaneous Poets leads to create difficulties in ascertaining the true significance and value of the Poetry.

-The disregard of own thoughts because being inspired by classics are considered against poetry.

 

3. Touchstone Method

Touchstone Method refers to the method, which is used to judge the quality of literature.
Mathew argues that one should be free from personal, historical estimates and use real estimates this is what the touchstone method interprets. Without the ‘Touchstone method’, one could not discover the real power of the literary work. If one could not follow the method then we would not be able to differentiate between good and bad literary pieces, which eventually destroy the value of literature.
In his essay, he gives examples of some writers' works like Shakespeare, Homer, Milton, and Dante, etc. He said these particular names in poetry; the drama was enhancing the experience of reading poetry through their matter and style.

 
4. Analysis of English Poetry

Arnold believes in the influence of French poets (from Northern France) and their impacts on English Counterparts. However, Romance influenced their poetry over serious and graver themes of human life.

Arnold praises Chaucer and believes his works to be the 'liquid diction' (heart melting) and is a great exponent of both content and style. According to Arnold, Chaucer scores high in Real Estimate but does not come to the level of classical poets lacking seriousness like Dante, Milton, and Shakespeare.

He considers Pope and Dryden as the Classical Prose of the Restoration Period. He calls Gray a classic but relegates burn to the fortune of Chaucer. Their works lack high seriousness in their content according to Arnold even though their work contains both Truth and Great skills.

 
5. Continuity of the Classics

Arnold Believes that Human Nature remains consistent through various eras and times as classical ideas deal with the major themes, topics, and issues that highlight human suffering, emotions, and nature.

-If they excite such emotions and thoughts in the readers, they will be alive and remain consistent in their hearts and mind as well.