'MATTHEW ARNOLD'

useful for victorian age

1. MATTHEW ARNOLD ( 1822-1888) Prepared by : Archana Dave

2. Introduction Was an English Romantic poet and a Victorian critic. He is considered the father of the modern criticism movement of the objective theory. His critical thoughts are mainly highlighted through his important critical prose work “The Function Of Criticism At The Present Time.” His most important contribution to literary theory is his theories on epochs of expansion and epochs of concentration.

3. Born 24 December 1822 Laleham,Surrey,England Parents Thomas Arnold,Mary Penrose Siblings Tom Arnold ,William Delafield Arnold Married Frances Lucy Occupation Inspector of schools Nationality British Period Victorian Genre Poetry;literary,school and religious criticism Spouse Frances Lucy Died 15 April,1888(aged 65) Liverpool, England Quick Bio

4. Education He entered the school (Winchester)officially the first time than he moved in1837 to Rugby school,which was run by his father and where he stayed until the end of his secondary education in 1840.

5. Matthew Arnold entered the University of Oxford in 1841,after receiving a grant from the open that University, And in 1845 was named a fellow of the Arnold of the teaching staff of the faculty of the university of Oxford Oriel. Literary Biography Matthew Arnold took over the post of professor of poetry at Oxford University (1857-1867) as well as its inspector general for school. Went on a number of missions and visitations of European Schools. Impressed by some of educational systems & wrote several books about them.

6. Arnold’s Work 1850s : Large of poems appeared 1860s : Literary & Social criticism 1870s : Religious & Educational writing 1880s : Second set of essays on literary criticism

7. Poetry Arnold is sometimes called the third great Victorian poet, along with Alfred ,Lord Tennyson and Robert Browning.

8. Arnold’s Career Arnold : The Poet Arnold : The Critic

9. The Function Of Criticism At The Present Time(1864 ) 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).

10. Aesthetic Power Creative ability The poet Synthesizes & Put together Epoch of Expansion Analytical /Critical ability The critic Analyzes & divides Epoch of Concentration

11. Criticism is a disinterested endeavor to learn and propagate the best that is known and thought in the world. (p.89) Arnold’s Definition of Criticism “ 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)

12. 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 sence 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.

13. Death He died suddenly in 1888 while walking with his wife to catch a tram in Liverpool to meet his daughter, who was arriving on a boat from the USA.