Matthew Arnold was a 19th century English poet and critic. He is considered the father of modern literary criticism for his theories outlined in his influential work "The Function of Criticism at the Present Time." Arnold believed the role of the critic was to objectively analyze and propagate the best of what is known and thought in order to establish fresh ideas and further culture. He distinguished between epochs of expansion driven by poetic creativity and epochs of concentration dominated by critical analysis.

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.