Matthew Arnold viewed poetry as the "criticism of life" that is governed by poetic truth and beauty. He believed the best poetry has seriousness of substance combined with superior style and diction. Arnold analyzed poets using his "touchstone method" of comparison and advocated for disinterested criticism. However, critics argue he did not always practice disinterested criticism and overemphasized morality. Overall, Arnold made significant contributions to literary criticism through his analysis of poets and emphasis on poetry's relationship to interpreting life.
Poetry, he wrote in the Preface, originates from ‘the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings’ which is filtered through ‘emotion recollected in tranquillity’.
An Apology for Poetry[7] (also known as A Defence of Poesie and The Defence of Poetry) – Sidney wrote the Defence before 1583. It is generally believed that he was at least partly motivated by Stephen Gosson, a former playwright who dedicated his attack on the English stage, The School of Abuse, to Sidney in 1579, but Sidney primarily addresses more general objections to poetry, such as those of Plato. In his essay, Sidney integrates a number of classical and Italian precepts on fiction. The essence of his defence is that poetry, by combining the liveliness of history with the ethical focus of philosophy, is more effective than either history or philosophy in rousing its readers to virtue. The work also offers important comments on Edmund Spenser and the Elizabethan stage. from wikipidea
An Apology for Poetry was written by the Elizabethan writer Philip Sidney in his defence of poetry from the accusation that was made by Stephen Gosson in his work "School of Abuse".
Poetry, he wrote in the Preface, originates from ‘the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings’ which is filtered through ‘emotion recollected in tranquillity’.
An Apology for Poetry[7] (also known as A Defence of Poesie and The Defence of Poetry) – Sidney wrote the Defence before 1583. It is generally believed that he was at least partly motivated by Stephen Gosson, a former playwright who dedicated his attack on the English stage, The School of Abuse, to Sidney in 1579, but Sidney primarily addresses more general objections to poetry, such as those of Plato. In his essay, Sidney integrates a number of classical and Italian precepts on fiction. The essence of his defence is that poetry, by combining the liveliness of history with the ethical focus of philosophy, is more effective than either history or philosophy in rousing its readers to virtue. The work also offers important comments on Edmund Spenser and the Elizabethan stage. from wikipidea
An Apology for Poetry was written by the Elizabethan writer Philip Sidney in his defence of poetry from the accusation that was made by Stephen Gosson in his work "School of Abuse".
The concept of imagination in biographia literariaDayamani Surya
Samuel Taylor Coleridge in his Biographia Literature considered that the mind can be divided into two faculties called as imagination and fancy.
Imagination is further divided into two types namely Primary Imagination and Secondary Imagination.
Function of Criticism by T.S Eliot, Why Criticism in Literature?, Four Parts of the essay “Function of Criticism”, Tradition and the Individual Talent, I Part: Eliot’s views on critic and critical work of art, II Part: John Middleton Murry’s Essay and Eliot’s Contradiction, III Part: Eliot’s criticism of Murry and function of criticism, IV Part: Relation of Criticism with creative work of art
The Preface to the Lyrical Ballads is an essay, composed by William Wordsworth, for the second edition of the poetry collection Lyrical Ballads, and then greatly expanded in the third edition of 1802. It has come to be seen as a de facto manifesto of the Romantic movement.
My Presentations on Overview of Culture and Anarchy written by Mathew Arnold.Culture and anarchy is a notorious philosophical work written by the celebrated Victorian poet and critic Mathew Arnold. This essay was first published in ‘Cornhill Magazine’ during 1867’-68.
Samuel Coleridge- Biographia Literaria Ch 14Dilip Barad
This presentation deals with chapter 14 of 'Biographia Literaria' written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. It deals with his famous defence of Wordsworth's poetic creed, difference between prose and poem; and more importantly, difference between poem and poetry
"For poetry the idea is everything; the rest is a world of illusion, of divine illusion. Poetry attaches its emotion to the idea; the idea is fact."
This is said by Matthew Arnold. According to him, IDEA is supreme and in poetry, it is the idea that matters, that are attached by poetry through emotions. According to him THE FUNCTION OF POETRY is to interpret life for us, to console us, to sustain us. He says if SCIENCE IS APPEARANCE then the POETRY IS EXPRESSION and there is no appearance without expression.
Then Arnold talks about setting our standard for poetry high. We must accustom ourselves to HIGH STANDARD and STRICT JUDGEMENT and there is no place for CHARLATANISM in poetry. Charlatanism is for confusing the difference between excellent and inferior, sound and unsound or only half sound, true and untrue or only half true. Judging with little differences has paramount importance, so there is no place for charlatanism in poetry.
Literary Criticism - Essay on Dramatic PoesyRohitVyas25
John Dryden has given good criticism for dramatic poesy. Here in this presentation, I've put introduction of the original essay and Dryden's definition of play.
The concept of imagination in biographia literariaDayamani Surya
Samuel Taylor Coleridge in his Biographia Literature considered that the mind can be divided into two faculties called as imagination and fancy.
Imagination is further divided into two types namely Primary Imagination and Secondary Imagination.
Function of Criticism by T.S Eliot, Why Criticism in Literature?, Four Parts of the essay “Function of Criticism”, Tradition and the Individual Talent, I Part: Eliot’s views on critic and critical work of art, II Part: John Middleton Murry’s Essay and Eliot’s Contradiction, III Part: Eliot’s criticism of Murry and function of criticism, IV Part: Relation of Criticism with creative work of art
The Preface to the Lyrical Ballads is an essay, composed by William Wordsworth, for the second edition of the poetry collection Lyrical Ballads, and then greatly expanded in the third edition of 1802. It has come to be seen as a de facto manifesto of the Romantic movement.
My Presentations on Overview of Culture and Anarchy written by Mathew Arnold.Culture and anarchy is a notorious philosophical work written by the celebrated Victorian poet and critic Mathew Arnold. This essay was first published in ‘Cornhill Magazine’ during 1867’-68.
Samuel Coleridge- Biographia Literaria Ch 14Dilip Barad
This presentation deals with chapter 14 of 'Biographia Literaria' written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. It deals with his famous defence of Wordsworth's poetic creed, difference between prose and poem; and more importantly, difference between poem and poetry
"For poetry the idea is everything; the rest is a world of illusion, of divine illusion. Poetry attaches its emotion to the idea; the idea is fact."
This is said by Matthew Arnold. According to him, IDEA is supreme and in poetry, it is the idea that matters, that are attached by poetry through emotions. According to him THE FUNCTION OF POETRY is to interpret life for us, to console us, to sustain us. He says if SCIENCE IS APPEARANCE then the POETRY IS EXPRESSION and there is no appearance without expression.
Then Arnold talks about setting our standard for poetry high. We must accustom ourselves to HIGH STANDARD and STRICT JUDGEMENT and there is no place for CHARLATANISM in poetry. Charlatanism is for confusing the difference between excellent and inferior, sound and unsound or only half sound, true and untrue or only half true. Judging with little differences has paramount importance, so there is no place for charlatanism in poetry.
Literary Criticism - Essay on Dramatic PoesyRohitVyas25
John Dryden has given good criticism for dramatic poesy. Here in this presentation, I've put introduction of the original essay and Dryden's definition of play.
Autobiographical Elements in T.S. Eliot's The Waste LandDilip Barad
This presentations attempts to explore the autobiographical elements in 'The Waste Land' - the poem by T.S. Eliot - the high priest of the theory of depersonalization.
Teaching Ideas: Teaching English Literature with the help of technologyDilip Barad
Teaching Ideas: This is a part of series of small presentations on how various forms of Information and Communication Technology can be helpful to the teachers of English Literature in effective teaching
Teaching Poetry with the help of Google Image Search
REPORT on OUTREACH PROGRAMME: FEB – MARCH 2017Dilip Barad
The Department of English (MKBU) has carried out three activities as outreach programme during the said time. This report presents brief overview of the activities carried out under the banner of this programme. It also presents the outcome of outreach activities with feedback from stakeholders.
Universal Human Laws in The Waste Land (T.S. Eliot)Dilip Barad
Functionalism explains human society as a whole in terms of the function of its constituent elements; namely norms, customs, traditions, and institutions.
A functionalist reading of myths might extract the universal human laws.
This presentation attempts to identify some Universal Human Laws in T.S. Eliot's modern epic 'The Waste Land'
Cleanth Brooks - The Language of ParadoxDilip Barad
This presentation is based on Cleanth Brooks's essay "The Language of Paradox,", wherein Cleanth Brooks emphasizes how the language of poetry is different from that of the sciences, claiming that he is interested in our seeing that the paradoxes spring from the very nature of the poet's language: “it is a language in which the connotations play as great a part as the denotations. And I do not mean that the connotations are important as supplying some sort of frill or trimming, something external to the real matter in hand. I mean that the poet does not use a notation at all--as a scientist may properly be said to do so. The poet, within limits, has to make up his language as he goes.”
Stream of Consciousness in Virginia Woolf's 'To The Lighthouse'Dilip Barad
This presentation is about the narrative technique used by Modernist female novelist Virginia Woolf in her novel 'To The Lighthouse'. It deals with illustrations from the novel and its explanations. The interior monologue, free association etc are explained in this presentation.
Plato's Objection to Poetry and Aristotle's DefenceDilip Barad
This presentation deals with Greek philosopher Plato's objections to poetry and Aristotle's clarification on the confusion created by Plato. It is said that Plato confused study of morals/ethics with that of aesthetics. Aristotle removed this confusion.
Matthew Arnold (24 December 1822 – 15 April 1888) was an English poet and cultural critic who worked as an inspector of schools. He was the son of Thomas Arnold, the famed headmaster of Rugby School, and brother to both Tom Arnold, literary professor, and William Delafield Arnold, novelist and colonial administrator.
During this time Arnold wrote the bulk of his most famous critical works, Essays in Criticism (1865) and Culture and Anarchy (1869), in which he sets forth ideas that greatly reflect the predominant values of the Victorian era.
biography of s.t coleridge
introduction to biographia literaria
synopsis of chap 14
critical analysis
literary devices
objections and defence
fancy and imagination
primary and secondary imagination
This presentation is about the introduction of the 19th century literature and some of the prominent authors in the period including William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Percy Byshhe Shelley, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Matthew Arnolds.
Memorabilia 2024 | Department of English | MKBUDilip Barad
Memorabilia 2024 captures the essence of creativity and academic exploration within the Department of English at MKBU. This anthology showcases a diverse range of creative works and insightful reports, each reflecting the passion and dedication of our students. From compelling short stories and evocative poetry to thought-provoking essays and in-depth research papers, this publication celebrates the intellectual curiosity and talent nurtured within our academic community. Through engaging narratives and meticulous analysis, the students of the Department of English at MKBU demonstrate their commitment to excellence and their contributions to the fields of literature, language, and critical inquiry. Memorabilia 2024 serves as a testament to the vibrant scholarly environment and the profound impact of our students' endeavors on the broader academic landscape.
This booklet is documented record of various activities carried out during academic year 2022-23 by the students of the Department of English, Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University, Bhavnagar, Gujarat.
Modern Theories of Criticism: An OverviewDilip Barad
Modern Theories of Criticism: An Overview
[Note: This presentation and video recording are of Prof. Dilip Barad's session in the Refresher Course for College / University teachers. The Refresher Course was organised by UGC-HRDC, University of Mumbai.]
Modern Literary Theory and Criticism refers to the examination and interpretation of literature using various theoretical frameworks that emerged in the 20th century. This approach encompasses diverse schools of thought such as Marxist, Feminist, Psychoanalytic, and Deconstructionist theory that offer a critical lens to analyze literary texts and reveal their deeper meanings and societal impact. The purpose of this introduction is to provide a comprehensive overview of the key concepts, influential figures, and historical developments in Modern Literary Theory and Criticism, highlighting its significance and impact in the field of literary studies.
Research Publication | Guidelines for the BeginnersDilip Barad
This presentation was made for the Postgraduate students of DAV College, Chandigarh. It is on the Research Publication. It deals with guidelines for the beginners.
Genre Study | Political Satire | Absalom and AchitophelDilip Barad
This presentation deal with Absalom and Achitophel as political satire. In the prologue, "To the Reader", Dryden states that "the true end of satire is the amendment of vices by correction".
Thematic Study of Absalom and Achitophel - John DrydenDilip Barad
The following themes are discussed in this presentation:
1. Politics, Allegory, and Satire
2. God, Religion, and the Divine Right of Kings
3. Power and Ambition
4. The Erosion of the Value and Power of Poetry
The Past, the Present and the Future of Dissecting Literary Texts: From Mora...Dilip Barad
This presentation was made in the Refresher Course in English on the theme of Pleasure of Dissecting the Text: The Poetics of Literary Theories and Criticism in English organised by UGC HRDC - Madurai Kamraj University, Tamilnadu
Two Ways to Look at Life | The Only StoryDilip Barad
There were two ways of looking at life; or two extremes of viewpoint, anyway, with a continuum between them.
One proposed that every human action necessarily carried with it the obliteration of every other action which might have been performed instead; life therefore consisted of a succession of small and large choices, expressions of free will, so that the individual was like the captain of some paddle steamer chugging down the mighty Mississippi of life.
The other proposed that it was all inevitability, that pre-history ruled, that a human life was no more than a bump on a log which was itself being propelled down the mighty Mississippi, tugged and bullied, smacked and wheedled, by currents and eddies and hazards over which no control was possible.
Theme of Love - Passion and Suffering - The Only Story - Julian BarnesDilip Barad
Passion – the Latin root of this words – suffering
Love = Passion + Suffering
Jacques Lacan – The Subject of Desire – Love-object
Love in ‘The Only Story’
Synthetic Fiber Construction in lab .pptxPavel ( NSTU)
Synthetic fiber production is a fascinating and complex field that blends chemistry, engineering, and environmental science. By understanding these aspects, students can gain a comprehensive view of synthetic fiber production, its impact on society and the environment, and the potential for future innovations. Synthetic fibers play a crucial role in modern society, impacting various aspects of daily life, industry, and the environment. ynthetic fibers are integral to modern life, offering a range of benefits from cost-effectiveness and versatility to innovative applications and performance characteristics. While they pose environmental challenges, ongoing research and development aim to create more sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives. Understanding the importance of synthetic fibers helps in appreciating their role in the economy, industry, and daily life, while also emphasizing the need for sustainable practices and innovation.
We all have good and bad thoughts from time to time and situation to situation. We are bombarded daily with spiraling thoughts(both negative and positive) creating all-consuming feel , making us difficult to manage with associated suffering. Good thoughts are like our Mob Signal (Positive thought) amidst noise(negative thought) in the atmosphere. Negative thoughts like noise outweigh positive thoughts. These thoughts often create unwanted confusion, trouble, stress and frustration in our mind as well as chaos in our physical world. Negative thoughts are also known as “distorted thinking”.
How to Create Map Views in the Odoo 17 ERPCeline George
The map views are useful for providing a geographical representation of data. They allow users to visualize and analyze the data in a more intuitive manner.
Model Attribute Check Company Auto PropertyCeline George
In Odoo, the multi-company feature allows you to manage multiple companies within a single Odoo database instance. Each company can have its own configurations while still sharing common resources such as products, customers, and suppliers.
Students, digital devices and success - Andreas Schleicher - 27 May 2024..pptxEduSkills OECD
Andreas Schleicher presents at the OECD webinar ‘Digital devices in schools: detrimental distraction or secret to success?’ on 27 May 2024. The presentation was based on findings from PISA 2022 results and the webinar helped launch the PISA in Focus ‘Managing screen time: How to protect and equip students against distraction’ https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/managing-screen-time_7c225af4-en and the OECD Education Policy Perspective ‘Students, digital devices and success’ can be found here - https://oe.cd/il/5yV
The Indian economy is classified into different sectors to simplify the analysis and understanding of economic activities. For Class 10, it's essential to grasp the sectors of the Indian economy, understand their characteristics, and recognize their importance. This guide will provide detailed notes on the Sectors of the Indian Economy Class 10, using specific long-tail keywords to enhance comprehension.
For more information, visit-www.vavaclasses.com
The Roman Empire A Historical Colossus.pdfkaushalkr1407
The Roman Empire, a vast and enduring power, stands as one of history's most remarkable civilizations, leaving an indelible imprint on the world. It emerged from the Roman Republic, transitioning into an imperial powerhouse under the leadership of Augustus Caesar in 27 BCE. This transformation marked the beginning of an era defined by unprecedented territorial expansion, architectural marvels, and profound cultural influence.
The empire's roots lie in the city of Rome, founded, according to legend, by Romulus in 753 BCE. Over centuries, Rome evolved from a small settlement to a formidable republic, characterized by a complex political system with elected officials and checks on power. However, internal strife, class conflicts, and military ambitions paved the way for the end of the Republic. Julius Caesar’s dictatorship and subsequent assassination in 44 BCE created a power vacuum, leading to a civil war. Octavian, later Augustus, emerged victorious, heralding the Roman Empire’s birth.
Under Augustus, the empire experienced the Pax Romana, a 200-year period of relative peace and stability. Augustus reformed the military, established efficient administrative systems, and initiated grand construction projects. The empire's borders expanded, encompassing territories from Britain to Egypt and from Spain to the Euphrates. Roman legions, renowned for their discipline and engineering prowess, secured and maintained these vast territories, building roads, fortifications, and cities that facilitated control and integration.
The Roman Empire’s society was hierarchical, with a rigid class system. At the top were the patricians, wealthy elites who held significant political power. Below them were the plebeians, free citizens with limited political influence, and the vast numbers of slaves who formed the backbone of the economy. The family unit was central, governed by the paterfamilias, the male head who held absolute authority.
Culturally, the Romans were eclectic, absorbing and adapting elements from the civilizations they encountered, particularly the Greeks. Roman art, literature, and philosophy reflected this synthesis, creating a rich cultural tapestry. Latin, the Roman language, became the lingua franca of the Western world, influencing numerous modern languages.
Roman architecture and engineering achievements were monumental. They perfected the arch, vault, and dome, constructing enduring structures like the Colosseum, Pantheon, and aqueducts. These engineering marvels not only showcased Roman ingenuity but also served practical purposes, from public entertainment to water supply.
How to Make a Field invisible in Odoo 17Celine George
It is possible to hide or invisible some fields in odoo. Commonly using “invisible” attribute in the field definition to invisible the fields. This slide will show how to make a field invisible in odoo 17.
1. The Study
of Poetry
(1880)
Dilip Barad
M.K. Bhavnagar University
Bhavnagar – Gujarat (India)
dilipbarad@gmail.com
www.dilipbarad.com
2. Questions:
• Discuss Matthew Arnold’s views on characteristics of good
poetry.
• “Poetry is the criticism of life, governed by the laws of poetic
truth and poetic beauty”: Discuss.
• “… real estimate, the only true one, is liable to be superseded, if
we are not watchful, by two other kinds of estimate, the historic
estimate and the personal estimate, both of which are
fallacious.” Discuss Arnold’s views of the historic, the Personal,
the Real.
• Elucidate Arnold’s views on good poetry as “the superior
character of truth and seriousness, in the matter and substance
of the best poetry, is inseparable from the superiority of diction
and movement marking its style and manner” with reference his
essay The Study of Poetry.
3. Short Notes:
• Matthew Arnold’s touchstone method
• Arnold’s views of Chaucer as a poet.
• Arnold’s views on the age of Dryden and Pope
• Arnold’s views on Robert Burns as a poet
• Arnold as a critic: (His limitations and legacies)
4. Victorian Criticism
• Art and Morality: Art for Life’s sake
– Carlyle and Ruskin: Moral view point should be the
benchmark to judge the work of literature. Art should
be for the betterment of life.
• Art and Aesthetic pleasure: art for Art’s sake
– Walter Pater and Oscar Wilde: Aesthetic and artistic
delight should be the benchmark to judge the work of
literature: Art should be for delight and pleasure of
mankind.
• Golden Mean: Matthew Arnold (1822-1888)
5. Matthew Arnold: The Critic
• The business of criticism, he says, is neither to find fault nor to
display the critic’s own learning or influence; it is to know ‘the best
which has been thought and said in the world’ and by using this
knowledge to create a current of fresh and free thought.
(W.J.Long)
• The Study of poetry: The first essay in the 1888 volume was
originally published as the general introduction to T.H. Ward’s
anthology, The English Poets (1880).
• His classicism: He did not like the spasmodic expression of
Romanticism. He advocated discipline in writing and
recommended the classical writers.
6. Matthew Arnold: The Critic
• W.J.Long: “We cannot speak with confidence of his rank in
literature; but by his crystal-clear style, his scientific spirit of
inquiry and comparison, illumined here and there by the play of
humour, and especially by his broad sympathy and intellectual
culture, he seems destined to occupy a very high place among
the masters of literary criticism.”
• The first great principle of criticism enunciated by Arnold is that of
disinterestedness or detachment. Disinterestedness on the part
of the critic implies freedom from all prejudices, personal or
historical.
7. The Future of Poetry
• “THE FUTURE of poetry is immense, because in poetry,
our race, as time goes on, will find an ever surer and
surer stay. There is not a creed which is not shaken. But
for poetry the idea is everything; the rest is a world of
illusion, of divine illusion. Poetry attaches its emotion to
the idea; the idea is the fact. The strongest part of our
religion to-day is its unconscious poetry.”
• We have to turn to poetry to interpret life for us, to console us, to
sustain us. Without poetry, our science will appear incomplete;
and most of what now passes with us for religion and philosophy
will be replaced by poetry.
8. Poetry is Criticism of Life
– Arnold asserts that literature, and especially poetry, is
"Criticism of Life".
– In poetry, this criticism of life must conform to the
laws of poetic truth and poetic beauty.
– Truth and seriousness of matter, felicity and
perfection of diction and manner, as are exhibited in
the best poets, are what constitutes a criticism of
life.
9. Poetry interprets life . . .
– Poetry, says Arnold, interprets life in two ways: "Poetry is
interpretative by having natural magic in it, and moral
profundity".
– And to achieve this the poet must aim at high and excellent
seriousness in all that he writes. This demand has two essential
qualities.
– The first is the choice of excellent actions. The poet must
choose those which most powerfully appeal to the great
primary human feelings which subsist permanently in the race.
– The second essential is what Arnold calls the Grand Style - the
perfection of form, choice of words, drawing its force directly
from the matter which it conveys.
10. Key components of poetry
• Thus, the superior character of truth and
seriousness, in the matter and substance of the
best poetry, is inseparable from the superiority
of diction and movement marking its style and
manner.
11. Touchstone Method
– His general principles was - the" Touchstone Method" – which
introduced scientific objectivity to critical evaluation by
providing comparison and analysis as the two primary tools for
judging individual poets.
– Thus, Chaucer, Dryden, Pope, and Shelley fall short of the best,
because they lack "high seriousness". Arnold's ideal poets are
Homer and Sophocles in the ancient world, Dante and Milton,
and among moderns, Goethe and Wordsworth.
– Arnold puts Wordsworth in the front rank not for his poetry
but for his "criticism of life".
12. Fallacies of Real Estimate
– Arnold while giving his touchstone method makes reader
aware about the fallacy in judgment. He is of the view that
historical fallacy and personal fallacy mars the real estimate of
poetry. While expressing his views of the historic, the Personal,
the Real he writes that ‘… in reading poetry, a sense for the
best, the really excellent, and of the strength and joy to be
drawn from it, should be present in our minds and should
govern our estimate of what we read. But this real estimate,
the only true one, is liable to be superseded, if we are not
watchful, by two other kinds of estimate, the historic estimate
and the personal estimate, both of which are fallacious’.
13. On Chaucher
• Arnold praises Chaucer's excellent style and
manner, but says that Chaucer cannot be
called a classic since, unlike Homer, Virgil and
Shakespeare, his poetry does not have the
high poetic seriousness which Aristotle
regards as a mark of its superiority over the
other arts.
14. On Dryden and Pope
• Hence we can regard Dryden as the glorious
founder, and Pope as the splendid high
priest, of the age of prose and reason, our
indispensable 18th century. Their poetry was
that of the builders of an age of prose and
reason. Arnold says that Pope and Dryden are
not poet classics, but the 'prose classics' of the
18th century.
15. On Thomas Gray
• As for poetry, he considers Gray to be the only
classic of the 18th century. Gray constantly
studied and enjoyed Greek poetry and thus
inherited their poetic point of view and their
application of poetry to life. But he is the
'scantiest, frailest classic' since his output was
small.
16. On Robert Burns
• Like Chaucer, Burns lacks high poetic seriousness,
though his poems have poetic truth in diction and
movement.
• Also like Chaucer, Burns possesses largeness, benignity,
freedom and spontaneity. But instead of Chaucer's
fluidity, we find in Burns a springing bounding energy.
Chaucer's benignity deepens in Burns into a sense of
sympathy for both human as well as non-human
things, but Chaucer's world is richer and fairer than
that of Burns.
• Sometimes Burns's poetic genius is unmatched by
anyone. He is even better than Goethe at times and he
is unrivalled by anyone except Shakespeare.
17. On Shakespeare
• Praising Shakespeare, Arnold says 'In England
there needs a miracle of genius like Shakespeare's
to produce a balance of mind'. This is praise
tempered by a critical sense. In a letter he writes.
'I keep saying Shakespeare, you are as obscure as
life is'.
• In his sonnet On Shakespeare he says;
• 'Others abide our question. Thou are free./ We
ask and ask - Thou smilest and art still,/ Out-
topping knowledge'.
18. Criticism of his viewpoint
– Arnold's criticism of life is often marred by his naive moralizing,
by his inadequate perception of the relation between art and
morality, and by his uncritical admiration of what he regarded
as the golden sanity of the ancient Greeks.
– For all his championing of disinterestedness, Arnold was
unable to practice disinterestedness in all his essays.
– In his essay on Shelley particularly, he displayed a lamentable
lack of disinterestedness. Shelley's moral views were too much
for the Victorian Arnold.
– In his essay on Keats too Arnold failed to be disinterested. The
sentimental letters of Keats to Fanny Brawne were too much
for him. But Arnold's insistence on the standards and his
concern over the relation between poetry and life make him
one of the great modern critics.
19. Criticism of his viewpoint
• George Sainsburry: A History of English Criticism:
“all literature is the application of ideas of life and
to say that poetry is the application of ideas to
life under conditions fixed for poetry, is simply a
vain repetition.
• T.S.Eliot: ‘His observation that ‘poetry is criticism
of life’ is repeating Aristotle. Nothing novel is
contributed as a critic.’
20. Works Cited
– http://www.literature-study-online.com/essays/arnold.html
– Long, W.J. The History of English Literature
– http://www.poetryfoundation.org/learning/essay/237816
– http://janetschlarbaum.us/author/admin/page/2/
– http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bhaskar_Banerjee
http://EzineArticles.com/974637
– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Arnold
– http://www.superarticledirectory.com/Art/262944/306/The-Study-of-Poetry.html