Matthew
Arnold's A Study of Poetry
Introduction
Matthew Arnold’s A Study of Poetry is
a seminal work in the history of literary criticism, offering a comprehensive
examination of the nature and purpose of poetry.
First published in 1880, the essay encapsulates Arnold’s belief in the transformative power of poetry and its role as a
substitute for religion in an increasingly secular age. Through his
exploration of poetic greatness, the moral purpose of art, and his critical
evaluation of poets, Arnold constructs a vision of poetry as a universal and
enduring cultural force. However, his criteria for poetic
excellence, grounded in moral seriousness and
cultural uplift, have provoked significant
debate. This essay critically evaluates A Study of Poetry,
highlighting its strengths and limitations as a landmark in literary criticism.
Arnold’s Central Argument: Poetry as the
“Criticism of Life”
Arnold opens A
Study of Poetry with the bold assertion that poetry will replace
religion as the primary vehicle for moral and spiritual guidance in modern
life. He describes poetry as a “criticism of
life,” a medium through which
universal truths and moral values are expressed. For Arnold, the
greatness of a poet lies in their ability to capture these truths with "high seriousness" and artistic
excellence.
This view reflects
Arnold’s Victorian context, a period marked by the erosion of traditional
religious authority and the search for alternative sources of meaning. By
elevating poetry to a quasi-religious status, Arnold seeks to preserve a sense of moral order and cultural continuity.
However, his insistence on poetry’s moral function has been criticized as
reductive. By prioritizing didacticism, Arnold risks subordinating the
aesthetic and emotional dimensions of poetry, which are equally essential to
its impact.
The Touchstone Method: A Measure of Poetic
Greatness
One of Arnold’s most
influential contributions in A Study of Poetry is his “touchstone method,”
a practical approach to evaluating poetry. Arnold argues that the
quality of a poem can be assessed by comparing it to short, exemplary passages
from the works of acknowledged great poets, such as Homer,
Dante, Shakespeare, and Milton. These “touchstones” serve as benchmarks
of excellence, allowing critics to determine whether a poem exhibits the same
level of truth, beauty, and seriousness.
The
touchstone method reflects Arnold’s
classical sensibilities, emphasizing objectivity and universal standards in
literary evaluation. While the approach has the merit of clarity and precision,
it has been criticized for its rigidity and elitism. By privileging a narrow
canon of poets and imposing a fixed standard of greatness, Arnold’s method
overlooks the diversity of poetic traditions and the subjective nature of
literary appreciation. Furthermore, his reliance on isolated passages may
neglect the holistic qualities of a poem, such as its structure, tone, and
cumulative effect.
Arnold’s Critique of Poets: A Hierarchical
Vision
In A Study of Poetry, Arnold assesses the
works of various poets, placing them into hierarchical categories ranging from
the truly great to the merely historical. He praises poets like Homer, Dante,
and Shakespeare as exemplars of the highest artistic and moral achievement,
while offering a more qualified evaluation of figures like Chaucer and
Wordsworth. Arnold’s judgments are grounded in his belief that poetry must
embody universal truths and cultural significance to achieve greatness.
While Arnold’s
critical acumen is evident in his incisive analyses, his evaluations have often
been challenged for their subjectivity and cultural bias. His dismissal of
Romantic poets like Shelley, for instance,
reflects his discomfort with overtly emotional and imaginative poetry, which he
deemed insufficiently grounded in reality. Similarly, his preference for
classical restraint over Romantic exuberance reveals his conservative aesthetic
values. Arnold’s hierarchical approach, while influential, has been criticized
for its failure to accommodate the evolving and pluralistic nature of poetic
expression.
The Moralization of Art: Strength or
Limitation?
Arnold’s emphasis on
the moral purpose of poetry is both a strength and a limitation of his critical
framework. On one hand, his belief in poetry’s capacity to ennoble and educate
resonates with the Romantic ideal of art as a transformative force. Arnold’s
vision of poetry as a “criticism of life” underscores its enduring relevance in
addressing the complexities of human experience.
On the other hand,
Arnold’s moralistic approach has been criticized for narrowing the scope of
poetic value. By equating greatness with moral seriousness, Arnold risks
dismissing poetry that prioritizes playfulness, experimentation, or aesthetic
innovation. His framework also reflects a Eurocentric bias, privileging Western
canonical traditions over non-Western and marginalized voices. In this sense, A
Study of Poetry has been criticized for perpetuating a narrow and
prescriptive view of literary excellence.
Legacy and Impact
Despite its
limitations, A Study of Poetry remains a foundational text in literary
criticism. Arnold’s emphasis on the moral and cultural significance of poetry
has influenced generations of critics and educators, shaping the study of
literature in both academic and public contexts. His touchstone
method, though contentious, has provided a practical framework for
evaluating poetic quality. Furthermore, Arnold’s vision of poetry as a source
of spiritual and cultural sustenance continues to resonate in contemporary
debates about the value of art in society.
However, modern
literary criticism has moved beyond Arnold’s universalist and moralistic
framework, embracing more diverse and inclusive approaches. Poststructuralist, feminist, and postcolonial critics,
for example, have challenged the notion of fixed standards and canons,
emphasizing the fluid and contextual nature of literary value. While Arnold’s
contributions remain significant, they must be understood within the
limitations of their historical and cultural context.
Conclusion
Matthew Arnold’s A Study of Poetry
is a landmark in the history of literary criticism, offering a
compelling vision of poetry as a moral and cultural force. His touchstone
method and emphasis on “high seriousness” have
had a lasting impact on the study of literature, shaping critical discourse for
over a century. However, his approach is not without flaws, including its
moralistic rigidity, cultural bias, and resistance to aesthetic and thematic
diversity. Ultimately, A Study of Poetry reflects both the strengths
and limitations of Arnold’s Victorian worldview, standing as a testament to the
enduring power of poetry while inviting ongoing critical engagement and
revision.
*
