Matthew Arnold Theory Of Criticism

Matthew Arnold, the Victorian poet and critic, born in 1822 was “the first modern critic”, and was often called “the critic 's critic”, being a man known for not only of incredible poetry, but of literary criticism itself. The purpose of literary criticism, in his view, was “to know the best that is known and thought in the world, and by in its turn making this known, to create a current of true and fresh ideas” , and he has influenced a entire school of critics. He was the creator of the sociological school of criticism, and through his touchstone method introduced scientific objectivity to critical evaluation by providing comparison and analysis as the two primary trappings of criticism. To Arnold a critic is a social patron. In his view the inspired artist, no matter how

Before Arnold a literary critic cared only for the beauties and blemishes of works of art, but Arnold the critic chose to be the teacher and protector of public opinion and propagator of the best ideas.

In ‘The Function of Criticism at the Present Time,’ Arnold defines criticism, details his roles, and also lays down the fundamentals of a competent critic. His view of criticism must be accessed in the perspective of the degenerate and disorganized state of contemporary criticism. He found ‘cultural anarchy’ everywhere, and his avowed mission was to bring about cultural regeneration. Matthew Arnold argues it is criticism that has influenced non-English literature and that this is applied using all types of knowledge including theology, history art and even science in order to probably see things for what they are. He