Matthew Arnold – A Victorian Poet and Critic

 

Introduction to Matthew Arnold

• Era: Victorian Age (1837–1901), marked by industrialization, materialism, and spiritual unrest.
• Role: Poet, critic, social thinker, and art critic.
• Themes: Conflict between science and religion, loss of faith, and the critique of modern life.
• Key Works: The Scholar Gipsy, Dover Beach, The Buried Life.

Biographical Sketch

1. Born: 1822 in Laleham, England.

2. Father: Dr. Thomas Arnold, Head Master of Rugby School.

3. Education: Rugby School and Balliol College, Oxford.

4. Career:

• Inspector of Schools (1851), promoting liberal education.
• Oxford Professor of Poetry (1857), delivering influential lectures.
• Traveled to America as a visiting professor.

5. Death: 1888, while catching a train for Liverpool.

Arnold’s Poetical Works

1. Key Collections:

• The Strayed Reveller (1849), Empedocles on Etna (1852), Poems (1853), New Poems (1867).

2. Famous Poems:

• The Scholar Gipsy: A pastoral elegy critiquing modern materialism.
• Dover Beach: A melancholic reflection on the loss of faith.
• The Buried Life: Explores the hidden inner self and human isolation.

3. Style:

• Blend of classical and romantic elements, marked by melancholy and intellectualism.

Arnold’s Critical Principles

• Poetry as Criticism of Life: Poetry should address serious subjects with moral depth.
• High Seriousness: Poetry must have a noble subject and dignified language.
• Grand Style: Simplicity and nobility in expression, inspired by Homer, Dante, and Milton.
• Function of Poetry: To bring harmony to life, superior to religion and science.

Key Poems and Their Themes

1. The Scholar Gipsy

• Inspiration: Based on Joseph Glanville’s The Vanity of Dogmas.
• Theme: Critique of modern life’s “sick hurry” and “divided aims.”
• Structure: 25 stanzas, pastoral elegy form.
• Symbolism: Scholar Gipsy represents the pursuit of truth and escape from materialism.

2. Dover Beach

• Theme: Loss of religious faith and the resulting despair.
• Imagery: Sea waves symbolize the ebb and flow of faith.
• Tone: Melancholic, reflective.
• Structure: 37 lines, irregular rhyme scheme.

3. The Buried Life

• Theme: Exploration of the hidden inner self and human isolation.
• Message: True understanding of self comes through love and intimacy.
• Structure: 98 lines, reflective and philosophical.

Critics on Arnold

• W.A. Renaissance in Modern Literature: Praises Arnold’s perfect workmanship and response to deep, sad thoughts.
• A.C. Rickett: Notes the severity and fastidious craftsmanship in Arnold’s poetry.
• P. Wilson: Highlights Arnold’s melancholic tone compared to the optimism of Tennyson and Browning.
• H.C. Duffin: Admires Arnold’s controlled emotion and aesthetic sensibility.

Arnold’s Prose Works

Key Works:

• Essays in Criticism (1865, 1869): Discusses poetry’s role and moral values.
• Culture and Anarchy (1869): Critique of Victorian society’s materialism.
• On Translating Homer (1861): Explores the concept of Grand Style.

Social Criticism:

• Advocated for liberal education and criticized America’s materialism.

Conclusion

• Legacy: Arnold remains a significant figure in Victorian literature, known for his poetic craftsmanship and critical insights.
• Influence: His works continue to inspire discussions on modernity, faith, and human isolation.