Historical Influences
Matthew Arnold is one of the most influential poets in recent times, his poetry being read and studied around the world for its soaring beauty and lasting insight. His influence on modern poetry is undeniable, yet it is important to understand how Arnold’s view of poetry came from his past experiences and well-developed ideas. Arnold’s writings are largely a reflection of the Victorian attitude of his time, where intelligence and culture were highly valued. He lived through a period when literature, music and the fine arts were of paramount importance, and so there was a great emphasis on finding a way to express beauty and emotion through language and images. Arnold turned to poetry to explore and express these feelings, and his views on the nature of poetry reflect this context.
Arnold’s view of poetry was strongly shaped by classical education, with poems rooted in the tradition of ancient Greek and Roman writers. His focus was on the use of language, and he was highly influenced by the classical writers Virgil and Homer who often employed similes and metaphors in their works. Arnold also heavily admired the works of French and German Romantic writers such as Vigny and Goethe, who put emphasis on the importance of emotion and psychological exploration in their works. His theory of poetry was based on their ideas of beauty and the sublime, and their willingness to express emotions in writing. Arnold believed that, like these writers, poetry should be used to capture and express the psychological and spiritual nature of experience.
Focus on Structure and Language
Arnold’s main focus was on the structure and language of poetry, which he valued and explored deeply. He was particularly interested in the use of rhyme, which he felt was an essential ingredient of poetry. In his essay, “The Study of Poetry,” he wrote, “the perfect poet will be found to avail himself of all the resources of language, both in structure and in form of phrase, in order to render his thought and his emotion complete.” Arnold’s use of language was designed to create music and poetic metaphors, and he believed that the art of poetry was part of the art of music and was deeply connected. He believed that poetry should strive to create certain feelings and emotions, and that the words chosen should be powerful and emotive. Arnold did not believe that a single style or structure should be imposed on all poetry, instead he argued that great poets should push the boundaries of language and structure in order to create the most powerful and emotive effects.
Engage the Reader
Arnold prized the ability of poetry to engage the reader and believed that it should be written in such a way that it drew readers in and made them feel a range of emotions. In his essay, “The Function of Criticism at the Present Time,” Arnold wrote, “we get from great poets a power over us which is like that which a great actor has; something that stirs and lingers in the blood long after we have ceased to be conscious of it.” The idea of engaging the reader and connecting them to the poem was deeply rooted in Arnold’s view of poetry and it was something he wished to achieve. He believed that poetry should be powerful and emotive, but also should be accessible to readers and make them think and feel.
Connection To Life and Morality
Arnold also viewed poetry as being deeply connected to life, and he often wrote of life’s struggles and joys. He felt that poetry was a way to explore life and all its facets, and often used his poetry to reflect on moral and ethical issues. Arnold believed that poetry could be a medium to express the struggles of life and give insight into morality. He wrote in his essay, “Tradition and Individual Talent,” “These moral issues can only be discussed and judged in the light of poetical rather than of scientific thought. The greatness of poetry lies in its power of expressing deep spiritual sympathies, of bringing men nearer to each other, and so of making them better.” Arnold’s focus was on the power of poetry to connect to life and explore moral issues, and he hoped that his poems would encourage readers to think deeply about these topics.
Novelty and Experimentation
Matthew Arnold sought to challenge the traditional boundaries of poetry and explored novel ways to innovate and explore through words. He was willing to experiment with form and often combined poetic devices, such as rhyme and meter, with the pure power of his words to create stunning and emotive works. Arnold felt that poets should be willing to experiment and push new boundaries in order to create effective and powerful poetry, and this is seen in his works. He wrote in his essay, “The Study of Poetry,” “The first duty of the poet is to work upon material of the most living interest, to introduce from time to time innovations and modifications in form, so that, as the writer expresses himself, “a thrilling vibration may be kept up throughout the poem and the interest maintained to the last.” Arnold’s view of poetry was one of exploration, and his works often showed his willingness to experiment and innovate.
Connection To Nature
Matthew Arnold also believed that poetry was deeply connected to nature and often sought to explore the natural world and all its beauty. In his works, he often commented on man’s relationship with nature, and explored the fragile webs of relationships between humanity and the natural world. For example, in the poem, Dover Beach, he writes of the sea’s darkness and the beauty of the sea, and how these emotions often clash to create an overall feeling of melancholy. In his essay, “The Function of Criticism at the Present Time,” Arnold wrote, “the end of all poetry is to create, in the memory, and convey to all men, memorable moods and impressions of life which shall hem in our existence and intensify it to something higher and more permanent.” Arnold felt that poetry was a way to explore the beauty of nature and create lasting impressions for readers.
What is Poetry According to Matthew Arnold?
Matthew Arnold saw poetry as a way to explore beauty, emotion, language and life. His view of poetry was shaped by the context of his time, shaped by his classical education and influenced by the works of Romantic writers. His focus was on the use of language, structure and rhymes to create powerful and emotive works. He believed that great poets should push boundaries to create new effects and engage readers. He valued the connection of poetry to life and sought to explore moral issues while exploring the beauty of nature. Arnold’s view was one of exploration and innovation and his works show great insight into his ideas.
