Discuss Arnold’s views on the characteristics of good poetry

Answer

Discuss Arnold’s views on the characteristics of good poetry. 

Matthew Arnold (1822 – 1888), in his essay “The Study of Poetry” (1880), discusses what makes poetry truly great. He believes poetry is very important in our lives because it can guide us, comfort us, and help us understand life better. According to Arnold, only poetry that is truly excellent can do this, not religion. He shares simple points about the qualities that make good poetry.

Criticism of Life: Arnold thinks good poetry should teach us something about life. He calls this a “criticism of life.” Poetry should not just be about pretty words but should show us truths about human experiences. He praises “Dante’s Divine Comedy” because it discusses life’s big questions with truth and beauty. Arnold praises poets like Homer and Shakespeare for their deep understanding of life, stating, 

“In poetry, criticism of life under the conditions fixed for such a criticism by the laws of poetic truth and poetic beauty, the spirit of our race will find its consolation and stay.”

High Seriousness: Arnold argues that the best poetry is marked by “high seriousness,” which he traces back to Aristotle. High seriousness refers to the treatment of important themes with seriousness and deepness. According to Arnold, poets like Homer, Dante, and Shakespeare possess this quality in abundance. He writes, 

“The substance of Chaucer’s poetry, his view of things and his criticism of life…has not this high seriousness.” 

For Arnold, without high seriousness, poetry cannot achieve the greatness that makes it timeless.

Poetic Truth and Poetic Beauty: Matthew Arnold says that great poetry needs both “Poetic Truth” and “Poetic Beauty.” Poetic truth means showing life honestly and with deep meaning. Poetic beauty is how the poem sounds and looks—its style and language. Arnold says, 

“The best poetry is what we want; the best poetry will be found to have a power of forming, sustaining, and delighting us as nothing else can.”

This means that when a poem has both truth and beauty, it becomes powerful and lasting.

Superior Style and Language: Arnold says the style and words of a poem should be clear, beautiful, and powerful. The way a poet writes is as important as what they write about. He says that the “diction and movement” of a poem must match the truth and seriousness of its message. He uses lines from poets like Shakespeare to show how great poets use both style and substance together.

Focus on Real Estimate: Arnold warns against the dangers of the historic estimate (valuing a poem because of its historical significance) and the personal estimate (valuing a poem based on personal preferences). He argues that these approaches often lead to misjudging the true value of poetry. For example, just because a poem is old doesn’t mean it’s great. And just because we like a poem doesn’t mean it’s really good. Instead, he encourages readers to focus on “The Real Estimate”. This estimate criticizes life according to the principles of poetic truth and beauty. He argues, 

“Our estimate of poetry should be governed by the real estimate, based on the presence or absence of high poetic quality.”

Focusing only on a poem’s truth, beauty, and seriousness can help us better appreciate its real value.

In simple words, Matthew Arnold teaches us that good poetry is more than just nice words. It should talk about deep and serious topics, show truths about life, and be written in a beautiful way. Arnold’s ideas show us that poetry has the power to guide and comfort us when it is written with true excellence.