Matthew Arnold was born in Laleham, Middlesex.

He attended Rugby School in London, a school run

by his father, Thomas Arnold.. Then he was private secretary to Lord Lansdowne, he was appointed as
school inspector in 1851.

Born in December 24, 1822 in England, and died in April 15, 1888 in Liverpool
 English Victorian poet, literary and social critic.
 He started his literary career by writing poetry. In 1849, he had published his first book of poetry, The
Strayed Reveller.
 Matthew Arnold's poetry is known for its focus on the human condition and the search for meaning in
life. He often wrote about the beauty and power of nature, as well as the struggles of the individual in
the face of societal pressures and the passage of time. His work is characterized by its use of classical
allusions, elegant language, and a melancholic tone. Arnold's poetry also reflects his deep interest in the
culture, politics, and religion of his time.
 Arnold has been characterized as being overly serious. His views were influenced by the Ancient Greeks
and Romans, whose writing styles he emulated. In addition, Arnold believed the society he lived in
could learn much from ancient culture. He felt he was surrounded by chaos and a lack of morality, so
Arnold admired the Ancients’ poise and clear thought.
 At the age of 31, he published his first piece of criticism as a Preface to the Poems’ 1853, and then As a
critic, he talks about social issues, science, religion, and education. Eventually, Arnold transitioned from
poetry to literary and social criticisim
 Lastly Arnold turned to religion, the constant preoccupation and true centre of his whole life, and
wrote St. Paul and Protestantism (1870), Literature and Dogma (1873), God and the Bible (1875),
and Last Essays on Church and Religion (1877). In these books, Arnold really founded Anglican
“modernism. Arnold considered his religious writings to be constructive and conservative
 Arnold is famous for introducing a methodology of literary criticism through his Essays in Criticism
(1865, 1888), which influence critics to this day. Arnold believed that literary criticism should be treated
objectively, and that objective principles for the study of poetry could be devised by scholars with the
fortitude to treat literary analysis with the same sort of scrutiny and discipline found in the natural
sciences.
 He brought a unique perspective to his criticism, combining his background in classical literature, his
deep knowledge of contemporary European thought, and his own poetic sensibilities.
Arnold’s criticism falls into three periods:
◦ 1. The First Period (1853 – 1866) In this period, he produced the following works:
• The Preface to the Poem 1853.
• On Translating Homer 1856.
• Essays in Criticism, first series 1865.
• On the study of Celtic literature 1866.
2. The Second Period (1867 – 1875)
 In this period, he was involved for more than a decade in political, educational, social, and religious
controversies of the day. The chief works of this period:
 Culture and Anarchy 1869.
 Literature and Dogma 1875.
3. The Third Period (1875 to his death)
In this period, he retired from contemporary controversies and devoted himself again to his literary
studies.
 Essay in Criticism, Second series (1888)