In Search of the Golden Light: The Classicism of Matthew Arnold in his Essay “The Study of Poetry”

Abstract

Poetry is one of the genres of literature that has been given considerable critical attention it so deserves from the classical time to our modern era. It has found expressions and critical commentaries in the works of both poets and non-poets alike. Poetry as a branch of literature has its antecedent in the early Greek practices with which they sought to project their worldview and understand themselves better. From study, poetry originated among the early Greek classical writers. It originated from two major essence, one being man’s love for imitation, the other from man’s love for music and harmony. Overtime, poetry has survived from the early practices, in the praise singing poise and worship of their gods to find better expression in several issues as it relates and affects life. Poetry as we see today across cultures, countries and continents has undergone several linguistic influences and cultural re-adjustment in its bid to satisfy the yearning taste of the given society and for its fuller understanding and appreciation. This could account for the varieties of forms, components and manner of poetic composition evident in the poetry of many poets that exist in a homogenous society. More than any other poet, Matthew Arnold was bothered about the true nature of poetry and what from his perspective poetry ought to take. This paper studied Matthew Arnold’s concept of poetry and the classical qualities he outlined in his Study of Poetry which he believes is the real grandeur and ingredient that makes poetry great, unique and been sought after over and over again.