Mathew Arnold :- Thinking Activity

1 write about the one idea of Mathew Arnold which you find interesting and relevant in our time.

Answer : 'A study of poetry ' is a critical essay by Mathew Arnold.
 In this he criticises upon Art of poetry and Art of Criticism.
 He gives definition of poetry that " Poetry is the criticism of life " .
It is true that poet is critic of life and after criticising the life he became a poet .
 So this thing is also relevant and true that poet is critic of life .
    He also discussed the idea of disinterested or detachment.
It is interesting also relevant in our time. Mathew Arnold says about the first principle of criticism is the Disinterested and Detachment .
Disinterested on the part of the critic :- 1) implies freedom from all the prejudice, personal and historical.
2.)  work of literature , criticise or judged , independent work , considering its effects on author or the reader,
3.)  It should be free from all the prejudice either it historical or personal. It is very important thing for the fair judgement for the critic.

That's why its relevant our time and we can apply also in our modern literature and this theory will give amazing and new or different look towards to the our literature  and different way to analyse or criticize over literature .

About "Touch stone method "

The Study of Poetry: a shift in position - the touchstone method
Arnold's criticism of Vitet above illustrates his 'touchstone method'; his theory that in order to judge a poet's work properly, a critic should compare it to passages taken from works of great masters of poetry, and that these passages should be applied as touchstones to other poetry. Even a single line or selected quotation will serve the purpose.
From this we see that he has shifted his position from that expressed in the preface to his Poems of 1853. In
The Study of Poetry he no longer uses the acid test of action and architectonics. He became an advocate of 'touchstones'. 'Short passages even single lines,' he said, 'will serve our turn quite sufficiently'.
Some of Arnold's touchstone passages are: Helen's words about her wounded brother, Zeus addressing the horses of Peleus, suppliant Achilles' words to Priam, and from Dante; Ugolino's brave words, and Beatrice's loving words to Virgil.
From non-Classical writers he selects from Henry IV Part II (III, i), Henry's expostulation with sleep - 'Wilt thou upon the high and giddy mast . . . '. From Hamlet (V, ii) 'Absent thee from felicity awhile . . . '. From Milton's
Paradise Lost Book 1, 'Care sat on his faded cheek . . .', and 'What is else not to be overcome . . . '

2 ) writer about one idea of Mathew Arnold which you find out of date and irrelevant in our time.

Answer :  Mathew Arnold 's idea about " Touch - Stone  Method "  is out of date and irrelevant in our time. Because it providing comparison and analysis as the two primary tools for judging individual poet by comparing with the old authors . It is not fair thing because of the time and situations are keep changing on. May be the literature written in the old times is  right according to the situation and the time of that era but now it is not appropriate to comparison with the current literature or literary writer with the old literature or writer. Because the situation is changed. You not passing judgement on the bases of comparison with others.In the other way you ignored or not give much importance to their individual talents. It is not appropriate way to give any judgement which is based on the comparison with others.