The Function of Criticism at the Present Time
THE FUNCTION OF CRITICISM AT THE PRESENT TIME
Matthew Arnold
THE FUNCTION OF CRITICISM AT THE PRESENT TIME
Table of Contents
THE FUNCTION OF CRITICISM AT THE PRESENT TIME.........................................................................1 Matthew Arnold.............................................................................................................................................1
i
THE FUNCTION OF CRITICISM AT THE PRESENT TIME
Matthew Arnold
This page copyright © 2001 Blackmask Online. http://www.blackmask.com
"Our antagonist is our helper. This amicable conflict with difficulty obliges us to an intimate acquaintance with our object, and compels us to consider it in all its relations. It will not suffer us to be superficial."−−BURKE.
THE FUNCTION OF CRITICISM AT THE PRESENT TIME. MANY objections have been made to a proposition which, in some remarks of mine on translating Homer, I ventured to put forth; a proposition about criticism, and its importance at the present day. I said: "Of the literature of France and Germany, as of the intellect of Europe in general, the main effort, for now many years, has been a critical effort; the endeavour, in all branches of knowledge, theology, philosophy, history, art, science, to see the object as in itself it really is." I added, that owing to the operation in English litera− ture of certain causes, "almost the last thing for which one would come to English literature is just that very thing which now Europe most desires−−criticism;" and that the power and value of English literature was thereby impaired. More than one rejoinder declared that the importance I here assigned to criticism was excessive, and asserted the inherent superiority of the creative effort of the human spirit over its critical effort. And the other day, having been led by an excellent notice of Wordsworth published in the North British Review, to turn again to his biography, I found, in the words of this great man, whom I, for
Matthew Arnold
THE FUNCTION OF CRITICISM AT THE PRESENT TIME
Table of Contents
THE FUNCTION OF CRITICISM AT THE PRESENT TIME.........................................................................1 Matthew Arnold.............................................................................................................................................1
i
THE FUNCTION OF CRITICISM AT THE PRESENT TIME
Matthew Arnold
This page copyright © 2001 Blackmask Online. http://www.blackmask.com
"Our antagonist is our helper. This amicable conflict with difficulty obliges us to an intimate acquaintance with our object, and compels us to consider it in all its relations. It will not suffer us to be superficial."−−BURKE.
THE FUNCTION OF CRITICISM AT THE PRESENT TIME. MANY objections have been made to a proposition which, in some remarks of mine on translating Homer, I ventured to put forth; a proposition about criticism, and its importance at the present day. I said: "Of the literature of France and Germany, as of the intellect of Europe in general, the main effort, for now many years, has been a critical effort; the endeavour, in all branches of knowledge, theology, philosophy, history, art, science, to see the object as in itself it really is." I added, that owing to the operation in English litera− ture of certain causes, "almost the last thing for which one would come to English literature is just that very thing which now Europe most desires−−criticism;" and that the power and value of English literature was thereby impaired. More than one rejoinder declared that the importance I here assigned to criticism was excessive, and asserted the inherent superiority of the creative effort of the human spirit over its critical effort. And the other day, having been led by an excellent notice of Wordsworth published in the North British Review, to turn again to his biography, I found, in the words of this great man, whom I, for