Matthew Arnold's literary criticism has recently
been recognized as exhibiting a "controlled oscillation" between
various antithetical points of view. This thesis analyzes these
points of view, shows how Arnold sometimes succeeded in reconciling
these opposites, and then goes on to show that Eliot's
literary criticism can be analyzed in the same way.
Eliot and Arnold are shown to be both classic and
romantic critics; that is, broadly speaking, to judge both by
rules and by individual impressions. These antithetical limits
are partially, but not entirely synthesized. Next, analysis of
Arnold's criticism leads to the conclusion that Arnold usually
judged literature by the moral ideas it expressed, but that
the ideas were inextricably involved with their literary form.
Eliot finds judgment by idea distasteful because of his commitment
to Church of England dogma, but also tends, although
with less success, toward the synthesis achieved by Arnold.
Another set of antithetical viewpoints held by
Arnold and Eliot are those of the disinterested critic vs. the
social advocate. Again, a partial resolution is suggested.
Close similarity between the two critics' views on the tradition
is demonstrated, but an opposing progressive element in both
men's thought is also revealed. However, the two categories
are shown to be not mutually exclusive.
Finally, the style and critical method of Arnold and
Eliot is analyzed and is seen to exhibit antithetical tendencies.
Both critics alternate between tones of persuasiveness and
exhibitions of tactlessness. Both methods reveal a combination
of analysis and dogmatism, although Eliot's dogmatism is always
admitted to be personal opinion. Neither Arnold nor Eliot
attack a critical problem from the same viewpoint at all times;
they are pragmatic critics who will try any method that seems
to work best at the moment. / Arts, Faculty of / English, Department of / Graduate
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UBC/oai:circle.library.ubc.ca:2429/41678 |
| Date | January 1959 |
| Creators | Brooks, Heather Alleyne |
| Publisher | University of British Columbia |
| Source Sets | University of British Columbia |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, Thesis/Dissertation |
| Rights | For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use. |
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