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Matthew Arnold: The Heroic Dimensions of Man's Best Self

During Matthew Arnold's lifetime England was in permanent transition: the emergence of a modern industrial society, the new science and liberalized Christianity, and the democratic and humanitarian movements. To be a writer during this time required a curious and precarious balances an alternation of steadfastness and change. Arnold's moving back and forth between the traditions of romanticism and rationalism does present a challenge to the contemporary reader; no single or systematic approach can be applied to his works. An examination of a selection of Arnold's poems, written predominantly between 1845 and 1857, shows the author's reassessment of man's place in the new cosmology as necessitated by the scientific and technological advances of the century. The poems selected also suggest movement away from the romantic concept of the greatness of the past and yesterday's larger-than-life hero toward an acceptance of the best life as represented by the present generation of men. Arnold's theory, that the best self or right reason manifests itself in heroic men, in leaders, and confirms ordinary men, is found throughout the poems studied.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc663366
Date12 1900
CreatorsDeShane, Connie Jean
ContributorsStevens, L. Robert, Hamilton, Stanley K., Sale, Richard, 1930-
PublisherNorth Texas State University
Source SetsUniversity of North Texas
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis or Dissertation
Formatiii, 81 leaves, Text
RightsPublic, DeShane, Connie Jean, Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights

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