Write the life and works of Matthew Arnold.

Ans.

LIFE AND WORKS

Matthew Arnold was born on December 24, 1822. He was eldest son but second child of Dr. Arnold. He passed his childhood in the heart of Mattore in Laleham. He learnt Latin when he was quite young. He was admitted to the School of Winchester at the age of fifteen. He did not feel here good due to the unwanted atmosphere. He was later, admitted in the school of Rugby Chapel where his father was headmaster. He was not serious for his studies in his youth, when he was admitted in Oxford, he had a passion for fishing which he could not overcome.

Mathew was admitted in Balliol Gouge as a scholar for classical studies. He was a frequent wanderer with his brother, Tom and could not be serious for his studies. He was a second-class student. It was a bitter disappointment to him and his father. He redeemed himself in the Oriel College. He worked for sometime at Rugby School too. He was admirer of George Sand’s novels. For certain time Mathew remained admirer of theatres. In 1847, he was appointed as the secretary of Lord Lansdowne. He mixed here with the society of high people which he later called as ‘barbarians’.

During his several preoccupations, Mathew wrote verse and his first volume The Strayed Reveller and Other Poems was published in 1849. He appeared as a new light of poetry to his friends. After three years he published his Empedocles on Etna and Other Poems. In France he fell in love with a girl named Marguerite who inspired him for his love-poetry. Since his did not come into existence he came home in deep distress. Very soon he fell in love with Frances Lucy Wightman, the daughter of a judge. He later was appointed as inspector of Schools. He married in 1851. Their married life was a prolonged honeymoon because Lucy’s parents did not agree to this marriage. The couple had six children-four boys and two girls. Three of these boys died prematurely. It made him sad for ever. He did not like his service because he wanted something fascinating.

He visited France, Switzerland, Germany and Italy and reported to the government about the good pattern of study. In 1853 his new volume appeared with a Preface which proved to be a good contribution to literary criticism. In 1857 he was appointed as the Professor of Poetry in Oxford and retained that office for ten years. He was first teacher to address in English than Latin. He published during his service, On Translating Home. Essays in Criticism, On the Study of Celtic Literature and Culture and Anarchy. Later he wrote Friendship’s Garland and Mixed Essays two books on social criticism. He wrote on religious criticism too. St. Paul and Protestantism, Literature and Dogma, God and the Bible, and Last Essays on church and Religion.

He became a classic in his time. He became a Prophet and shared his honour with Carlyle. Arnold had an agreeable surprise when he was informed that Gladstone had offered him a pension, as a public recognition of his service to the poetry and Literature of England. He retired in 1886. He felt a pain in his chest. It was an attack of angina pectoris and yet Arnold enjoyed his social and domestic life. In 1888 his daughter and granddaughter were to have to come to England. Arnold went to receive them at Liverpool. On 15 April he jumped across a tram car to catch it. He felt an unbearable pain in his chest and dropped down dead.