¶ … Judging Literature
Arnold prefers a comparative method of judging literature, a topic he addresses in "The Study of Poetry." According to Arnold, historical and personal grounds can often confound the comparison. Therefore, it is important to remain as unbiased as possible or at least to acknowledge one's biases when judging literature. It is important neither to overestimate nor underestimate the relevance or importance of a piece of literature, simply because one has a special affection for it or finds it relevant to a historical issue. Arnold also refers to the ways judging literature is constrained by historical context and attitudes. The merit of the work on a personal level is going to be different from that work's merit to a broader audience. The comparative method helps to eliminate biases as much as possible.
The Function of Criticism
Literary criticism functions in several different ways. Arnold first notes that the main function of criticism is to see and understand a work of literature exactly as it is, as objectively and rationally as possible. In practice, however, this can be difficult. Arnold distinguishes between the intellectual approach to literature and criticism, and the creative approach. Also, Arnold reiterates his appreciation of the art of comparison between works. Through criticism, literature can reach a sort of transcendence, in...
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