Question

What does Arnold believe poetry should provide to humanity?

• A. Mere entertainment
• B. Moral and intellectual enrichment
• C. Political guidance
• D. Aesthetic pleasure only

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Moral and intellectual enrichment

• Matthew Arnold believed that poetry should provide moral and spiritual guidance to humanity.

• In The Study of Poetry, he argued that poetry should replace religion as a source of truth and wisdom in an era where faith was declining.

• He saw poetry as a "criticism of life", meaning it should offer deep insights into human nature, society, and morality.

• According to Arnold, great poetry possesses high seriousness, emotional depth, and universal truth, making it essential for cultural and intellectual development.