Question

What does Arnold say about Shakespeare?

• A. He is the greatest of all poets
• B. He lacks moral and philosophical depth
• C. He is overrated as a dramatist
• D. His works have no literary excellence

Answer 1

Answer:

B. He lacks moral and philosophical depth

In The Study of Poetry (1880), Arnold praises Shakespeare for his artistic excellence, profound truth, and insight into human nature. While Arnold emphasizes "high seriousness" as a key quality of great poetry, he recognizes that Shakespeare achieves this in his own way—through his deep understanding of life, moral complexity, and unparalleled imaginative power.

However, Arnold does contrast Shakespeare with poets like Homer and Milton, who express high seriousness more explicitly. Some critics interpret Arnold’s views as suggesting that Shakespeare's dramatic form sometimes makes his moral vision less direct, but he never dismisses Shakespeare's philosophical depth. Instead, he considers him a supreme literary genius.