Question

What is the "Touchstone Method" introduced by Arnold?

• A. Analyzing poetry through its historical context.
• B. Comparing poetry to the great works of classical poets like Homer and Dante.
• C. Evaluating poetry based on its popularity.
• D. Judging poetry based on its originality alone.

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Comparing poetry to the great works of classical poets like Homer and Dante.

The "Touchstone Method" introduced by Matthew Arnold is a literary criticism technique where a critic compares passages from a work being analyzed to short, well-regarded excerpts from established literary masters like Homer, Shakespeare, and Milton, using these "touchstones" to gauge the quality of the work being assessed; essentially, judging a poem's merit by comparing it to recognized classics to determine its true artistic value. 

Key points about the Touchstone Method:

• Objective evaluation:

  Arnold believed this method allowed for a more objective analysis of a work, reducing the influence of personal taste or historical context alone. 

• "Touchstones" as reference points:

  The selected passages from great works act as "touchstones" against which other works can be measured. 

• Critic's role:

  The critic is expected to identify similar qualities of emotion, depth, and expression between the "touchstone" passages and the work under analysis. 

Criticisms of the Touchstone Method:

• Oversimplification:

  Some critics argue that judging a whole work based on a few short excerpts can be reductive and may not capture the full complexity of a piece.

• Subjectivity in selection:

  Choosing which passages to use as "touchstones" can still be subjective, potentially influencing the outcome of the analysis.