Question

Who introduced the concept of touchstone in literary criticism?

• A. Matthew Arnold
• B. T.S. Eliot
• C. Aristotle
• D. William Wordsworth

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Matthew Arnold

• The concept of "touchstone" in literary criticism was introduced by the poet and critic Matthew Arnold.

• Arnold used the term in his essay "The Study of Poetry" (1880), where he argued that certain works of literature could serve as "touchstones" or benchmarks to evaluate other literary works.

• These works, which he described as examples of great poetry, provide a standard or criterion by which other poems can be judged for their quality and significance.

• Arnold's use of the term helped shape literary criticism by emphasizing the importance of timeless, exemplary works in assessing literature.