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Critical analysis of Matthew Arnold's Touchstone Method

  Critical analysis of   Matthew Arnold's Touchstone Method Matthew Arnold’s Touchstone Method, introduced in his essay The Study of Poetry (1880), is a landmark in literary criticism. It represents Arnold’s attempt to establish objective criteria for evaluating poetry by comparing contemporary works to excerpts from the masterpieces of great poets such as Homer, Dante, Shakespeare, and Milton. While the method has been influential in shaping literary criticism, it has also been critiqued for its limitations and subjective nature. This expanded analysis explores the strengths, weaknesses, and legacy of the Touchstone Method in greater detail. Strengths of the Touchstone Method 1. Objectivity in Literary Evaluation One of Arnold’s primary goals with the Touchstone Method was to introduce objectivity into literary criticism. He argued that critics often fall into two traps when evaluating poetry: The Historical Estimate: Judging a poem based on its historical importance rathe...

William Wordsworth's Theory of Poetic Diction

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                                William Wordsworth's Theory of Poetic Diction Inrtoduction: William Wordsworth (1770-1850) was an English Romantic poet  and one of the most influential figures in English Literature. He is best known for his pionereeing role in launching the Romantic Age alongside Samuel Taylor Coleridge with thier point publication  Lyrical Ballads (1798),  which emphasized themes of nature, emotion, and the use of simple, everyday language in poetry.  Wordsworth’s poetic career began with works such as An Evening Walk (1793) and Descriptive Sketches (1793). However, his collaboration with Coleridge marked a turning point. Together, they produced Lyrical Ballads, which introduced a revolutionary approach to poetry by focusing on ordinary life and emotions expressed in simple language. His magnum opus, The Prelude, is a semi-autobiographical poem chronicling the “growth...

Introduction to Language

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Shikshan Prasarak Sanstha’s Padmabhushan Vasantraodada Patil Mahavidyalaya, Kavathe Mahankal DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH B. A. PART - II LINGUISTICS (I.D.S) (Paper - I) (Semester - III) LANGUAGE AND LINGUISTICS (CBCS with MEME   by   NEP) QUESTION PAPER PATTERN June 2023 Onwards Detailed Syllabi ( June 20232 Onwards)     Course Objectives: §   To acquaint the students with Language and Linguistics in general. §   To acquaint the students with Phonetics and Phonology. §   To acquaint the students with Morphology and Syntax. §   To acquaint the students with the concepts of Semantics and Pragmatics. Course Outcomes : After completing the course, the student will be able to: §   Know about language and linguistics. §   Learn the concepts of Phonetics and Phonology §   Understand  the  basics of Morphology and Syntax §   Acquaint with Semantics an...

Neo-Classical Criticism - Dr. Samuel Johnson’s Preface to Shakespeare (1765)

Dr. Samuel Johnson’s  Preface to Shakespeare  (1765) Introduction: Dr. Samuel Johnson’s  Preface to Shakespeare  (1765) is one of the most famous and influential pieces of literary criticism in the English language. Written as part of his eight-volume edition of Shakespeare's plays, the Preface reflects Johnson’s critical perspective on Shakespeare’s genius, as well as his faults.  Key points and themes covered in the Johnson's  Preface to Shakespeare: 1. Timelessness of Shakespeare’s Works Johnson begins by praising Shakespeare’s ability to transcend time. He argues that Shakespeare’s plays remain relevant because they explore universal human nature, emotions, and experiences. For Johnson, the playwright captures the complexities of human behavior, making his works appeal to readers and audiences of all generations. He famously writes that Shakespeare's characters "are the genuine progeny of common humanity, such as the world will always supply, and observ...