Dr T Jeevan Kumar

What are the views expressed by Matthew Arnold’s in his critical essay “The Function of Criticism at the Present Time?” The essay “The Function of Criticism at the Present Time” is one of the most important critical essays of Matthew Arnold.   It lays down the creed for Arnold’s critical approach and practical criticism.   It is a sort of preamble to Arnold’s canons and concept of an ideal critic of life and literature.        Arnold says that critical faculty is as important as the creative faculty.   Behind every act of creative faculty there is a good deal of critical faculty.   In fact, no great work of any rank is possible with but the good deal of critical effort behind it.   So there is a great need for and importance of criticism in English literature.   It is true that the critical effort is lower in rank than the creative power.   But a man may use his critical power to produce great critical works as usually as in producing great works of art and literature.       Ar