Matthew Arnold - The Study of Poetry: Arnold's concept of "touchstones" involves comparing passages of great poetry. What is the intended purpose of this method in evaluating poetic merit?
1
The touchstone method aims to establish a rigid hierarchy of poets and poems based on historical precedence.
2
By placing passages of acknowledged poetic excellence alongside new or less familiar works, Arnold sought to provide objective standards for discerning genuine poetic greatness based on shared qualities of high seriousness, truth, and artistic power, allowing for a more informed and less subjective evaluation.
3
Arnold believed that the touchstone method would reveal the inherent superiority of classical poetry over modern verse.
4
The touchstone method is purely a matter of personal preference and has no objective validity.