Life of Matthew Arnold

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Arnold was born at leleham near London on December 24, 1822. he was the eldest son of Thomas Arnold who later became head master of the famous public school at Rugby. after having been at Winchester and Rugby, Arnold went to Oxford in 1841, having won a Balliol scholarship. here he won a prize for verse by his poem on Cromwell. Arnold was made a fellow of Oriel in 1845 where he became intimate with Arthur Hugh Clough. he served as a private secretary to Lord Lansdowne in 1847 and in 1849 his volume of poems THE STRAYED REVELLER and other poems appeared. in 1851 Arnold married and soon after accepted an appointment as inspector of schools. in 1852 a second volume appeared but was quickly withdrawn.. in 1853 appeared poems by Arnold which contained SOHRAB AND RUSTAM, THE SCHOLAR GIPSY. in 1885 another volume of poems appeared. in 1887 Arnold published MEROPE, a classical tragedy.
In 1857 Arnold was elected professor of poetry at Oxford and was re elected for another five years in 1862. he published his ESSAYS IN CRITICISM in 1865 and became the most outstanding literary critic in England. a collected edition of arnold's poem was published in 1869. Arnold died on april 15,1888 at Liverpool.
Arnold's poems are an expression of his views of poetry, a criticism of life. mist and moonlight are his favourites. the tremulous Cadence appeal to him. his similies have a Homeric simplicity about them.
Arnold's key symbols are MOON, COOL WATER etc. 

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