Matthew Arnold did not write prose or verse for popular entertainment. He was a prophet with a mission. An eminent Victorian, he could feel the pulse of his age and properly understand the ‘main movements’ of the time. He had the zeal of a missionary, and his chief effort was that of a sage, a moralist and a teacher. The stress which Matthew Arnold laid upon what he called ‘the classical school of poetry’, need not blind us, to the fact that the spirit of his own poetry is romantic through and through. This Critical Evaluation of Matthew Arnold’s Selected Poems has the following main features: Background Information on Matthew Arnold’s Age and His Art as a Poet Original Text of the Poems with Annotations Explanations with Critical Comments Critical Summary and Appreciation of Each Poem Critical Analysis and Discussion on Matthew Arnold’s Poetic Style and Important Textual Aspects Important University Questions with Answers Selected Literary Criticism