Matthew Arnold's concept of "high seriousness" in poetry refers to a combination of moral depth, truth, and artistic excellence that makes poetry enduring and valuable.
He introduces this idea in The Study of Poetry, emphasizing that truly great poetry should not only be aesthetically beautiful but also offer profound insights into life, human nature, and morality.
For Arnold, poetry with high seriousness is characterized by:
Sublimity of thought – It deals with universal and eternal truths.
Emotional depth – It evokes deep feelings and intellectual engagement.
Moral and ethical significance – It provides wisdom and guidance for humanity.
Nobility of expression – It uses language with clarity, dignity, and precision.
He cites Homer, Dante, Shakespeare, and Milton as poets who embody this quality, considering them the highest models of poetic excellence.
