According to Matthew Arnold, the "Personal Estimate" in evaluating poetry refers to the tendency to allow personal emotions, preferences, or biases to influence judgment. In The Study of Poetry (1880), Arnold criticized this approach because it leads to an overly subjective assessment of poetry, where a reader might overvalue a poem simply because they have a personal connection to it, rather than evaluating its true artistic and intellectual merit.
Arnold advocated for the "Real Estimate," which involves assessing poetry based on its intrinsic quality, moral depth, and enduring value, free from historical bias or personal feelings.
