MATTHEW ARNOLD'S CEITICISM 119 



clearly how British civilization looks to Hellenic 

 eyes, where it needs pruning and where it needs 

 strengthening; and he has doubtless set going cur- 

 rents of ideas that must eventually tell deeply upon 

 the minds of his countrymen. 



It is undoubtedly as a critic of literature that Ar- 

 nold is destined to leave his deepest mark. In this 

 field the classic purity and simplicity of his mind, 

 its extraordinary clearness, steadiness, and vitality, 

 are the qualities most prized. His power as a critic 

 is undoubtedly his power of definition and classi- 

 fication, a gift he has which allies him with the 

 great naturalists and classifiers. Probably no other 

 English critic has thrown into literature so many 

 phrases and definitions that are likely to become a 

 permanent addition to the armory of criticism as has 

 Arnold. Directness and definiteness are as proper 

 and as easy to him as to a Greek architect. He is 

 the least bewildering of writers. With what ad- 

 mirable skill he brings out his point on all occasions ! 

 Things fall away from it till it stands out like a tree 

 in a field, which we see all around. His genius for 

 definition and analysis finds full scope in his works 

 on "Celtic Literature," wherein are combined the 

 strictness of scientific analysis with the finest literary 

 charm. The lectures, too, on " Translating Homer, " 

 seem as conclusive as a scientific demonstration. 



A good sample of his power to pluck out the heart 

 of the secret of a man's influence may be found in 

 his essay on Wordsworth. 



"Wordsworth's poetry is great because of the 



