--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The reason why Matthew Arnold, to my…" description: "\"The reason why Matthew Arnold, to my feeling, fails entirely as a poet (though no doubt his ideas were good - at least, I am told they were) is that he..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d98/edith-sitwell-8023_doubt_the-reason-why-matthew-arnold-to-my-feel_76278.png" --- # The reason why Matthew Arnold, to my feeling, fails… ![“The reason why Matthew Arnold, to my feeling, fails entirely as a poet (though no doubt his ideas were good - at least, I am told they were) is that he had no sense of touch whatsoever. Nothing made any impression on his skin. He could feel neither the shape nor the texture of a poem with his hands.” quote by Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d98/edith-sitwell-8023_doubt_the-reason-why-matthew-arnold-to-my-feel_76278.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d98/edith-sitwell-8023_doubt_the-reason-why-matthew-arnold-to-my-feel_76278.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d98/edith-sitwell-8023_doubt_the-reason-why-matthew-arnold-to-my-feel_76278.png) > “The reason why Matthew Arnold, to my feeling, fails entirely as a poet (though no doubt his ideas were good - at least, I am told they were) is that he had no sense of touch whatsoever. Nothing made any impression on his skin. He could feel neither the shape nor the texture of a poem with his hands.” [Edith Sitwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-sitwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Arnold's poetry lacks visceral, sensory engagement, making it intellectually sound but emotionally flat. **In simple terms:** Poetry needs tactile feeling. Key Takeaway Sensory depth matters. Themes Aesthetic criticism Sensory perception Literary evaluation Poetic form Emotional resonance Mood Reflective Analytical Type Critique Observation When to use this quote - Literary criticism - Creative writing workshops - Academic lectures - Poetry reading groups Key Concepts Touch metaphor Poetic texture Critical assessment Practical Applications - Teaching poetry analysis - Guiding writers to evoke senses Questions to Reflect On - How does tactile imagery affect a poem's impact? - Can intellectual ideas replace sensory experience in art? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Matthew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matthew/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) ## Related quotes > [When Abraham Lincoln was murdered The one thing that interested Matthew Arnold Was that the assassin shouted in Latin As he lept on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-morley/when-abraham-lincoln-was-murdered-the-one-thing-that-interested/) [Christopher Morley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-morley/) > [“Matthew Arnold was a fastidious social critic and hence an accomplished complainer. 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