The Victorian poet Matthew ARNOLD (1822-1888) was an English poet and cultural critic who is best known for his long narrative poems, such as 'Dover Beach' and 'The Scholar Gypsy'. He was also a major influence on the development of literary criticism in the Victorian era. ARNOLD's work often focused on themes of morality, religion, and social issues. He was a proponent of the idea that literature should be used to improve society, and he wrote extensively about the importance of education and culture.