The Victorian Period produced many who transformed writing into a whole new experience. Among the cornerstone writers for this era was Matthew Arnold, poet and critic.  He was born at Laleham to Thomas Arnold,  historian, and Mary Arnold. He grew up well educated from Winchester, Rugby, and Oxford.  His educational background gave him the variety to explore avenues of writing and expound his emotional creativity through poetry. He was the recipient of several poet writers prizes, such as  Newdigate Prize.  He became a school inspector and a cultural critic, which consumed much of his creative time.  

Arnold's literary career began with the publication of The Strayed Reveller and Other Poems, which he received little notice even though it contained some of his most famous and poetical poetry. After relying on his critic career, he released   "Sohrab and Rustum" and "The Scholar-Gipsy" but significantly omitting "Empedocles." 

Poetry became more then a hobby for Matthew Arnold, it became a necessity. Political and religious tensions became a base for the illusive writer. He released a variety of poems that outlined the general view of humanity for the Victorian period and his work continues to influence the mind of millions through his gentle views.

It was Arnold's close friend Arthur Hugh Clough that aided and spurred him on to publish additional great works, such as New Poems (which include "Thyris and "Rugby Chapel") and the Essay on the Study of Celtic Literature.  Clough influenced the majority of Arnold's poetry and even contributed to many of his educational works.

 Matthew Arnold thrived through his literary works and transformed the educational tier of poetry. His imagination magnified a world of possibilities and a thought of individuality. The imagination is a powerful tool, of which Arnold used to direct political and religious tensions and transformed society's mental processing to a world of possibilities.

Refrence: http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/arnold/index.html