Why did Matthew Arnold value Milton and Wordsworth as poets?

Matthew Arnold valued John Milton and William Wordsworth as poets because he considered them among the "acknowledged masters" of literature.12

In his critical work, particularly in "The Study of Poetry," Arnold argued that in an age of declining religious certainty, poetry should serve to interpret, console, and sustain human life. To distinguish superior poetry from the inferior, he advocated for the use of "touchstones"—specific passages from great poets that exemplify "high seriousness" and a mastery of diction and movement.1

Arnold viewed these poets as essential for the modern spirit because their work provided a profound "criticism of life," which he defined as an evaluation of existence conducted under the laws of poetic truth and beauty. By steeping oneself in the works of masters like Milton and Wordsworth, one could foster an awakened intelligence and resist the provinciality and spiritual bleakness of the Victorian era. Ultimately, Arnold placed Wordsworth in the highest tier of English poets, ranking him alongside Milton.12