Who among the following refers to “high seriousness” as a quality of a great poet and quotes john Milton to prove the same?
[A] T. S Eliot
[B] Ezra pound
[C] Matthew Arnold
[D] I. A. Richards
[E] G. M. Hopkins
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

The correct option is C only (Matthew Arnold).

Detailed Explanation:
Matthew Arnold, a preeminent Victorian critic and poet, introduced the concept of "high seriousness" in his influential essay "The Study of Poetry" (1880). He argued that the highest class of poetry must possess both "poetic truth" and "poetic beauty," which together provide a superior "criticism of life" under the laws of poetic form and substance.

To help readers and critics identify these qualities in literature, Arnold proposed the "touchstone method." This approach involves comparing lines of the poetry being evaluated against selected passages of recognized master poets. These benchmark passages serve as "touchstones" for detecting high poetic value.

Among the classic poets Arnold selects as touchstones is John Milton. Arnold quotes lines from Milton's Paradise Lost to illustrate the grand style, elevated tone, and thematic depth that define "high seriousness" in English verse. Since Matthew Arnold is represented by statement C, the correct choice is "C only".