"Wordsworth's Preface to Lyrical Ballads. ":-
Hello readers! Here I am going to write down an another blog on william wordsworth's preface to lyrical ballads. This blog is inspired by Dr. Dilip sir barad as a part of thinking activity. In this blog, I am sharing my understanding about this topic. I am answering to some allotted questions on the basis of my learning and knowledge.
About william Wordsworth :-
William wordsworth ( 7 April - 1770 to 23 April 1850 ) was an English romantic poet. He was one of the founders of English romanticism and one it's most central figures and important intellects. He is remembered as a poet of spiritual and epistemological speculation, a poet concerned with the human relationship to nature. William wordsworth is best known for his " Lyrical Ballads. "
The " Preface to the Lyrical Ballads. " Is an essay, composed by William wordsworth, for the second edition ( published in January 1801 , and often referred to as the 1800 Edition). It has come to be seen as a de Factomanifesto of the romantic movement.
The four important guidelines of the menifesto include :-
1. Ordinary life is the best subject for poetry. and the best example for that is 'The solitary Reaper. ' ( poem)
2. Wordsworth used common man's language.
3. Everyday language is best suited for poetry.
4. Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of emotion that recollected in tranquility.
His essay " Preface to Lyrical Ballads " by William wordsworth begins with a discussion of the collection of poems, written mostly by wordsworth with contributions by S. T. Coleridge. It was originally published in the year 1798. He felt his poems were of a new theme and style. and he felt that they needed an introduction.
According to some scholars, Coleridge wanted to write the preface, but never got around it. So, the work fell upon wordsworth. and this is how he has written " Preface to the Lyrical Ballads. "
Question 1 : What is the basic difference between the poetic creed of classicism and Romanticism?
Answer : In this question, we have to differentiate Classicism and Romanticism. This is a very pertinent question.
Classicism and Romanticism these two are not only different ages in the history of English literature. But, these are two ideologies. First we have to understand both of these ideologies and than we have to compare it with each other.
Classicism :-
Classicism is an art style and as the first theory of art was defined by the ancient Greeks, emulated by the romans. and then continued to appear on various forms across the centuries.
Both ancient Greek and ancient Romans writers stressed Restraint reason reflected in theme and structure, and a unity of purpose and design.
In short , we can say that classicism is a term used to describe literature that reflected the thoughts and ideas from Ancient Greece and roman. Classicism sometimes also called as Neo - classicism.
Romanticism :-
Romanticism is a literary movement. Romanticism ( also known as the Romantic movement or Romantic era). Was an artistic, literary, musical and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century. Romanticism was characterized by its emphasis on emotion and individualism.
The early period of the Romantic era was a time of war, with the French Revolution. we can say that " A NEW BEGINNING ARISES IN THE AGE OF ROMANTICISM. "
In the literature, Romanticism found recurrent themes in the evocation of sensibility.
During the French Revolution happens in Romantic age or era, " Liberty, Equality, and fraternity became slogan for all.. ''
Now let's compare both of these ages or ideologies with each other that In what way they how they differ..
In classicism - Intellect is the guiding force of the poetry. While In Romanticism - Imagination is the guiding force of the Poetry. So this is the one difference that we can notice.
Another Important difference we find in classicism and Romanticism is that restrained the poetry. While In romanticism we will not be able to find any kind of restrictions. They believed in liberty means freedom. Romantic poets believed that A poet is free to express everything the way he likes.
During classicism or we can say classical age city life or urban life was Presented in the works of art. While, In the Romantic age or romanticism we can find that rustic life was presented. It is the life of rural people which attract them the most. They sang the glory of rural people.
Romantic poetry is subjective. But, classical poets believed in objectivity. So, these all are the points in which they differ from each other.
Now I am placing one video here so, that By watching that you can get better idea about The Difference between classicism and Romanticism..
Question 2 : Why does wordsworth say 'what ' is poet? rather than 'who' is poet?
Answer : In this question, we have to understand william wordsworth's definition of a ' poet.' We have one question that why william wordsworth used 'what' instead of 'who. '
Generally, when we want to ask something we always use - 'Who. ' But as we all know that here willam wordsworth asked " What is a poet? " and he defined the word poet in a very interesting way.
" In preface to Lyrical Ballads " Wordsworth explained & expressed his thoughts and opinions about a poet.
He defines poet as :-
1. A Poet is a man of more comprehensive soul.
2. A poet is different from others.
3. He has a greater knowledge of human nature.
4. The poet is a man speaking to men.
According to William wordsworth :-
A poet is pleased with his own passions and volitions. He has a great imaginative power The poet's curiosity and interest in life is intense. Poet's soul is very powerful and creative.
Wordsworth also defined that a " A poet must be one of the common human beings." He should feel what others also feel. and according to that he should describe the common feelings in his work.
So, we can say that willing wordsworth elaborately describe the poet in his Essay - " Preface to Lyrical Ballads. " Wordsworth avoids classical tendencies and adopts romantic attitude.
I would like to conclude my answer by saying that If wordsworth had not used What instead of Who , we can never understand these qualities of a poet.
Question 3 : What is poetic diction? Which sort of poetic diction is suggested by Wordsworth in his preface?
Answer : If we simply want to define poetic diction is " A choice of words , which lends to a unique style for particular poet or author. "
" Poetic diction is the term used to refer to the linguistic style, the vocabulary and the metaphors used in the writing of poetry. "
" Wordsworth's poetic diction :"
William wordsworth 's poetic diction is a revolution against classical diction. He believed that in poetry ;
" A language totally has a new style and new form. "
He wants that his poetry can be Understandable by all. In his theory of poetic diction wordsworth ' s main focus was only on language. He uses a language that is " Really used by common man. "
He was a romantic poet and he wants that the style, diction, themes and the subject of poetry was totally different from the previous writers.
In the theory of poetic diction , he explains in detail his aim of poetic diction with certain points.
1. Simple language
2 . Low and rustic life
3. Common man
4. Nature
5. Emotions
6. Understandable by all.
William wordsworth also have three important principles of poetic diction.
1. The language of poetry should be the language " Really used by men. " There is not any kind of artificiality in that. It should be a selection of such language.
2. It should be the language of men in a state of vivid sensation. It shop have a certain colouring of Imagination.
3. There is no essential difference between the words used in prose and in metrical composition.
So, these are the very three important principles he gave to us in his theory of poetic diction.
There was ome controversy between Wordsworth and his good, one time friend Coleridge. " In Biographia Literia" 1817 there is an extensive session On Coleridge 's disagreement with wordsworth's poetic diction. He questioned that ;
" My dear friend what do you actually mean by language really used by men? "
By Implying that - " People who lived in city are not real men? "
Wordsworth has answers in his preface. He believed that ;
" A humbleness in rustic life and country side life. "
For better understanding, we will have a look on one of his famous poem Daffodils.
" I wandered lonely as a cloud ( also commonly known as Daffodils) " Is a lyric poem by William wordsworth. It is considered as one of his best and most popular poem.
Daffodils is a poem which has four stanzas. and out of four, first top three stanzas are in past tense. We can see that the poet starts with ;
" I wandered lonely as a cloud.....
Ten thousand saw I at a Glance. "
When poem comes it into the last or final stanza at that time he used present tense;
" For often when on my couch I lie,
In vaccant Or in pensive mood,
They flash upon the inward eye,
Which is the bliss of solitude. "
So we can say that this poem gave us the great exercise of a language and grammar also. If we follow this poem - Daffodils stanza by stanza we will find that how this recollection in tranquility ends.
Watch this video for your better understanding about the poem - Daffodils.
So, with the reference of the poem - Daffodils we can understand that how this poem worked in nutshell. and became one of the best example of wordsworth's poetic creed.
Conclusion :
In conclusion, we can say that In William wordsworth's preface to lyrical ballads he gave information about major aspects of poetry & poet.
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