Bridge Course: Wordsworth's Preface in lyrical ballad.
๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ต๐ป๐ฎ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐๐ฎ'๐ ๐ฏ๐น๐ผ๐ด
Preface to lyrical ballad by William Wordsworth
๐โ๐โ๐๐ป๐โ๐๐๐โ :๐๐๐๐๐๐ธ๐ ๐๐โ๐ป๐๐๐โ๐โ
William Wordsworth (1770–1850) was a major English Romantic poet who, along with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literature with their joint publication, Lyrical ballad, in 1798. Wordsworth is best known for his deep love of nature and his belief that nature could inspire deeper emotional and spiritual understanding. His most famous work, The prelude, is a semi-autobiographical poem that explores his own development as a poet. Wordsworth's poetry often focused on the ordinary, the rural, and the everyday, celebrating the beauty and simplicity of life. He was appointed Poet Laureate in 1843 and held the position until his death in 1850.
Preface to lyrical ballad : The "Preface to Lyrical Ballads," written by William Wordsworth for the 1800 edition of Lyrical Ballads, is a foundational text of Romantic literature. In this preface, Wordsworth outlines his ideas about poetry, emphasizing a departure from the formal and ornate style of 18th-century poetry.[ Lyrical ballad ]
Wordsworth's thought about poet :
In the Preface to Lyrical Ballads, when William Wordsworth asks "what is a poet?" rather than "who is a poet?", he is emphasizing the role, nature, and function of the poet rather than focusing on the individual identity or personal characteristics of a poet. By asking "what is a poet?", Wordsworth is concerned with defining the essence and responsibilities of a poet within society and literature.
This approach allows him to explore the poet's broader significance:
1. Role and Function: Wordsworth sees the poet as someone who has a special sensitivity to emotions and the ability to express those emotions in a way that resonates with others. He believes that poets possess a unique capacity to connect with human experiences and to communicate universal truths.
2. Universal Qualities: By focusing on "what" a poet is, Wordsworth highlights the universal qualities that all poets should embody, such as imagination, insight, and the ability to convey deep emotions through language.
3. Philosophical Inquiry: Wordsworth's question reflects a more philosophical inquiry into the nature of poetry itself. He is interested in understanding the essence of poetry and the poet's role in society, rather than merely identifying individual poets.
In this way, Wordsworth elevates the concept of the poet from being merely a person who writes verses to being someone who plays a crucial role in society by capturing and expressing the deeper truths of human existence.
Poetic diction :
Poetic diction refers to the choice of words, phrasing, and linguistic style that poets use to create a specific effect or mood in their poetry. It involves selecting words that convey deeper meanings, emotions, and imagery beyond everyday language. Poetic diction often includes the use of figurative language, such as metaphors, similes, and symbolism, as well as attention to sound, rhythm, and tone.
Traditionally, poetic diction was more formal and elevated than regular speech, using sophisticated or even archaic language. However, modern poetry often blends everyday language with artistic expression, emphasizing clarity and accessibility while still maintaining the unique qualities of poetry.
In essence, poetic diction is the language that makes poetry distinct from prose, contributing to its beauty, depth, and emotional resonance.
Wordsworth suggetion about Poetic diction :
In William Wordsworth's famous attack on the neo-classical theory of a special language for poetry, in his preface to 1800 Lyrical Ballads, he claimed: "There is no difference between the language of poetry and the language of prose." It states that the poetic speech of the eighteenth century authors artificial and unnatural. Wordsworth's main concern is not only with the grammatical order of a word or discourse, but with the figurative departure from literary discourse. Wordsworth's main aim is to show that such deviations in poetry are justified only when they match the imagination and thought which the poet wishes to universalize and that is in the speech of everyday life.
Wordsworth argued that poetry should use the language of ordinary people, especially the rural and common folk.For Wordsworth, poetry was "the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings." He believed that simple, everyday language could express profound emotions and experiences effectively, without needing grand or complex words.
Wordsworth's suggestion about poetic diction was to embrace simplicity, authenticity, and emotional depth, moving away from the elevated, artificial language that had dominated poetry before him.
Poetry definition :
"poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings."
- Wordsworth
Poetry is rooted in the inner feelings of the poet. It is a matter of passion, mood and temperament. Poetry cannot be produced by strictly following the rules laid down by the classicists. It should flow naturally and easily from the soul of the poet. But good poetry, according to Wordsworth, is never an immediate expression of such powerful emotions. A good poet should reflect on them long and deeply. In the words of Wordsworth, "Poetry has its root in feelings recollected in peace."
Wordsworth's poetry is deeply philosophical, focusing on the spiritual connection between humans and nature. He views nature as a guide and a source of healing, emphasizing personal experience, memory, and imagination. His work critiques industrialization and modern life, advocating for simplicity and a return to nature. Wordsworth also explores the sublime, finding awe and wonder in nature, and reflects on solitude as a means of deep contemplation. His poetry blends universal truths with the everyday lives of common people, highlighting the dignity and wisdom in ordinary experiences.
Poetry analysis :
Emotion and Imagination:
For Wordsworth, poetry was "the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings," and it should originate from deep emotional experiences. He emphasized the importance of imagination in transforming ordinary events into poetic subjects.
Nature as a Moral Force:
Wordsworth believed that nature was a source of spiritual and moral guidance. His poems often explore the relationship between humans and nature, suggesting that nature has the power to nurture the human spirit and teach valuable life lessons.
The Role of the Poet:
Wordsworth viewed the poet as someone with a heightened sensitivity to the world and a unique ability to communicate profound truths. The poet’s role was to present the beauty and significance of ordinary experiences in a way that would resonate with readers.
Wordsworth's statement that "a language materially different from the actual language of men under any circumstances was thus insensibly produced" is a criticism of the artificial and over-ornamental language used in much of the poetry of his time. This comment comes from his Preface to Lyrical Ballads (1800), where Wordsworth outlines his poetic principles and challenges traditional notions of poetic diction.
Wordsworth's claimed :
According to Wordsworth, as stated in his preface to Lyrical Ballads, the poet is basically "a man speaking to men", emphasizing the idea that the poet communicates directly with the common experiences and feelings of the people. Wordsworth sees poets as individuals of heightened sensitivity, who can experience and articulate feelings and thoughts more deeply.
He argues that poets have a "lively sensibility" and the ability to feel and express emotions with greater intensity and depth than ordinary people. This heightened emotional awareness and enthusiasm enables poets to connect more deeply with readers, resonating human experiences and truths. Wordsworth believes that this emotional richness allows poets to capture the essence of human emotion and the natural world in a way that is authentic and profoundly moving.
Thus, in Wordsworth's view, the poet's role is to connect personal experience with universal human emotions, making his work both deeply personal and broadly relatable.
WordsWorth's thoughts about poet :
Wordsworth believes that poets are endowed with a keen sensitivity to the human condition, which allows them to understand the complexities of emotions, thoughts, and experiences more fully than others. This "greater knowledge" stems from the poet's ability to observe and reflect on life's acute awareness that transcends ordinary experience. By connecting deeply with both their inner selves and the world around them, poets are able to access universal truths and express them in ways that resonate with others.
The idea of a "broad soul" suggests that poets are not only more attuned to human emotions but also have a broader, more inclusive perspective on life. This allows him to empathize with a wide range of experiences and emotions, making his work accessible and relatable to people from different walks of life. Wordsworth's emphasis on the poet's "broad soul" aligns with his belief that poetry should be grounded in the everyday experiences of ordinary people, yet enhanced by the poet's unique vision and insight.
In sum, Wordsworth's view is that poets play a crucial role in society by illuminating the depths of human nature and sharing their insights with others. Their ability to do so stems from their high sensitivity, emotional depth, and broad perspective on life, which sets them apart from the average person. Through their work, poets help others understand and appreciate the richness of the human experience.
Definition of poetry by Wordsworth :
William Wordsworth's definition of poetry, "the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings," emphasizes the emotional origin and authentic expression of poetic works. He believed that good poetry arises from a natural, unforced flow of strong emotions, rather than from deliberate craftsmanship or intellectual manipulation.
According to Wordsworth, poetry is not just a product of the mind, but an expression of the heart and soul. It is a genuine outpouring of feelings, thoughts, and observations that have been deeply experienced and internalized by the poet.
Wordsworth's definition emphasizes the importance of emotional sincerity and authenticity in poetry, suggesting that the best poetry is that which is born from a deep, personal connection with nature, life, and human experience.
Comments
Post a Comment