is “Preface to Lyrical Ballads?”
Or, How does Wordsworth appear as a mouthpiece of the plebeian in his “Lyrical Ballads?”
William Wordsworth (1770-1850) wrote the “Preface to Lyrical Ballads” (1800) to share his ideas about poetry. In this preface, he did not speak only for the rich or the educated. He spoke for the simple, village people. He believed poetry should be for everyone. It should not be just for high-class people. He wanted to show the real life of common men in his poems. That is why Wordsworth is called the poet of the common man and the voice of the plebeian.
Simple Language: Wordsworth says poetry must use everyday language. Unlike old poets who used fancy words, he writes as common people speak. This makes poetry easy to understand. He believes deep emotions are best expressed in simple words. When a shepherd or farmer reads his poems, they should feel connected. His goal is to remove the gap between poets and ordinary readers. The poet says,
“My purpose was to imitate, and as far as possible, to adopt the very language of men.”
Rural Life and Ordinary People: Wordsworth chooses the village people and nature as his main topics. He thinks city life is artificial, but rural life is pure and honest. Farmers, beggars, and children appear in his poems. Their struggles and joys reflect real human emotions. Unlike earlier poets who wrote about kings, he finds beauty in ordinary lives. This makes him a true poet of the poor and working class.
Close to Nature: Wordsworth thought that common people in the countryside were close to nature. Their life was simple and pure. Nature taught them many lessons. They lived with rivers, trees, and hills. That is why their emotions were deep and true. Wordsworth loved this life. He believed that poetry should reflect this natural way of living. His poems showed this connection. In this way, he gave importance to rural life and became the voice of nature and its people.
Defending the New Style: Wordsworth knows his simple style may seem dull to some. Many readers at that time were used to grand, decorative poetry. But he argues that true poetry must be natural. He asks readers to give his poems time. Slowly, they will see the beauty in simplicity. His defense shows his strong belief in common people’s tastes. He refuses to change his style to please the elite. The poet says,
“The poet thinks and feels in the spirit of human passions. How then can his language differ in any material degree from that of all other men who feel vividly and see clearly?”
In summary, Wordsworth gave a new life to English poetry through his writing. He made poetry simple, real, and full of human emotion. He gave the common people a voice in literature. He showed that they also have deep thoughts and feelings. His poems spoke for the poor, the unknown, and the village people. That is why he is called the poet of the common man. These also make him the mouthpiece of the plebeian in English poetry.
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