Preface to Lyrical Ballads

Essay | William Wordsworth
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Why did Wordsworth select rustic materials for his poetry?

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Why did Wordsworth select rustic materials for his poetry?

William Wordsworth (1770-1850) was a great Romantic poet. He believed simple village life was best for poetry. He did not like city life and its complex ways. He wrote about farmers, shepherds, and nature. To him, rural life was more honest and full of real feelings. Here are the main reasons he chose rustic life in his poems.

Simple and Honest Life: Wordsworth thought country people lived simply. Their lives were honest and real. Their feelings were natural, not fake like city people’s. Writing about them made poems feel more true.

Close to Nature: Rustic life is close to nature. Wordsworth loved nature and its beauty. He believed nature brought out the best feelings in people. Country life helped him show this love in his poems. According to the author, 

“He considers man and nature as essentially adapted to

each other, and the mind of man as naturally the mirror of the fairest and most interesting properties of nature.”

Deep Emotions: Life in the country was hard. But people stayed strong. Their joys and sorrows were deep and real. Wordsworth thought these feelings could teach others about true life.

Plain and Clear Speech: Wordsworth wanted poetry to sound like daily talk. Village people spoke in simple ways. He used their speech to make poems easy and powerful.

In short, Wordsworth picked rustic life because it was pure and close to nature. It is full of feelings and simple to tell. He believed it showed the best side of people. By writing about village life, he made poetry easier to feel and understand. That is why many still love his work today.

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William Wordsworth
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