ads.”
In his “Preface to Lyrical Ballads” (1800), William Wordsworth (1770-1850) shares revolutionary ideas about poetry. He argues that poetry should use simple and everyday language. He also believes the best subjects come from ordinary life. It includes farmers, nature, and village people. His views rejected traditional poetry. Wordsworth wanted poetry to be natural, emotional, and accessible to everyone. His ideas changed English literature forever.
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. The poet believes that the language of poetry is the language of ordinary men, as he 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?”
Nature as a Source of Truth: Nature was Wordsworth’s favorite subject. He saw it as pure, peaceful, and full of truth. Unlike crowded cities, nature inspires deep feelings and clear thoughts. Poems about lakes, mountains, and forests help readers connect with life’s simple beauty. Wordsworth believed nature teaches essential lessons about humanity and emotions. 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.”
Rejection of Poetic Diction: “Poetic diction” means special words used only in poetry. Wordsworth hated this tradition. He said these fancy phrases made poetry fake and unnatural. For example, instead of saying "the sun," old poets wrote "the orb of day." Wordsworth called this unnecessary. He wanted direct, clear language that everyone could understand. His rejection of poetic diction was a significant shift in literary style. It is evident in the following quotation.
“There will be found in these volumes little of what is usually called poetic diction.”
Criticism of Wordsworth’s Views: Some critics argue that Wordsworth’s ideas are too idealistic. Not all simple language is poetic, and rural life isn’t always noble. Also, his own poems sometimes used elevated language despite his theories. However, his emphasis on natural expression and ordinary subjects still transformed poetry.
In short, Wordsworth's ideas about language and subject changed English poetry forever. He made it simple, honest, and close to life. He wanted to talk about real people and real feelings. His dislike for hard words and fake topics helped to make poetry more human. Though not everyone agreed with him, his preface became a strong guide for Romantic poets.
Continue Reading
Subscribe to access the full content
Upgrade to Premium