Analysis on William Wordsworth And His Poem "Michael"

By: Lee A. Zito

William Wordsworth was a revolutionary man who sought to create poetry that was personal, imaginative, and spiritual in nature. Through the popularity of his works he contributed to the Romantic Period tremendously, ushering out the age of Neo-Classic concepts. The poem "Michael", demonstrates Wordsworth's talent in blending together all of his poetic ideas and ultimately creating a beautiful Lyrical Ballad with the ability to touch the soul of everyone who reads it. An enthusiast of new ideas at the time, Wordsworth pushed for a new type of poetry of and for the common person, which he famously did. Throughout this essay is evidence showing just how he accomplished this, with full respect toward the common man, using language and imagery that was not only easy for the everyday person to comprehend, but connected Wordsworth to them as well.

To continue with the language of "Michael", Wordsworth writes in the narrative form.

Wordsworth on Helvellyn

Photograph of the gravestone of William Wordsworth...

English: Title page from: Wordsworth, William and ...

This represents the connection he feels with the common people of the story, and wants to make with those who shall read it in the future, by way of inspiring them to feel and think through his tale. He clearly states this at the beginning of the poem.

"I will relate the same for the delight of a few natural hearts; and, with yet fonder feeling, for the sake of youthful Poets, who among these hills will be my second self when I am gone."In "Michael" Wordsworth tells us about the Shepard's unfortunate story of loss and heart ache, hoping to emit some sort of heart felt reaction from the reader. Emotion and feeling, this is exactly what Wordsworth wanted to fill his Lyrical Ballads with, the common language of men mechanically speaking, but also including the language of the heart. However, Wordsworth does not...