Wordsworth : Preface to Lyrical Ballads

Essay by noone January 2005

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William Wordsworth : an English poet who belongs to the expressive theory of the 19th century .

Industrial Revolution:

The French Revolution:

A term applied to the social & economic A political upheaval that was caused by

changes that mark the transition from the political , social & intellectual discrimination.

stable agricultural & commercial society

to modern industrial society.

The Expressive Theory: (third stage)

1. The focus now is on the relationship between the artist and the work of art that represents him.

2.The main interest is human's passions and feelings.

What is Preface to Lyrical Ballads?

An attempts to use the language of ordinary speech in poetry, this famous book introduced Romanticism to England. It contained an essay outlining Wordsworths poetic principles.

What is poetry?

``It is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility``.(p.312)

Immediate extreme passions (a poet shouldn't write in this stage)Ã recollected rational feelings (the right stage to start writing)Ã good balanced poetry.

Who is the poet?

A very general term that identifies the person who sees beauty in everything . He must have the following qualifications:

1-`` A man speaking to men.`` (p.307) which explains the simplicity of his language.

2-`` endued with more lively sensibility.`` (p.307) a man sensitive to the highest extreme.

3-``who has a greater knowledge of human nature.`` (p.307) which reflect his subjectivity.

4- ``who rejoices more than other men in the spirit of life.`` (p.307) he knows how to enjoy life.

5-``to create them (pleasures) where he does not find them.`` (p.307) he must be able to create pleasure where it cant be found.

What is the poet's job?

1. His job is to create some balance between powerful emotions and excitement, by using meter and rhythm that regulate the beats...