In the "Preface to Lyrical Ballads," William Wordsworth
outlines his vision for a new type of poetry that breaks away from the
traditional poetic conventions of his time. One of the key ideas that
Wordsworth emphasizes in the essay is the importance of using a language that
is natural and accessible to ordinary people. Wordsworth argues that the
language of poetry should be grounded in the "real language of men"
and should use simple, everyday words rather than lofty, artificial language.
Wordsworth's emphasis on the use of natural language is rooted in
his belief that poetry should reflect the experiences and emotions of ordinary
people. He writes, "the language of poetry is the language of all
men" and that "all good poetry is the spontaneous overflow of
powerful feelings." For Wordsworth, the use of natural language
is essential to capturing the depth and intensity of human emotions. In this
way, poetry can become a means of connecting people with one another and with
the natural world.
Wordsworth's emphasis on natural language can be seen in his own
poetry, which is characterized by a simple and direct style. In his famous poem
"I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud," for example, Wordsworth uses simple
language and vivid imagery to convey his experience of seeing a field of
daffodils:
"Continuous as the
stars that shine
And twinkle on the Milky
Way,
They stretched in
never-ending line
Along the margin of a
bay"
By using natural language and vivid imagery, Wordsworth is able to
convey the beauty and power of nature in a way that is accessible and relatable
to ordinary people.
However, Wordsworth's emphasis on natural language also sparked
controversy among some of his contemporaries, who argued that poetry should use
a more elevated and artificial style. In response to this criticism, Wordsworth
defended his use of natural language in the "Preface to Lyrical
Ballads," writing:
"The majority of the following poems are to be considered as experiments.
They were written chiefly with a view to ascertain how far the language of
conversation in the middle and lower classes of society is adapted to the
purposes of poetic pleasure."
In this passage, Wordsworth suggests that his use of natural language
was an intentional choice, driven by a desire to experiment with the
possibilities of language and to challenge traditional poetic conventions.
Wordsworth's emphasis on natural language has had a lasting impact
on the development of English poetry. His emphasis on the importance of
personal experience and the use of natural language helped to pave the way for
the Romantic literary movement, which emphasized individualism, emotion, and
the power of nature. Furthermore, Wordsworth's insistence on using a language
that is accessible to ordinary people helped to democratize poetry, making it a
form of expression that could be enjoyed by people from all walks of life.
In conclusion, William Wordsworth's "Preface to Lyrical
Ballads" is a groundbreaking essay that challenged traditional poetic
conventions and helped to pave the way for a new era of English poetry. Through
his emphasis on the use of natural language and the importance of personal
experience, Wordsworth was able to create a new style of poetry that was
grounded in the experiences and emotions of ordinary people. His legacy
continues to inspire poets and readers today, as we continue to explore the
possibilities of language and the power of poetry to connect us with one
another and with the natural world.
0 Comments
Drop your comment here ⬇