Preface to Lyrical Ballads: summary
In the preface to Lyrical Ballads, William Wordsworth provides us a wide vision of his style of poetry. Wordsworth pursues to break out from the previous poetry and he consequently bases his poetry on simplicity. As such, his themes deal with humble and rustic life. He uses these themes since: feelings can be freely expressed, the manners of rural life are simple thus encouraging the understanding of human nature, and human passions are linked to nature being subsequently more durable. Moreover, regarding his language and characters, both are connected to rustic life: characters are close to nature and to a state of simplicity and therefore, they are able to have elementary feelings and passions. Furthermore, Wordsworth stated that there are no personifications of abstract ideas in his volumes and that he pretends to adopt the language of man. For that, he includes what is usually called poetic diction. By doing this, he is able to bring this language near to the language of man. His writing attracts the common man and can be understood by every man. In addition, in relation to the metre, Wordsworth defends its use and he supports the idea that it is a source of pleasure.
On the other hand, Wordsworth provides us his conceptions of what a poet is and what is poetry. For him, a real poet is: “a man speaking to men: a man, it is true, endued with more lively sensibility, more enthusiasm and tenderness, who has a greater knowledge of human nature, and a more comprehensive soil, that are supposed to be common among mankind” (255). He does not consider Poetry as a simple amusement, but as a superior pleasure. For him, poetry is “the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility” (266). Finally, he highlights the importance of interpreting a poem through reader’s own