Wordsworth's Preface to Lyrical Ballads

 Hello, I'm Emisha Ravani, writing this blog on WORDSWORTH'S PREFACE TO LYRICAL BALLADS. Which is thinking activity given by Dr. Dilip Barad. Where I will discuss about some of the question like,

1.what is your understanding of views expressed in Wordsworth's Preface?



"Preface to the Lyrical Ballads" by William Wordsworth is an epoch-making contribution to English literature. It is a landmark of literary criticism. Wordsworth has declared a break of the Neo-classical tradition in English poetry through this piece. He has discussed the characteristics of a poet, his functions and his dominions elaborately. 
Ordinary life is the best subject for poetry. Wordsworth uses common man's language.
Everyday language is best suited for poetry
Expression of feeling is more important than action or plot. 
"Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of emotion" that "takes its origin from emotion, recollected in tranquility." 
- William Wordsworth

2.What is the basic difference between the poetic creed of 'Classicism' and 'Romanticism'?

"The Solitary Reaper" is a poem about music: the song a Scottish girl sings as she cuts hay with a sickle. Though the poem's narrator cannot understand what the girl is actually singing about, the girl's song sticks with him, its melancholy beauty echoing in his head “long after” its sound has faded.
The Rape of the Lock was written by Alexander Pope and first published in 1712, then reworked and published again in 1714. The poem is a mock-epic that satirizes the upper-class in London at the time. The story focuses on the central character, Belinda, whose lock of hair is cut off at a social gathering.
The principle distinction between neoclassicism and romanticism is that neoclassicism focuses on objectivity, reason, and Intellect. While romanticism stresses on human creativity, nature, and emotions or feelings. The romanticism movement has influenced various topics, styles, and themes. 

Classicism - intellect
Romanticism - imagination
Classicism - restraint
Romanticism - freedom
Classicism - rely to the classist 
Romanticism - rely to the medivial figures

3.Why does Wordsworth say 'What' is poet? rather than Who is poet?

The language of a poet is not different from that of other men. Wordsworth says, " A poet is a man speaking to men. " Basically there is no difference among the poets and the common men. A poet can be different from other men not in kind but only in degree. He has a comprehensive soul, inner insight and a power to express which want in common men. His passions, thoughts, and feelings will be the general passions, thoughts and feelings of mankind. He thinks and feels in the spirit of human passions. Therefore, the poet's language cannot differ in any material degree from the language of all other men who feel vividly and see clearly.

4.What is poetic diction? Which sort of poetic diction is suggested by Wordsworth in his Preface?

William Wordsworth says that personifications of abstract ideas are by no means a natural or regular part of the real language of men. He has also taken pains to avoid the use of what is called "poetic diction". He does it to bring the language of his poems near to the language of men. He has tried to express his ideas in language fitted to their respective importance. Wordsworth further says that metre is superadded. Metre adds the beauty to the poem. He wants to avoid figurative language in poems.
The poetic diction is the essay as suggested by Wordsworth applies the “real language of men”. He has selected it to communicate and connect it with the other men and common people. He further adds that the selection of the common language can add “vivid sensation” and “pleasure” to the readers as each and every poem has its own “purpose” to share and evoke “pleasure” to the readers.
In addition to this, the selection of such poetic diction to impart the “incidents and situations from common life”. It is only possible for Wordsworth to impart these poetic themes in the poem only with the “real language of men”. He even stated that it will add a “certain colouring of imagination” on the readers so to evoke the ” state of excitement” which the common people share in their everyday lives. The “real language of men” will enable the other men can relate “the manner in which we associate ideas in a state of excitement”.

5.What is poetry?

it is a spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings with emotions recollected in tranquility. Hence, first see and perceive you then recollect and restore them. Memorize and recollect. The scenery, landscape and the silence around with the pictures and images of their own tend to our feelings and emotions.

6.Discuss 'Daffodils - I wandered lonely as a cloud' with reference to Wordsworth's poetic creed. 

‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud’ is one of the best-loved poems of the fountainhead of romanticism William Wordsworth. This poem features how the spontaneous emotions of the poet’s heart sparked by the energetic dance of daffodils help him pen down this sweet little piece. On 15 April 1802, Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy came across a host of daffodils around Glencoyne Bay in the Lake District. This event was the inspiration behind the composition of Wordsworth’s lyric poem.
‘Daffodils’ or ‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud’ has been dissected methodically for illustrating the poet’s mood, the surrounding location, the allegorical meanings, and the beauty of nature in full motion. The poet’s love and proximity with nature have inspired and moved generations after generations of poetry lovers and young minds.