The Poet's Insight

THE POET'S INSIGHT: ANALYZING WORDSWORTH'S POETIC PHILOSOPHY, FUNCTIONS AND LANGUAGE (Considering him as a critic.)

'Bridge Course: Wordsworth's Preface' assigned by Dilip Barad Sir.

The Art in William Wordsworth's Preface to the Lyrical Ballads.

INTRODUCTION:

Wordsworth's ideas in his Preface to Lyrical Ballads marked a significant shift from the prevailing neoclassical poetry of  the 18th century. He aimed to remove what he viewed as artificial limitations and bring poetry back to a more genuine, emotionally powerful form. Wordsworth emphasized natural expression of strong feelings and the use of everyday language. This approach contrasted sharply with the formal, structured style of neoclassical poets. 

"Come forth into the light of things, Let Nature be your teacher."

As we examine Wordsworth's views through the questions provided, we'll see how his ideas challenged neoclassical norms and helped shape Romantic poetry.


 Q.1 Why does William Wordsworth ask ,'What is a poet' rather than 'Who is a poet'?

Wordsworth in his preface to lyrical ballads defined 'What is a poet?' this is an interesting question as he used 'What' with a person rather than 'Who'. In preface he described the answer of  'What' as 'The poet is a man speaking to men'. In understanding manner we can say it as The poet is a man speaking to men whose language should not fall short of that which would be heard by men. This suggests Wordsworth idea of romanticism and romantic functions of poetry of simple language that can be understood by every human being.

Wordsworth says that the poet is a man speaking to men but have a greater knowledge of nature or human nature , more sensibility , emotions and tenderness .The poet is a common man in sense and there Wordsworth uses a quite platonic word that he has a more comprehensive soul. The participation of poet in the essences of life then the spirit of life is much more than ordinary human beings. In last Wordsworth added that imagination of a poet where things do not exist even then the poet can create something . He is an individual 'Pleased with his own passion and volitions. He is an creator or artist.

 This is what Wordsworth has to say about what is a poet. So the entity called poet is such a human being who is overall in degree a far better human being than ordinary human being.


Q.2 What is Poetic Diction, and what type of poetic diction does Wordsworth suggest ?

POETIC DICTION: In general Poetic Diction means choice of words. It is a unique style of each individual poet or author that how a particular poet chooses his or her own language. 'Poetic Diction is the term used to refer to the linguistic style, the vocabulary, and the metaphors used in the writing of poetry.

WORDSWORTH ON POETIC DICTION: In 1798 when lyrical ballads was published Wordsworth said that he is not really satisfied by what goes on in the name of poetry as he was attacking the mode of writing poetry.

The main points of Wordsworth's theory of poetic diction are:

1)There is no difference between the language of prose and metrical composition.

2) The poets should choose incidents and situations from humble and rustic life.

3) These common life incidents and situations should be described in a selection of language really used by ordinary people.

4) This real language used by common people should have a certain colouring of imagination.

5) In this way, ordinary ad common things should be presented in an unusual way and make these incidents and events interesting by tracing in the primary laws of human nature.

In preface to lyrical ballads he mentioned that ,that diction (Writing Style) was overly complex, using  fancy and unnecessary language that only educated city people understand. It highlights the difference between the simpler, rural life and the sophisticated city life, showing how the romantic view is at odds with the city lifestyle. Wordsworth arguments against the neoclassical people or we can say the city life people. He then says he is interested in writing in writing poems in lyrical ballads in the language really used by men and this was the most controversial as he also was not strictly followed the kind of  diction he suggested.

In short, Wordsworth suggested the type of poetic diction that is having the natural and everyday life language as there is no need to write a poetry in upper class or aristocratic  language instead it can be written in language that everyone can understand.   


Q.3. How does Wordsworth define poetry? Discuss this definition in relation to his poetic philosophy.

"Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility."

This definition in simple words to evaluate: 'Poetry is the natural and free flow of strong emotions, remembered and shaped when in a peaceful and reflective mood.' This means the poetry is born from deep emotions and feelings that are later reflected upon in a calm and thoughtful state.

In overview of philosophical relation: Aristotle has said that 'Poetry is the most philosophical of all writing.' Wordsworth added this in his preface and he said that poetry is the image of man and nature. The definition of poetry by Wordsworth encompasses his broader poetics philosophy. This perspective emphasizes authentic emotional experiences as the source of poetry, while also valuing thoughtful reflection in the creative process. It aligns with Wordsworth's Romantic ideals, prioritizing individual expression and emotional truth over rigid formalism. The definition reflects his belief in the power of memory and imagination, his focus on nature as inspiration, and his commitment to accessible language and universal themes. Wordsworth sought to balance immediate emotional intensity with calm contemplation, aiming to transform ordinary experiences into profound insights. This philosophy guided his approach to subject matter, often centering on everyday life and natural scenes, and his goal of creating poetry that resonates with a wide audience by illuminating shared human experiences. 


Q.4. Analyze the poem in the context of Wordsworth's poetic creed.

          DEFFODILS (1804): William Wordsworth's poem Deffodils embodies his poetic creed, focusing on nature, emotion and simplicity. The 'Deffodils' is four stanza poem where the first three staza are in the past tense and the last- the fourth stanza is in present tense. Let's analyze this pom in the context of poetic creed.

The first stanza of poem begins with 'I wandered lonely as a cloud..' that is a past tense and when we go through it gradually the fourth stanza comes 'For oft, when on my couch I lie, In vacant or in pensive mood..' that take it into the present. Now as we analyze this it seems that the poet is reclining on a couch recollecting the scene he had captured his inward eye of a whole wide stretch of deffodils while his walk as he was a lake poet. This suggests that the poet recollects the deffodils in his vacant or in pensive mood that brings a spontaneous outburst of joy he felt. By looking the poem stanza by stanza and tracking the imagery in the poem and just looking at the tense gives us how the RECOLLECTION IN TRANQUILITY happens. 

This small poem with it's tone and tense suggests that how well it works out with the definition of poetry by Wordsworth. 

            THE SOLITARY REAPER: Wordsworth's another poem that demonstrates the poetic process of four stages that are Observation, Recollection, Filtering and Composition. Feelings started overflowing spontaneously as the poet listened to the song of the Highland girl: "the Vale profound/ Is overflowing with the sound." Removed from the scene recollecting his experience in tranquility and exhuming theme f the song and causes its joyousness. Slowly but gradually this state of mind disappears, and an emotion which is quite similar to the original is generated. It soon turns into feeling and starts resonating and he begins composing his poem with "the music" he feels in his heart "Long after it was heard no more" causes its joyousness. (preface-mkbu)





Q.5. Wordsworth states, 'A language was thus insensibly produced, differing materially from the real language of men in any situation.' Explain and illustrate this with reference to reading of Wordsworth's views on poetic diction in the preface.


Wordsworth criticized and elaborate the artificial language used by earlier poets, which he felt was far removed from everyday speech and genuine emotion. He believed that poetry should us simple, natural language to better express real feelings and experiences. This approach aimed to make poetry more relatable and sincere.

In his own work, Wordsworth used straightforward language to convey deep emotions directly. For example, in The Solitary Reaper, he describes a scene with clear, simple words that connect with readers on an emotional level. This contrasts with the ornate style of poets like Alexander Pope, and Wordsworth's emphasis on natural language helped make poetry more accessible and emotionally powerful.

Q.6. Wordsworth describes a poet as 'A man speaking to men: a man, it is true, endowed with more lively sensibility, more enthusiasm and tenderness.' Explain this with reference to reading of Wordsworth's views in the preface.
AND
Q.7. Wordsworth claims that 'A poet has a greater knowledge of human nature, and a more comprehensive soul, than one supposed to be common among mankind.' Discuss with reference to reading of Wordsworth's view.

Wordsworth’s conception of a poet is an important part of his theory of poetry presented in the Preface to Lyrical Ballads. In the preface, Wordsworth discusses the definition, qualities and function of a poet.

Wordsworth defines a poet in the following lines:

"He is a man speaking to men: a man, it is true, endowed with more lively sensibility, more enthusiasm and tenderness, who has a greater knowledge of human nature, and a more comprehensive soul, than are supposed to common among mankind."

From these lines and from the text we can identify the following qualifications of a poet. A poet is a simple man like other common human beings. This concept actually revolts against the 18th century glorification of a poet as somebody separate and different from other human beings. However, a poet is not ‘‘different in kind from other man, but only in degree.’’ He has some extra qualities. A poet is a man possessing a higher sensibility than others. It helps him observe and feel things more deeply than others can. By this he reacts more powerfully to the external impressions. The poet’s enthusiasm, intense and keen, takes deep pleasure in the knowledge of the oneness of nature and man. The poet having ‘a more comprehensive soul’ shares the feelings and emotional reactions of other people accurately. 

He can express them ever without feeling them directly. The poet’s imaginative power is greater than average human beings. By this, he can be “affected by absent things, as if they were present.’’ The poet is not only a man who has a lively sensibility, but one “who has thought long deep.’’ The poet is not a social instrument but an individual “pleased with his own passions and volitions.’’ He is not a mere copier, but a creator. Sensibility becomes more important than rationality.
 
The end of the poet to write poetry is to give pleasure with a purpose of enlightening and purifying
 which is not formally conceived. A poet is also a teacher. Wordsworth in a letter expressed his view- “every great poet is a teacher; I wish either to be considered as a teacher or as nothing.’’ However, pleasure is an essential condition of poetic teaching. Here we see that Wordsworth is close to the doctrine of Horace. 

Q.8. Wordsworth famously said, 'For all good poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.' Explain this with reference to Wordsworth's definition of poetry. 

Wordsworth defines poetry as “the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings’’ and its origin is in “emotion recollected in tranquility.’’ 
"Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart."
At the first glance, the two contentions may seem contradictory. Because, spontaneity is a forward process while recollection is a backward process. Therefore, how the spontaneous poetry is originated from recollected emotion is a question.
 
There are four stages in the process of poetic creation. These are observation, recollection, contemplation and imaginative excitement. At the first stage, the poet observes some object, situation or phenomena of nature. However, the poetic expression does not take place at that very moment. Rather the observations are stored in the poet’s heart. Next, in moments of tranquility, the poet recollects those emotions excited by the objects, situations or phenomena. Then, he contemplates on these emotions .Consequently, after contemplation, there comes the gradual revival of the “emotion kindred to that which was before the subject of contemplation.” Thus the poet is once again in a similar emotional excitement to what he experienced when he first saw the object. Wordsworth says that “in this mood successful composition generally begins.”
 
Thus at the moment of creation, the tranquility is replaced by spontaneous emotional excitement of powerful feelings.

CONCLUSION:
Wordsworth wasn't just a great poet, he was also an important critic. In his Preface to Lyrical ballads, he wrote about what he thought poetry should be like. This made him one of the first Romantic poets to explain their ideas about writing. By sharing his thoughts on how to write poetry and what is should be about, Wordsworth helped  other writers and people to understand the new Romantic style. His ideas about poetry changed how people wrote and thought about poems for many years to come.

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