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Preface to Lyrical Ballads

by William Wordsworth

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Preface to Lyrical Ballads

In his "Preface to Lyrical Ballads," Wordsworth outlines his revolutionary ideas on poetry, advocating for the depiction of ordinary life and the use of simple, everyday language. He challenges...

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Preface to Lyrical Ballads

In his preface to Lyrical Ballads, Wordsworth chooses situations from "humble and rustic" life because he believes that such common people live more openly and speak more directly than the upper...

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Preface to Lyrical Ballads

Wordsworth's "Preface to Lyrical Ballads" is considered the manifesto of Romantic criticism because it outlines the principles of Romantic poetry, emphasizing emotion, simplicity, and the importance...

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Preface to Lyrical Ballads

According to Wordsworth, the subject matter of poetry comes from the passions and emotions of human beings, the events of human life, and the natural world. Wordsworth prefers to write about common...

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Preface to Lyrical Ballads

Wordsworth states as an ideal that the language of prose should be no different from that of poetry, except that the latter is a form of "metrical composition."

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Preface to Lyrical Ballads

In his "Preface to Lyrical Ballads," William Wordsworth's major concerns include the use of common language, the expression of genuine emotions, and the depiction of ordinary life. He argues for...

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Preface to Lyrical Ballads

According to Wordsworth, the spring of mental activity comes from contrast between different things. In poetry, the different things he contrasts are regular rhyme and rhythm schemes and rural themes...

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Preface to Lyrical Ballads

Wordsworth's "Preface to Lyrical Ballads" implies that poetry is a profound expression of universal human experiences, opposing it to the specific truths sought by scientists or historians. He argues...

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Preface to Lyrical Ballads

Wordsworth describes the language used in his poems as that of ordinary people. He aimed to deviate from the elevated, classical language of the Neo-Classicists, seeking instead to excite emotions...

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Preface to Lyrical Ballads

The connection between Wordsworth and Aristotle regarding poetry was quite strong. For one thing, they had similar ideas concerning the nature of poetic language. In his Poetics, Aristotle argued...

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Preface to Lyrical Ballads

Wordsworth considers poetry and science as opposites because he believes science generalizes experience and stifles individuality, whereas poetry thrives on emotion and unique, subjective...

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Preface to Lyrical Ballads

Wordsworth's theory of language, as reflected in the quote, emphasizes the use of natural and human emotions in poetry, contrasting with the elevated and artificial style of neoclassical poetry. He...

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Preface to Lyrical Ballads

In the preface to Lyrical Ballads, Wordsworth distinguishes Romantic poetry from Neoclassical verse. Neoclassical poetry focuses on heroic figures, elevated language, and emotional restraint....

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Preface to Lyrical Ballads

One of the major concerns Wordsworth had for the human condition and politics was its turning away from nature and toward technology. In his poem “The World Is Too Much With Us” he comments that...

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Preface to Lyrical Ballads

Wordsworth, in the preface to Lyrical Ballads, outlines his innovative approach to poetic creation, emphasizing nature and human experience. He describes a process involving observation,...

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Preface to Lyrical Ballads

Wordsworth's primary contribution as a cultural critic is his challenge to blind convention and conformity in literature, as outlined in his Preface to Lyrical Ballads. He criticizes society's lack...

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Preface to Lyrical Ballads

In the preface to Lyrical Ballads, Wordsworth defines the happiness of the poet as emerging from the study of the feelings and everyday lives of human beings. In contrast, the man of science is...

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Preface to Lyrical Ballads

In his preface to Lyrical Ballads, Wordsworth emphasizes three key ideas: the emotional origin of poetry, the connection between humans and nature, and the timeless value of poetry. He describes...

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Preface to Lyrical Ballads

Wordsworth's theories on poetic diction and composition, as outlined in his "Preface to the Lyrical Ballads," emphasize portraying common life using everyday language. He differentiates between...

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Preface to Lyrical Ballads

One could say that Wordsworth generally achieved the aim he describes in the preface to Lyrical Ballads. However, there are still a few poems in the collection that don't use “the real language of...

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Preface to Lyrical Ballads

The poem does have the desired effect because it is beautiful. It uses a consistent rhythm and meter of iambic tetrameter, which is very "harmonious," and it uses a strong rhyme scheme where the...

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Preface to Lyrical Ballads

When considering the validity of Wordsworth's argument in "The Tables Turned" that individuals should look to nature in order to understand themselves, feel more contented, free, and happy, one might...

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Preface to Lyrical Ballads

Wordsworth's friends hoped Lyrical Ballads would introduce a new poetic voice, focusing on everyday people and natural speech, contrasting with the grandiose style typical of the period. Although not...

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Preface to Lyrical Ballads

In his essay on Wordsworth's "Preface to Lyrical Ballads," Thomas Pfau argues that Wordsworth's preface serves as a manifesto for Romantic poetry. Pfau highlights Wordsworth's emphasis on the...

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Preface to Lyrical Ballads

Samuel Johnson's text in The Rambler aligns with Wordsworth's Preface to Lyrical Ballads through their shared belief in the role of poetry. Both emphasize the importance of presenting familiar truths...

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