Samuel Johnson had a neo classical style and it was thus peculiar that he found an affinity with Wordsworth's Romanticism.However, the simplicity that he found in Wordsworth who
believed that the sole purpose of poetry is to render pleasure in the mind of the reader.
and his belief in composing poetry for pleasure led to a mutual understanding. Additionally, Johnson’s views on the
need of moral purpose in a poetic composition
coupled with his accepted definition of imagination deliver a striking resemblance to Wordsworth's own beliefs.
In comparing the passage above with Preface to Lyrical Ballads, the reader has to understand Wordsworth's 'theory,' involving what he considers prerequisites: that pleasure can be gained from 'real' language and
vivid sensation
Calling on everyday routine events and circumstances and presenting them
in an usual way
for more than common pleasure
placing emphasis on the best use of the imagination to
throw a certain coloring over
otherwise mundane descriptions. The description below...
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is Wordsworth's and in the brackets (bold font) are the words from Samuel Johnson. As you can see they both have similar descriptions of what a poet should be:
a man speaking to men: a man, it is true, endued with more lively sensibility, (to recommend known truths by his manner of adorning them)
more enthusiasm and tenderness, who has a greater knowledge of human nature, and a more comprehensive soul, than are supposed to be common among mankind; (to let new light in upon the mind, and open new scenes to the prospect, )
a man pleased with his own passions and volitions, and who rejoices more than other men in the spirit of life that is in him (to spread such flowers over the regions through which the intellect has already made its progress, as may tempt it to return, and take a second view of things hastily passed over, or negligently regarded.
Wordsworth concludes that
poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility
and Samuel Johnson, in a similar vane stresses how important it is
(to vay the dress and situation of common objects, so as to give them fresh grace and more powerful attractions)
Samuel Johnson wished that he may be
numbered among the writers who have given ardour to virtue, and confidence to truth.