HERITAGE COLLEGE OKARA

WORDSWORTH’S THEORY OF POETIC DICTION

Wordsworth‟s theory of poetry and poetic diction was a revolt and reaction against the
„gaudiness and inane phraseology‟ of the Neo-Classicists of the 18th century. He got the
Lyrical Ballads (1798) published as “an experiment to ascertain, how far a selection of real
language is adapted to the purpose of poetic pleasure.”

In the Preface to the Lyrical Ballads, his aim was to deal in his poetry with rustic and humble
life and to advocate simplicity of theme. Moreover, he believed that the poet is essentially a
man speaking to men and so he must use such a language as is used by men.

Wordsworth‟s purpose, as he tells in the Preface was, “to choose incidents and situations
from common life”, and quite naturally, he also intended to use, “a selection of language,
really used by men.”

The main points of Wordsworth‟s theory of poetic diction are the following:

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
(common 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 and 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.

No Difference between Language of Prose and Metrical Composition

In the Preface, Wordsworth emphasizes that the language of prose and metrical composition
have everything in common. Thus he tries to bridge the gulf between prose and verse. He
argues that prose and metrical composition make use of the same material i.e. words and
phrases, and appeal to the same senses. Meter adds no distinction to the language. If there is
some distinction between these two, it is only due to the passionate use of language.
Therefore, the difference is generic not specific. The words used in prose can be used in
poetry and vice versa.

Incidents and Situations from Humble and Rustic Life

Wordsworth emphasizes humble and rustic life (common life) because he believed that in
humble and rustic life the passions of human heart find a better soil i.e they are not under the
influence of social vanity. The passions of human heart can be expressed frankly and without
any restraint in humble and rustic surrounding.

In rustic conditions, human passions are associated with the beautiful forms of nature, and as
such nobler and lasting as compared to the passions of men belonging to the sophisticated
city life.
Lectured By: MUHAMMAD MUSSAWAR (M.A English; M.A TEFL) 03032461219
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Selection of Language Really Used by Men

In humble and rustic life, the passions and emotions are very simple as compared to the
sophisticated city life. These human passions, feelings and emotions are communicated more
plainly and emphatically in humble and rustic conditions. The rustic people convey their
feelings and emotions in simple and undecorated language.

Colouring of Imagination in Language

Wordsworth does not recommend vulgar language of rustic life, but the colloquial speech
purged of coarseness, absurdity and vulgarity. This pure and simple language is elevated by
passion. In fact, the use of any language to express strong emotions purifies and ennobles that
language. It is the poet‟s imagination which performs the work of „selection‟ of poetic
language. Wordsworth means that if the words used in conversation are properly selected, it
becomes the language of poetry which is elevated by feelings and emotions.

Presentation of Common Incidents in an Uncommon Way

Wordsworth says that with the help of the colouring of imagination in the language of rustic
life (language of conversation) presents the ordinary incidents and events of rustic life in an
uncommon way. They are also made interesting by tracing in them the primary laws of
human nature.

Lectured By: MUHAMMAD MUSSAWAR (M.A English; M.A TEFL) 03032461219

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WORDSWORTH’S THEORY OF POET & POETRY
Theory of Poetry and Poetic Process

Critics and poets, in all ages and countries tried to explain their own theory and practice of
poetry. Wordsworth, too, expounded his views on poetry, its nature and functions, and the
qualifications of a true poet in his Preface to the Lyrical Ballads.

On the nature of poetry, Wordsworth states that:

“Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful passion”.

Internal feelings of the poet proceeds poetry. It is a matter of feeling and temperament. True
poetry cannot be written without proper mood and temperament. It must flow out freely and
willingly from the soul as it cannot be made to flow through artificially laid pipes.

Secondly, poetry is a matter of powerful feelings. It is never an intellectual process.

“Poetry is born not in the mind but in the heart overflowing with feelings”.

Poets are gifted with greater organic sensibility. They have greater ability to receive sense
impressions. Beauties of nature, which may leave ordinary men untouched, excite poet‟s
powerful emotions and he feels an urge to express them. Wordsworth‟s heart leapt up with
joy on beholding a rainbow or daffodils dancing in the breeze and he expressed his
overflowing feelings spontaneously in his immortal poems.

According to Wordsworth, good poetry is never an instant expression of powerful emotions.

A good poet must meditate and ponder over them long and deeply. Poetry has its origin in
“emotions recollected in tranquility”.

Experience has to pass at least four stages before successful composition becomes possible.
Firstly, there is the observation or perception to some object, character or event which sets
up powerful emotions in poet‟s mind.

Secondly, there is recollection and contemplation of that emotion in silence. In this stage,
memory plays a very important part. An interval of time must elapse, in which the first
experience sinks deep into the poet‟s insight and becomes his part and parcel. During the
interval, the mind ponders and the impression received is purged of the unneeded elements or
superfluities and is “qualified by various pleasures”. This filtering process is very slow; time
and solitude are vital.

Thirdly, the interrogation of memory by the poet sets up, or revives, the emotion in “the
mind itself”. It is very much like the first emotion, but is purged of all superfluities and
constitutes a “state of enjoyment”.

The fourth and last stage is of composition. The poet must convey that “overbalance of
pleasure” and his own “state of enjoyment” to others. He differs from ordinary individuals in
communicating his experience to others in such a way as to give pleasure. Metre is justified
for it is pleasure super-added:

Lectured By: MUHAMMAD MUSSAWAR (M.A English; M.A TEFL) 03032461219

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“Verse will be read a hundred times where Prose is read only once”.

Wordsworth Conception of Poet

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.

Lectured By: MUHAMMAD MUSSAWAR (M.A English; M.A TEFL) 03032461219