THEORY OF POETIC DICTION

Wordsworths theory of poetic diction was a result of desire to

find a suitable language for the new territory of human life which
was conquering for period treatment.
He brought out the lyrical BalladsWith a view to ascertain how
far the language of conversation in the middle and lower classes
of society is adapted to the purpose of poetic pleasure
Since he aimed at dealing with humble and rustic life in his
poetry,he advocates the use of a selection of language really
used by men in a state of vivid sensation
Wordsworth believed that a poet is essentially a man speaking
to men,so he must use the language of real men.

LANGUAGE OF PROSE & POETRY

The neo classical poets advocated that the language of poetry

was different from the language of prose where as Wordsworth
declared that It may be safely affirmed that there neither is,nor
can be,any essential difference between the language of prose
and metrical composition
The principal object,then,proposed in these poems was to
choose incidents and situations from common life and to relate
or describe them throughout in a selection of language really
used by men and at the same time through over them some
coloring of imagination whereby ordinary things should be
presented to the mind in an unusual aspect.

 And above all to make these incidents and situations

interesting by tracing in them the primary laws of our
nature,chiefly as far as regards the manner in which
we associate ideas in a state of excitement.
The language too,of these men have been
adopted,because such men communicate with the
best objects from which the best part of language is
derived.

A COMPETENT CRITIC

Wordsworth believe that a competent critic is one who

experiments and is mature and who does not appreciate poetry
in a fit of excitement.
He should have a taste for poetry and shouldn't neglect it.
He should not be beguiled by his youthful passions and
emotions when appreciating a poem.
He should not read poetry merely to escape from the fret and
fever of the world.
He should continue to read poetry even after he has advanced
in years,in order to property train and discipline his sensibilty.
He should be free from prejudices.

 the appropriate business of poetry is to treat things

not as they are but as they appear,not as they exist in
themselves,but as they seem to exist in the senses
and to the passions.
Therefore those who are inexperienced and lack of
maturity can be deluded by their own passions.A
juvenile reader will not have any imprint of good
advice,and will try to justify the extravagance and
sanction absurdity.

 Wordsworth therefore derives those who are young

to regulate their own sensibility and bring in a more
discreet and sound judgment before they become is
critic.

 Men of advanced age also cannot be competent

critics.They may be men of experience with practical
sense of the world but they can also be deluded by
an new volume of poem.
They are still immature in their judgment.If a new
poem falls in their way they are just dazzled and they
go back to their own youthful days.The book may
prove to be an escape.They may like the book but
that would not be a sign of a mature critic.

 Even the men of Age for want of practice are

beguiled into admiration of artificial diction.They
cannot be moved by beauty of pure style.
An enlightened critic would look for the wisdom of
heart and the grandeur of imagination.Wherever
these appear simplicity and magnificence accompany
them.
But those who are used to artificial diction fail to
realize this dictum.Such a critic is rather repelled by
higher poetry than attracted by it.

LETS SUM UP THE

PREFACE

 Wordsworth has described the theory of poetry and

his conception of the function of a poet.In his theory
of poetry he set down the origin,nature and purpose
of poetry and the function of the poet in a civil society.

 Wordsworth defines poetry as the spontaneous

overflow of powerful feelings,it takes its origin from
emotions recollected in tranquility,the emotion is
contemplated till the tranquility disappears and an
emotion kindered to that which was before the
subject of contemplation is gradually produced and
does itself actually exist in mind.

THE POETIC PROCESS

Poetry is an overflow of powerful emotions which involves a

reconciliation of opposite powerful emotions and profound
thought.
The sequence of events described in the preface for the
production of poetry is a notable experience,deep and long
contemplation,a period of tranquility,sudden overflow of powerful
feelings as the notable experience is recollected.
Pleasure in the poets pleasurable emotion as the experience is
recaptured and recreated shaping of the poem,hardly touched
on in the preface except as a transition in the pleasure of the
poet pleasure for the reader.

WORDSWORTHS DEFINITION OF
POETRY

Spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.This refers to the

nature of poetry.Poetry is a matter of feeling and mood.It flows
from the internal feelings of the poet.
When the poet is in the poetic mood he sings out rapture as
sorrow spontaneously from the core of his heart.
In a poetic mood,poetry flows out naturally from poets heart.In
such moments,his language of discourse becomes the
language poetical inspiration.
Poetry cannot be composed under duressThe clear spring of
poetry must flow freely and spontaneously it cannot be made to
flow through artificially laid pipes.

EXPRESSION OF POWERFUL
FEELINGS
Wordsworth talks of expressing powerful feelings felt in the heart
and not generated in the mind.Poetry takes its birth in the springs
of the heart and not in cold store of the intellect.Poetry is
born,not in the mind,but in the heart overflowing with emotions.
All of us feel,so does the poet,but he feels intensely and
deeply.The poets heart leap up when he beholds a rainbow.
The heightened emotional state of the poet finds expression
through two verses.Thus according to Wordsworth,deep emotion
is the fundamental condition of poetry.It is the feeling that
matters.
He discards the Aristotelian doctrine.For him,the plot or situation
is not the first thing.Wordsworth himself says that The feelings
there in developed gives importance to the action and situation.

Wordsworth told that a poet must be a man possessed of more

than usual organic sensibility.In fact sensibility is the great birth
right of our being.
In the case of ordinary men,it is overpowered by the weight of
custom,whereas in the poet it is augmented and sustained.
That is not all Wordsworth has in mind His poet is not simply a
Man of feelings.feelings of course he must have since poetry is
in fact the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings and arise
from the emotions recollected in tranquility.
But before the emotions come the senses and it is not of them
that Wordsworth is thinking when he adds the epithetorganic.

ORGANIC SENSIBILITY
Organic sensibility then means or implies the
capacity to receive impression through senses.
The emotion which accompanied the original
impression revives when the impression is recalled.
The ability thus to reconstruct an emotion belongs in
an eminent degree to the poet,being in fact a portion
of his native endowment more than usual organic
sensibility.

EMOTIONS RECOLLECTED IN
TRANQUILITY

Wordsworth observed that sensibility alone is not sufficient to

ensure good poetry,it must be directed by a calm mind.
He explains the role of calm thinking and deliberate
contemplation in the composition of poetry later on in the
preface when he saysThe emotion is contemplated till by a
species of reaction,the tranquility gradually disappears and an
emotion kindered to that which was before the subject of
contemplation is gradually produced and does itself actually
exist in the mind.
In this mood of successful composition generally begins and in
a mood similar to this it is carried on.The process of poetic
composition is not an easy one.

EMOTIONS RECOLLECTED IN
TRANQUILITY

Wordsworth observed that sensibility alone is not sufficient to

ensure good poetry,it must be directed by a calm mind.
He explains the role of calm thinking and deliberate
contemplation in the composition of poetry later on in the
preface when he saysThe emotion is contemplated till by a
species of reaction,the tranquility gradually disappears and an
emotion kindered to that which was before the subject of
contemplation is gradually produced and does itself actually
exist in the mind.
In this mood of successful composition generally begins and in
a mood similar to this it is carried on.The process of poetic
composition is not an easy one.

 Wordsworth has mentioned six causes that lead to

poetic composition.
(i) observation and description
(ii)sensibility
(iii)reflections.
(iv)imagination and fancy
(v)invention
(vi) judgment

FUNCTION OF POETRY
Wordsworth lay emphasize that good poetry is never
an immediate reaction to the proviking cause that our
sensations must be allowed time to back into the
common fund of our experience,there to find their
level and due proportion.
That level is found for them by the mind in the act of
contemplation,the sensations revive and out of the
union of the contemplating mind and the receiving
sensibility rises the unique mood of expression which
we call poetry.

 Wordsworth says that poetry is the breath and finer

spirits of all knowledge;the impassioned expression
that is in the countenance of all sciences.
Wordsworth felt strongly that there was no worthy
pursuit but the idea of doing some good for the world.
He hoped that his poems would separate in then
degree to extend the domain of sensibility for the
delight,the honor and the benefit of human nature.

 He asserted that the poet should console the

afflicted.He should make the happy,happier and
should lead the young and gracious of every age,to
see,to think and to feel.
Such is the poets office and there is none more
exalted.
Poetry is not a mere entertainment,a diversion for a
pations idle hours.
Poetry seeks to enable and edify.

 The poet through his poetry,imparts moral lessons for

the betterment of human life.
Wordsworth says that a poetry of revolt against the
moral ideas is a poetry of revolt against life,a poetry
of indifference towards moral ideas is a poetry of
indifferent towards life.

 Wordsworth subscribes to the view that to the poet

the particular is nothing and the universal everything.
Wordsworth is precise and emphatic in stating that
pleasure is the end of poetry.
the end of poetry is to produce excitement in
coexistence with an over balance of pleasure.
Thus the rehabilitation of pleasure to a primary
position was a major item in the romantic creed which
Wordsworth was out to promulgate.

 Wordsworth proposes to throwa certain coloring of

imagination whereby ordinary things should be
presented to the mind in an unusual aspect few
modern poets have embodied in then work,whether
by statement by implication so firm a sense of the
dignity or worth of the common individual man.