“Wordsworth’s Preface to Lyrical Ballads: The Manifesto of Romanticism”
This blog is written as a task assigned by the head of the Department of English (MKBU), Prof. and Dr. Dilip Barad Sir. Here is the link to the professor's blogs for background reading:click here.
What is a Poet? Wordsworth's Poetic Vision and Philosophy
William Wordsworth, a central figure in English Romanticism, sought to redefine the role of the poet in society. His essay Preface to Lyrical Ballads and his poetry outline a radically different perspective on poetry, one that emphasizes simplicity, emotion, and a return to nature. His definition of a poet and his ideas about poetic diction remain influential in literary theory. In this blog, we will explore his views on poetry, poetic diction, and the role of the poet, addressing specific questions that delve into his poetic creed.
Why Does Wordsworth Ask "What is a Poet?" Rather than "Who is a Poet?"
Wordsworth’s choice to ask "What is a poet?" rather than "Who is a poet?" is significant because it suggests that being a poet is more than a mere social identity—it is a question of essence. By asking "What," Wordsworth is seeking the fundamental nature or definition of the poet’s role in society. This question focuses on the poet’s purpose, the qualities they embody, and the impact they have on the human experience. Wordsworth does not see the poet as a mere social figure but as someone who plays a crucial part in conveying deeper truths through art and language.
What is Poetic Diction? What Type of Poetic Diction Does Wordsworth Suggest?
In his Preface to Lyrical Ballads, Wordsworth critiques the elevated, artificial language used in much of contemporary poetry, particularly the use of ornate and complex diction. He describes poetic diction as the specific language that poets use to express deep emotions and complex ideas. Wordsworth calls for a return to "the language really used by men"—simple, direct, and accessible language. According to him, poetic diction should reflect the common speech of ordinary people rather than the lofty, obscure language used by poets of his time.
Wordsworth argues that the use of everyday language allows the poet to connect more directly with the reader’s emotions and experiences. The poet, he believes, must speak in the "language of the heart" rather than relying on artificial embellishments that distance the reader from the poem's true meaning.
How Does Wordsworth Define Poetry?
Wordsworth famously defines poetry as "the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings." In this definition, he highlights two essential elements of poetry: emotion and spontaneity. For Wordsworth, poetry is not a calculated or artificial construction; it is an authentic expression of the poet’s emotions, experienced and felt intensely, that flows naturally onto the page. This definition contrasts sharply with the formalist approach to poetry prevalent in his era, which prioritized structure and style over emotional depth.
Wordsworth's definition ties closely to his view of the poet as an individual with heightened emotional sensitivity and a deep connection to nature. Poetry, for him, is not just a craft but a genuine expression of the poet’s inner life, giving voice to emotions that are universally shared but uniquely felt by the poet.
Wordsworth’s Poetic Creed and the Role of the Poet
Wordsworth’s poetic creed can be understood as a call for poetry that is both simple and profound, rooted in the natural world and the human experience. He describes the poet as "a man speaking to men," emphasizing that the poet must be an accessible figure whose work can resonate with all people. At the same time, he acknowledges that the poet is set apart from others by his greater emotional sensitivity and insight into human nature. This duality—being both one of the people and yet different from them—is at the heart of Wordsworth's view of the poet.
The poet, according to Wordsworth, has a "greater knowledge of human nature" and a "more comprehensive soul" than ordinary people. This higher awareness allows the poet to give expression to universal truths that others may overlook. The poet's role is to distill these truths into verse that speaks to the hearts of all readers, fostering a deeper understanding of the human condition.
Poetic Diction and the Language of Men
When Wordsworth speaks of "a language differing materially from the real language of men," he refers to the stylized, often pretentious language that characterized much of the poetry of his time. Wordsworth insists that poetry should break free from this artificial diction and instead draw on the language spoken by ordinary people. By doing so, poetry can remain grounded in genuine human emotion and experience, rather than becoming something esoteric and inaccessible.
This emphasis on common language does not mean that poetry should be simplistic or lacking in artistic merit. Rather, Wordsworth’s view of poetic diction is that it should be plain and direct, yet capable of expressing deep emotion and universal truths. The poet’s ability to elevate the ordinary into the realm of the sublime is one of the hallmarks of Wordsworth's poetic philosophy.
The Poet as a Man Speaking to Men
In his definition of the poet as "a man speaking to men," Wordsworth highlights the poet’s role as both an individual and a representative of humanity. The poet must be in touch with the feelings and experiences of common people, yet possess a heightened sensibility that allows him to interpret and express these experiences in ways others cannot. The poet’s role is not to isolate himself in intellectual abstraction, but to bridge the gap between personal emotion and universal experience.
Wordsworth’s belief in the poet’s emotional depth and sensitivity allows him to speak for all of humanity. The poet’s elevated sensibility gives him the ability to connect with the joys, sorrows, and struggles of ordinary life, making him a voice for the collective human experience.
Wordsworth on the Poet’s Greater Soul
In his Preface to Lyrical Ballads, 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.” By this, he means that the poet is not just a writer of verse but a person of deeper sensitivity and insight.
A poet observes human feelings more keenly than ordinary men and can express them in simple, universal language. While common people experience emotions, the poet understands their origins, their intensity, and their connection with nature and society. This “comprehensive soul” allows the poet to sympathize with all forms of human life and to transform common experiences into expressions of beauty and truth.
For Wordsworth, the poet is thus a teacher and interpreter of human emotions, giving voice to what many feel but cannot express. His vision makes poetry not an ornament of language but “the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings,” rooted in ordinary life and shared humanity.
"For All Good Poetry is the Spontaneous Overflow of Powerful Feelings"
The famous line from Lyrical Ballads is a cornerstone of Wordsworth’s theory of poetry. For him, poetry is not something that can be meticulously crafted or constructed through reason and logic alone. Rather, it is the natural and unrestrained expression of intense emotions, which are often felt in response to nature or personal experience. These emotions, once expressed in poetry, become universal, speaking to readers across time and space.
Wordsworth’s notion of "spontaneous overflow" implies that the poet is not trying to create something artificial or calculated. Instead, the poem is an outpouring of feeling, an instinctive response to the world around the poet. This "overflow" is what gives poetry its power and authenticity—it is the raw emotion of the poet, unfiltered and unmediated.
Conclusion
Wordsworth’s poetic philosophy redefined the role of the poet and the nature of poetry itself. By emphasizing emotion, spontaneity, and a return to simple language, he challenged the artificial conventions of his time and set the stage for the Romantic movement. For Wordsworth, the poet is a man of heightened sensibility, whose role is to express the deepest truths of the human experience in a language that speaks directly to the heart. His definition of poetry as the "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" remains a powerful reminder of the emotional and transformative potential of the poetic form. Through Wordsworth’s eyes, we see that poetry is not just an art form, but a way of connecting with the world on a deeper, more profound level.
Reference:
Dr.Dilip Barad sir blog for more reading
Preface to the Lyrical Ballads
https://youtu.be/JBiZALdl73E?si=2DdzOfGVP5KQXmGF
