Wordsworth’s 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 Ballads”With 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”
Trang 1THEORY OF POETIC DICTION
Wordsworth’s 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 Ballads”’With 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”
Trang 2LANGUAGE 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
Trang 3° 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
Trang 4A 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
Trang 5° “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
Trang 6¢ Wordsworth therefore derives those who are young
to regulate their own sensibility and bring in a more
Trang 7¢ 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.lf a new
poem falls in their way they are just dazzled and they
go back to their own youthful days The book may
Trang 8¢ 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 fall to
Trang 10¢ 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
Trang 11¢ 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
Trang 12THE 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
Trang 13WORDSWORTH'S 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 poet’s heart.In such moments,his language of discourse becomes the
language poetical inspiration
Poetry cannot be composed under duress” The clear spring of poetry must flow freely and spontaneously it cannot be made to
Trang 14EXPRESSION 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 poet’s 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.|t is the feeling that matters
Trang 15Wordsworth 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
Trang 16ORGANIC 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
Trang 17EMOTIONS 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 says” The 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
Trang 18EMOTIONS 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 says” The 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
Trang 20FUNCTION 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
Trang 21¢ Wordsworth says that poetry Is the breath and finer
spirits of all kKnowledge;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
Trang 22He 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 poet’s office and there is none more exalted
Poetry is not a mere entertainment,a diversion for a pation’s idle hours
Trang 23¢ The poet through his poetry,imparts moral lessons for the betterment of human life
Trang 24Wordsworth 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
Trang 25¢ Wordsworth proposes to throw’a certain coloring of
Imagination whereby ordinary things should be presented to the mind in an unusual aspect” few