WILLIAM WORDSWORTH BY ANNA DAY

EARLY LIFE  Born April 7 th, 1770 in Cockermouth, Cumberland  Parents- John and Anne Wordsworth  Father= rent collector & law agent  Family= fairly wealthy  Anne died 1778  Sent to Hawks Head Grammar School William Wordsworth’s childhood house and birthplace.

EARLY LIFE  Interest in French Revolution led him to France  Had an affair with Annette Vallon-> illegitimate daughter, Caroline.  Returned to England 1793  Anglo-French war prevented his return for 9 years Annette Vallon

EARLY LIFE  Married Mary Hutchinson 1783  By 1810 they had 5 children  2 children died in 1812  Moved to Rydal Mount William and Mary Wordsworth

BEGINNING OF LITERARY CAREER  William Wordsworth’s literary career began with Descriptive Sketches which reached an early climax before the turning point of the century with Lyrical Ballads.

FAMOUS WORKS  The Prelude, written in 1850, is considered to be Wordsworth’s most famous work. “The mind of Man is fram'd even like the breath And harmony of music. There is a dark Invisible workmanship that reconciles Discordant elements, and makes them move In one society. Ah me! that all The terrors, all the early miseries Regrets, vexations, lassitudes, that all The thoughts and feelings which have been infus'd Into my mind, should ever have made up The calm existence that is mine when I Am worthy of myself! Praise to the end!” Quoted from The Prelude By William Wordsworth

FAMOUS WORKS  The poems within Lyrical Ballads, written in 1798, are considered to be some of the most influential in Western literature. “... and we shall find A pleasure in the dimness of the stars.” Quoted from Lyrical Ballads by William Wordsworth

LYRICAL BALLADS  In 1795 Wordsworth met Samuel Taylor College.  They collaborated to produce Lyrical Ballads.  This was the founding document of the English Romantic movement. “The best portion of a good man's life: his little, nameless unremembered acts of kindness and love” Quote from Lyrical Ballads by William Wordsworth

POETRY MOVEMENTS  An Evening Walk, and Descriptive Sketches, were both collections of poetry written by William Wordsworth.  Both collections were published in 1793, five years after he had published his first poem.  These collections strongly influenced the writing style of the 18 th century.

SOURCES    