THEORY 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” 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 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.

LET’S 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 poet’s 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.

WORDSWORTH’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 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 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.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 epithet”organic”.

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 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 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 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 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 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. 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 throw”a 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.