2. Topic: Wordsworth’s theory of poetic diction
Paper: 3
Paper Name: Literary Theory & Criticism
Name: Patel Kinjal
Roll No: 18
Class: M.A. 1 SEM- 1
Year:2013
Submitted to: S.B. Gardi Department of
English Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji
Bhavnagar University (Gujarat – India)
3.
4. Introduction
William Wordsworth (1770-1850) was
primarily a poet and not a critic.
However his views on poetry are
extremely important and can be found in
the preface to the Lyrical Ballads 1802.
The aim of writing the preface was to
introduce to the readers poems of anew
king, both in theme and style.
5. The dominant theme of the preface is
diction and thus subject of poetry.
Wordsworth asserts that the
language of poetry is , ‘ a selection of
the real language of men or the very
language of men, and that there was no
essential difference between the
language of prose and that of poetry.’
6.
7.
8. In the “preface” Wordsworth also
emphasizes his commitment to writing in
the ordinary language of people, not a
highly crafted poetical one.
True to traditional Ballad from, the
poems depict realistic characters in
realistic situations.
Strong narrative element
10. Three main principles of
Wordsworth’s poetic diction
Statement regarding poetic diction
Language of poetry
People can not be employed in
poetry
Filtered and refined
Vernacular words
11. State of vivid sensation
Certain coloring of
imagination
Language employed
Poetic composition
12. Rough framework of the
language
Heightened by feeling and
emotion
Power of imagination
For poetic composition
