"Preface
to Lyrical Ballads" is a landmark of literary criticism and an
epoch-making document. It was written by William Wordsworth, the pioneer of
romanticism in poetry, to explain the theory of poetry. It has far reaching
historical importance. "Prologue Lyrical Ballad" announces the
arrival of a new era in poetry called Romantic poetry. Wordsworth wrote the
Preface as an advertisement and introduction to a type of poetry that stood in
sharp contrast to existing poetry of the 18th century (neo-classical poetry).
The
introduction to Lyrical Ballads “begins with a discussion of a collection of
poems written jointly by Wordsworth and Coleridge. He says that he has written
poems that relate to things that happen in everyday life. In the introduction,
Wordsworth outlines his definition of the nature and function of poetry.
According to Wordsworth, poetry should reflect spontaneity and flow of powerful
emotions. Poetry can capture anything. He believes that art is for life. He
discussed the importance of imagery in poetry.
Wordsworth
also defines a poet by saying that "he is a man who speaks to men".
Wordsworth says that poetry is a source of pleasure and knowledge.
Finally, he discusses the poetic style that
the Romantic poets avoided. He criticizes the neo-classical poetic style.
Wordsworth has presented him as a poet in his preface.
He wants the
poem to focus on natural things. He warned the public that they would find in "Lyrical
Ballads" a kind of poetry entirely different from that of the 18th
century. The fashion and artificiality of social life which ruled Neoclassical
poetry is absent in Romantic poetry. The purpose of "Preface to Lyrical
Ballads" is to disseminate information to the public.
In
conclusion, it can be said that Wordsworth's "Preface to Lyrical
Ballads" is an exercise in poetic virtuosity meant to be a romantic
manifesto.
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