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” | 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 | 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
