In the Preface To Lyrical Ballads, Wordsworth explains is view of poetry, he makes a declaration of intensions and a declaration about his aims, for this reason it is considered the Manifesto of Romanticism.

In Wordsworth’s opinion:

     The subject of poetry should be incidents and situations from common life, in particular low and rustic life         becausein that condition of life our elementary feelings coexist in a  state of greater simplicity.

     The language of poetry should be “a language really used by men”, in contrast with the formal and ornate poetic diction of Neoclassical poets. Wordsworth’s object is also to throw over these subjects a certain colouring of imagination, in order to make the situation more interesting and attractive.

     The poet is a more sensitive person, and he has a great knowledge of human nature in comparison to common men. Also his soul is more comprehensive. All human being had this power in childhood but gradually lost it in the process of growing up, except for the poet, who is able to see into the real essence of things.

     The function of the poet is to share his visions with other men; for this reason he has got a prophetic role in society.