Wordsworth's Views of Poetry and the Poet

Exercise 1.

- The subject of the poet is described in the first lines of the text: Wordsworth describes in his poems incident and situations from common life, of common and rustic people, because in that condition of life the elementary feelings coexist in a state of simplicity.

- Also the language of poetry is introduce in the first lines: the poet object is to write in a selected language really used by men, but to present ordinary things to the mind in a unusual way, to make them interesting. The language is also described later, when Wordsworth sais common people convey their feelings and notations in simple and unelaborated expressions.

- The identity of the poet is described in the second part of the text. Wordsworth identifies the poet as a man speaking to men, who has more sensibility, enthusiasm and tenderness than ordinary people and who has acquired a greater readiness and power in expressing what he think and feels.

- The creative act of the poet is presented in the last part of Wordsworth's text. Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings and it takes its origin from emotions recollected in tranquillity. An emotion, that actually exist in the mind, is qualified by various pleasures, so in describing it the mind will upon the whole be in a state of enjoyment.

Exercise 2.

- Poetry should deal with incidents and situations from common life and throw over them a "certain colouring of imagination".

- Poetry should use familiar language, simple and unelaborated expressions, a selection of language really used by men that belong to low and rustic life.

- The poet is a man speaking to other men who has more sensibility, enthusiasm and tenderness than other men and has a more comprehensive soul.

- The creative process starts from an emotion which is recollected in tranquillity. The emotion is contemplated by the poet in his mind and it creates a state of enjoyment and pleasure.