G.Bidut - Preface to Lyrical Ballands

In the "Preface to Lyrical Ballands",  Wordsworth explain is view of poetry: he makes a declaration about his aims.

Subject matter of poetry

Poetry should deal with incidents ad situations from common life. He claims that poetry may be about low and rustic life because in that condition human feelings are in a state of greater simplicity and they are more durable so the reader can understand better them . Further the humble passions are in strong relation with the forms of nature.

The language of poetry

Poetry should use familiar language because it is more directed. Wordsworth declares that poetry should be expressed by language used by men because humble and unelaborated expressions convey better the feelings of human nature.

In addition the writer criticizes language influences by the social vanity.

The poet's identity

The poet is a man speaking to other men who has a greater knowledge of humane nature and a more comprehensive soul.

Wordsworth delineates the poet figure like a man who finds pleasure in his own thoughts and is able to address them to other people. Besides he has a disposition to be affected by the absent things as if they are present evoking in a very powerful way the emotions that he is feeling.

The creative act of the poet

The creative act of the poet starts from an emotion recollected in tranquillity and solitude; the writer defines poetry as "a spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" that begins from a memory.