Biographia Literaria

Topic in Wordsworth and Coleridge's conversations

a) The power of poetry (par.1):
1. Exciting the sympathy of the reader by means of faithful adherence to the truth of nature.
2. Giving interest of novelty by means of the modifying colours of imagination.

b) Writing a collection of poems of two kinds (par.1):
1. Subject: supernatural incidents and agents.
2. Subject: incidents from ordinary life.

c) Plan of the Lyrical Ballads (par.2):

                                    Coleridge                                                   Wordsworth
Subject:        supernatural persons and characters.                incidents from common life.

Aim:              to give a semblance of truth to                        to give them the charm of novelty.
                    procure willing suspension of disbelief.

Procedure:   by using imagination.                                         by directing the mind's attention to 
                                                                                         the loveliness and wonders of the world.

Profile of the ideal poet (par.3)

1. He "brings the whole soul of man into activity".
2. He is gifted with imagination.