What is a Poet? Wordsworth’s Vision
William Wordsworth, one of the main poets of the Romantic Age, wanted to change how people understood poetry. In his essay Preface to Lyrical Ballads, he explained his ideas about poetry, language, and the role of the poet. He believed poetry should be simple, emotional, and close to nature. His thoughts about what poetry is, and who a poet is, are still very important in literature today.
Why Did Wordsworth Ask What is a Poet?
Wordsworth does not ask “Who is a poet?” but “What is a poet?” because he is not interested in just the identity of a person. Instead, he wants to understand the true nature of a poet. For him, a poet is not simply someone who writes verses but a person with a special role in society—someone who can feel deeply, express emotions, and reveal truths about life and human experience.
What is Poetic Diction?
Poetic diction means the kind of language a poet uses. In Wordsworth’s time, most poets used very decorative and complex language. Wordsworth criticized this. He argued that poetry should use the “language of ordinary men”—simple, clear, and natural words.
For him, poetry should sound like real life, not artificial or difficult. Simple words can still carry deep emotions and important truths. The poet’s task is to show beauty in common life, using language that everyone can understand.
Wordsworth’s Definition of Poetry
Wordsworth defined poetry as “the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.” This means poetry comes naturally from strong emotions felt deeply by the poet. It is not forced or overly planned—it flows out from genuine feelings. For Wordsworth, poetry is not just about rules or structure. It is about truth, emotion, and connection. A poet feels more strongly than others, and poetry becomes a way to share those emotions with everyone.
Wordsworth’s Poetic Beliefs
Wordsworth believed that poetry should be both simple and meaningful. The poet, he said, is “a man speaking to men.” This means the poet is not above ordinary people but one of them. At the same time, the poet is different because he feels more deeply, notices more carefully, and can express emotions better. The poet has a “greater soul,” meaning he understands human emotions in a deeper way than most people. Ordinary people may feel emotions, but the poet can explain them, connect them to nature, and make them meaningful to everyone.
Poetry and the Language of Men
Wordsworth strongly opposed the fake, fancy language used by poets of his time. He wanted poetry to be written in the everyday language of common people. This does not mean poetry should be dull. Instead, he believed that simple language can be powerful, beautiful, and full of meaning when used by a sensitive poet.
The Poet as a Teacher
For Wordsworth, the poet is like a guide or teacher of emotions. The poet can take everyday experiences—joy, sorrow, love, pain—and turn them into poetry that touches everyone’s heart. Poetry helps readers connect with their own feelings and with human life in general.
“The Spontaneous Overflow of Powerful Feelings”
This famous phrase from Wordsworth is the heart of his poetic theory. Poetry, he says, should come from strong emotions that naturally flow out. These feelings are often inspired by nature or life experiences.
This is what makes poetry alive and powerful—not rules or clever tricks, but real human emotions expressed with honesty.
Conclusion
Wordsworth changed the way people think about poetry. He wanted poetry to be simple, emotional, and close to nature, not artificial or complicated. For him, the poet is someone with a sensitive heart and a deeper soul, who speaks to all people in a language they understand. His idea that “poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings” has become one of the most famous definitions of poetry. Even today, Wordsworth reminds us that poetry is not just decoration of words but a way of truly connecting with human life and emotions.
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