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Several of my Friends are anxious for the success of these Poems from a belief, that if the views, with which they were composed, were indeed realized, a class of Poetry would be produced, well adapted to interest mankind permanently, and not unimportant in the multiplicity and in the quality of its moral relations […].

Related Characters: William Wordsworth (speaker), Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Cosmopolitan Readers

Page Number and Citation: 2

Explanation and Analysis:

Near the beginning of the “Preface to the Lyrical Ballads,” Wordsworth relates that he and several friends wish to produce a new genre of poetry. This genre would contain emotion-driven, nature-centered poems like those in the Lyrical Ballads. Wordsworth and his friends—including Romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge—believe that if the poems in the Lyrical Ballads are well received, then there is a high chance that their poetic revolution will succeed as well. The Romantic poets have high hopes for this new genre of poetry and believe that it should be “well adapted to interest mankind permanently.” In other words, they Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corpor

The principal object then which I proposed to myself in these Poems was to make the incidents of common life interesting by tracing in them, truly though not ostentatiously, the primary laws of our nature: chiefly as far as regards the manner in which we associate ideas in a state of excitement.

Related Characters: William Wordsworth (speaker), The Peasantry

Page Number and Citation: 4

Explanation and Analysis:

Wordsworth states that his foremost goal is to portray common life in an interesting way. The fact that his goal is considered to be revolutionary at the beginning of the 19th century implies that at the time, poets mostly portrayed the dramatic and spectacular—the sensational. This trend of sensationalism most likely arose from the conception that, for whatever reason, common life is unworthy of portrayal. Contrary to the other poets, Wordsworth believes that common life can be an immensely interesting subject for poetry. Wordsworth believes in tracing the incidents of common life “truly though not ostentatiously”: he aims to be Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Ve

For all good poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings; but though this be true, Poems to which any value can be attached, were never produced on any variety of subjects but by a man who being possessed of more than usual organic sensibility had also thought long and deeply.

Related Characters: William Wordsworth (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 6

Explanation and Analysis:

The first clause of this passage—“For all good poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings”—is one of the most widely quoted phrases from the “Preface to the Lyrical Ballads.” At the time Wordsworth was writing, such a statement was revolutionary: many people, especially the late-Neoclassical poets, generally considered poetry to be an intellectual experience rather than an emotional one. Furthermore, people generally thought of poetry as rigid, regimented, and highly stylized—far from the “spontaneous overflow” that Wordsworth describes. The latter part of this passage, though quoted less frequently, is just as important. Wordsworth is far from suggesting that all Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt.

[…] it is proper that I should mention one other circumstance which distinguishes these Poems from the popular Poetry of the day; it is this, that the feeling therein developed gives importance to the action and situation and not the action and situation to the feeling.

Related Characters: William Wordsworth (speaker), Late-Neoclassical Writers

Page Number and Citation: 9

Explanation and Analysis:

Wordsworth’s poetry differs from “the popular Poetry of the day” in many ways: his poetry focuses on common life while popular poetry focuses on sensational dramas; his poetry uses common language while popular poetry uses lofty language and “poetic diction.” In this passage, Wordsworth gives another, less immediately noticeable way his poetry is different from popular poetry: “the feeling therein developed gives importance to the action and situation and not the action and situation to the feeling.” In other words, emotions, rather than plot, are the most critical aspect to Wordsworth’s poetry. Many popular poets rely on a dazzling plot Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimu

For a multitude of causes unknown to former times are now acting with a combined force to blunt the discriminating powers of the mind, and unfitting it for all voluntary exertion to reduce it to a state of almost savage torpor.

Related Characters: William Wordsworth (speaker), Late-Neoclassical Writers, Cosmopolitan Readers

Page Number and Citation: 10

Explanation and Analysis:

Wordsworth believes that many aspects to modernity are dulling the minds of humankind. Of course, there are the sensational works written by late-Neoclassical authors—superficial and lacking in purpose, they are rendering readers and theatergoers less sensitive to the profound beauty of nature. Wordsworth also references a “multitude of causes unknown to former times,” referring to the urbanization and industrialization of society that was unfolding while Wordsworth was writing. During the latter half of the 18th century, increase in trade and business catalyzed the Industrial Revolution in Britain. With this technological progress, people began to crave instant gratification. Wordsworth believes that Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis

Except in a very few instances the Reader will find no personifications of abstract ideas in these volumes, not that I mean to censure such personifications: they may be well fitted for certain sorts of composition, but in these Poems I propose to myself to imitate, and, as far as possible, to adopt the very language of men, and I do not find that such personifications make any regular or natural part of that language. I wish to keep my Reader in the company of flesh and blood, persuaded that by so doing I shall interest him.

Related Characters: William Wordsworth (speaker), Late-Neoclassical Writers, The Peasantry, Cosmopolitan Readers

Page Number and Citation: 12

Explanation and Analysis:

Poets during Wordsworth’s time, especially the late-Neoclassical poets, often personified abstract ideas or used elaborate similes and metaphors. This was viewed as the “poetic” and proper way to write. In this passage, Wordsworth declares that he refrains from these poetic gestures not because he “[means] to censure such personifications,” as “they may be well fitted for certain sorts of composition,” but because he feels that common people neither speak nor write this way. In other words, personifications of abstract ideas are neither “regular” nor “natural” in the real world. Wordsworth wants to keep his “Reader in the company of flesh Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus

Poetry sheds no tears "such as Angels weep," but natural and human tears; she can boast of no celestial Ichor that distinguishes her vital juices from those of prose; the same human blood circulates through the veins of them both.

Related Characters: William Wordsworth (speaker), Late-Neoclassical Writers

Related Symbols: Poetry’s Tears and Blood

Page Number and Citation: 16

Explanation and Analysis:

In this passage, Wordsworth emphasizes that poetry and prose aren’t as different as they may seem at first glance. During Wordsworth’s time, poets often believed that poetry should be written in a sort of sublime poetic language, different from the worldly, down-to-earth language of prose. Being the revolutionary that he is, Wordsworth dedicates a section in the “Preface to the Lyrical Ballads” to explaining why he believes poetry and prose should be written in essentially the same language. To prove his point, he quotes a sonnet by John Gray where the verses in “prosaic” language are much more effective than Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possi

Now the co-presence of something regular, something to which the mind has been accustomed when in an unexcited or a less excited state, cannot but have great efficacy in tempering and restraining the passion by an intertexture of ordinary feeling.

Related Characters: William Wordsworth (speaker), Cosmopolitan Readers

Page Number and Citation: 19

Explanation and Analysis:

In the “Preface to the Lyrical Ballads,” Wordsworth spends much time explaining why he writes poetry in the language of prose. Consequently, he also finds it necessary to explain why he bothers to write poetry at all instead of prose. The answer lies in meter. On one hand, metered language can be more charming to the reader than unmetered language. On the other hand, as seen in the passage above, meter better suits Wordsworth’s purpose: meter can alleviate any negative emotions that poetry may produce in the reader. Wordsworth’s poetry relies on emotions, or more specifically, poignant emotions. Under these Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit e

I have said that Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquillity: the emotion is contemplated till by a species of reaction the tranquillity gradually disappears, and an emotion, similar to that which was before the subject of contemplation, is gradually produced, and does itself actually exist in the mind.

Related Characters: William Wordsworth (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 21

Explanation and Analysis:

This passage marks the second time that Wordsworth declares “that Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings.” Evidently, for Wordsworth, emotions are of paramount importance with regards to writing poetry. However, Wordsworth also reiterates that poetry must also carry the fruit of profound thought. In order to achieve this balance of emotion and thought, Wordsworth advocates for a certain process to poetic creation. The poet should not begin writing immediately after the initial emotional experience. Rather, the poet must wait until they no longer feel those emotions and then rehash and contemplate them calmly and in solitude, as poetry Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt

I have one request to make of my Reader, which is, that in judging these Poems he would decide by his own feelings genuinely, and not by reflection upon what will probably be the judgment of others.

Related Characters: William Wordsworth (speaker), Cosmopolitan Readers, Late-Neoclassical Writers

Page Number and Citation: 26

Explanation and Analysis:

Here, Wordsworth closes out his preface by asking his readers to form their own opinions about the ballads to come. Given the revolutionary nature of his poetry as well as the criticisms he makes in the “Preface to the Lyrical Ballads,” Wordsworth is keenly aware that the popular poets of his time will most likely react negatively to his work. This rather unsettles Wordsworth, as the herd mentality of modern, urban populations may cause groups of people to unnecessarily “dislike” his poems. In attempt to prevent this from happening, Wordsworth encourages the reader to “decide by his own feelings genuinely, Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debi

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Preface to the Lyrical Ballads Quotes

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