William Wordsworth is the strong voice in literature who declared a new movement in creative art especially in poetry. With the publication of Lyrical Ballads, jointly published by Wordsworth and Coleridge, the people of the world stepped into a new stage of English literature as well as world literature. In the Preface to Lyrical Ballads, Wordsworth explained different aspects of this new sort of literary movement. He explained both the thematic and linguistic ideals of romanticism.
Indeed, romanticism started as a revolt of the individual against the established traditional values. But , it was more interesting that this movement itself turned into an established outlook because of its ever appealing declaration of individual freedom. Earlier poetry and literature was intended for and about rich people and Wordsworth freed poetry from such limitation. In stead of kings, queens, dukes, historical and mythological figures, Wordsworth declared to accept the "incidents and situations from common life." as the theme of poetry and a "selection of language really used by men." as the language of poetry. With Wordsworth, Coleridge is also regarded highly as the co fighter and Blake as the pioneer of romantic movement. All of them are credited for starting the movement and are considered as the first generation of romantic poets. However, Shelley, Keats and Byron are counted as the second generation of romantic poets for their continuing the movement. Though, in the hand of Byron, romanticism got a new shape.
Wordsworth's literary theories explained in The Preface to Lyrical Ballads are reflected in most of his writings especially in the poetry collection in Lyrical Ballads. 'The Prelude', Tintern Abbey', 'Ode: Intimations of Immortality' etc can be mentioned as some of his examples of romantic poetry.
Wordsworth’s Theory of Poetry : The Poet and Poetic Process
Relation between man and nature in Wordsworth’s poetry
Wordsworth as a poet of nature
Role of memory and childhood in Wordsworth's poetry
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