Riccardo Biffi

1
The Preface to Lyrical Ballads

• By William Wordsworth

2
The Preface to Lyrical Ballads

• It is considered the manifesto of
• English Romantic poetry.
• It describes its features and its purposes.

3
The Preface to Lyrical Ballads

• The preface can be splitted in four main parts
• The content.
• The language.
• The poet.
• The poetry.

4
The Content

• Romantic poems should deal with situations and
  incidents taken from low and rustic life.
• But they should describe daily life in an unusual
  way in order to make them more interesting and
  thrilling for who read.

5
The Language

• The language should be the one really used by
  men.
• The reasons are
• It is the best way to express and to convey
  feelings.
• It is the origin of all words.
• It is used for its simplicity and its honestly.

6
The Poet

• He is a man speaking to men,
• and he can make poetry since
• He is more sensitive than other men.
• He has a deeper knowledge of human nature.
• He is aware of his passions and rejoices when
  thinking to them.
• He can generate emotions where others cannot
  find any.

7
The Poetry

• Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful
  feelings.
• The poet writes poems after reliving a striking
  emotion through a memory.
• The creative process needs tranquillity and
  peace. The poet has to be alone.
• Imagination plays a fondamental role as source of
  inspiration.
• The ultimate goal is pleasure.