Historical Significance of “Preface to Lyrical Ballads.”

Answer

Why is Wordsworth’s “Preface to Lyrical Ballads” considered the manifesto to the Romantic Movement? Or Comment on the historical significance of “Preface to Lyrical Ballads.”

“Preface to Lyrical Ballads” (1800) by William Wordsworth (1770-1850) has been widely recognized as an unofficial manifesto of the “English Romantic Movement.” Because in this ‘Preface,’ Wordsworth courageously proclaimed his theories about-

•  The function of a poet,

•  The purpose of poetry

• Against the artificiality of eighteenth-century poetic diction,

• The language and subject matter of poetry,
• The relationship between poetry and science, etc.

By breaking the prevalent literary tradition of the Neo-Classical poets, the Preface becomes a landmark in English literary criticism. With the Preface to the Lyrical Ballads, a new epoch, the Romantic Movement, started in the history of English literature.

Direct Reaction Against Neo-Classical Age: Eighteenth-century writers, such as Pope, Johnson, and Dryden, imitated the writing strategy of ancient classical writers like Ovid, Virgil, Horace, etc. They also took Aristotle’s Poetics as a guide to what should or should not be done in writing. They are followed by reason, Judgment, allusion, and discipline. 

William Wordsworth came to light at the time with a new conception, which freed the imagination from the chain of reason and rules of 18th-century literature. As he exposed his new theory at first in the preface to the Lyrical Ballads, the claim that it is the manifesto of the English Romantic Movement is justified.

A New Definition of Poetry: In Preface to the Lyrical Ballads, William Wordsworth, as a precursor of the Romantic Movement, sketches a new definition of poetry, which becomes the first propaganda of Romanticism. He says it is not mere imitation but a creation with the help of imagination. 

Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings; it takes its origin from emotions recollected in tranquility.

This definition, based on personal emotion, is the fundamental principle of English Romanticism. However, neoclassics always neglected individual emotion.

Romantic Characteristics of a Poet: Wordsworth’s concept of a poet is more romantic, which is enough to make the Preface a vivid manifesto of the English Romantic Movement. Dominated by the powerful passion of Romanticism, Wordsworth has put some questions. 

What is meant by the word poet? What is a poet? To whom does he address himself? And what language is to be expected from him?

In the next lines, he disclosed his questions. 

He is a man speaking to men, who has a greater knowledge of human nature.

Thus, Wordsworth nicely decorated the qualifications and functions of a romantic poet in his preface to the lyrical ballads.

Language of Common Men: Wordsworth directly attacks the conventional tradition of the language of poetry. To him, language for poetry should be the real language of men. So, he affirms that poetry is a selection of the real language of men in a state of vivid sensation. By denying contemporary literary theory, he has adopted the language of humble and rustic people. He has chosen this language because humble people live near nature. 

Reaction Against Set Poetic Diction: The traditional poetic diction of the eighteenth century is strongly attacked in the Preface. Simplicity became the watchword. The personification of abstract ideas is firmly disregarded in favor of straightforward language. According to Wordsworth, 

Assuredly such personifications do not make any natural or regular part of that language.

The romantic idea also certainly assures us that the Preface can be regarded as the manifesto of the Romantic Movement.

To conclude, “The Preface to Lyrical Ballads” outlines the aims and features of poetry by emphasizing its language, purpose, and function. It thus serves as a key manifesto of the English Romantic Movement. So, the Preface by Wordsworth is a landmark or milestone in the history of literary criticism.