Why did Wordsworth write “Preface to the Lyrical Ballads?”

Answer

Why did Wordsworth write “Preface to the Lyrical Ballads?”

Or, What was Wordsworth’s principal goal in writing “Preface to the Lyrical Ballads?” 

William Wordsworth (1770-1850) was a Romantic poet. He wrote the “Preface to Lyrical Ballads” (1800) to explain his new ideas about poetry. He wanted to tell readers why his poems were different. He also wanted to change how people thought about poetry. The preface became a manifesto for the Romantic Movement in literature.

Change in Poetry Style: Wordsworth wrote the preface to change the old style of poetry. He did not like poems with strict rules and hard words. He believed poetry should be simple and close to real life. His poems were very different. It is evident in the following quotation. 

“There will be found in these volumes little of what is usually called poetic diction.”

Poetry for Common People: Wordsworth believed that poetry should be for all people. He wrote the preface to share this idea. He used simple language in his poems. It was just like the language of villagers and farmers. He wanted poetry to speak to the hearts of normal people. His main goal was to bring poetry back to common life.

Explain Poet’s Role: In the preface, Wordsworth also discussed the poet’s job. He said a poet is not just a person who writes. A poet feels more, understands more, and expresses more. He wrote the preface to show that a poet must express deep feelings in a simple way. Wordsworth claims,

“But poets do not write for poets alone, but for men.”

In the end, Wordsworth wrote the “Preface to Lyrical Ballads” to explain his new thoughts on poetry. His main goal was to make poetry more natural, simple, and full of true feelings. He wanted to connect poetry with real life and real people. This preface opened a new door in English poetry.