Paste your essay in here…Jack Lynn
English IV
Mr. Ingrassia
11/13/16
Themes Styles and Technique of William Wordsworth
British literature was monumental in revitalizing poetry. One author who was a leader and played a key role was William Wordsworth. Wordsworth excelled in his themes, styles and techniques, which set him apart from the rest. In each area, Wordsworth not only improved upon other poets, but also opened minds to whole new ideas. He left his works to be completed by other poets to carry on his legacy. Upon research on William Wordsworth, it becomes apparent that he is not just a poet who describes beauty, but instead involves the reader into dissecting the multi dimensional works that are picked apart one by one into further examination. In this examination process, the examiner is revealed to the true masterpiece that is William Wordsworth. He made sure every detail was perfect and thought about how the reader would perceive his own writings and his legacy as a poet. William Wordsworth was nothing the world has seen before and will ever see. Wordsworth's works are still relevant today because his themes, styles, and techniques individually intrigued the masses.
The one technique Wordsworth recycled constantly was metaphors. Wordsworth's metaphors were alternative to straightforward concise writing that he was so notorious for. He utilized metaphors especially when express his personal connections (Mellown 24-25). Wordsworth uses metaphors to express people who are close with him. For example Wordsworth had a very close relationship with his sister so in many of his poems there are metaphors as a way of describing the relationship and how his relationship shaped his experience. Wordsworth's metaphors are a beautiful tool for him to convey an idea and also to relay a recurring image in a poem (Mellown 25). In Wordsworth work "Home at Grasmere" he refers to "inner harmony" throughout life, people, and nature in this quote: "one household, under God, for high and low/ one family, one mansion"(Mellown 25). When he has a recurring image it signifies the significance of the image and forces the reader to ponder the image. When observing recurring images, the reader can tell what William Wordsworth thinks is important. In Wordsworth work "Prelude" conveys that metaphors are universal models that we are connected by nature and mind (Sherry 194-196). At times Wordsworth is unconcealed about common spirit but Wordsworth complements his directness with devious metaphors (Clark, C. 303). Wordsworth perfects two extremes, which are being too direct and simple in his writings and writing metaphors that are too obscure. Very few others could accomplish this balance of techniques but when an author can do this, he keeps the audience intrigued because of the unpredictability. Wordsworth was on who marveled the power of the human mind with metaphors (Sherry 195). He believed that mind’s ability to take nature and connect it to an idea or thought that is spontaneous to then take on another meaning different than everyone else's (Sherry 195). Now perception of appearances alters due to this spontaneous idea that is attached to it (Sherry 195). This opens the mind to a whole new world of creativity that Wordsworth took advantage of. That moment is what Wordsworth calls visitation imagination (Sherry 195). This new source of creativity took place when Wordsworth was writing "Prelude" which is one of his best poems. This causes Wordsworth to use imagination as source of metaphors. The image of eternity is regarded as the most contingent when considering Wordsworth metaphors (Sherry 195). The metaphor for eternity is not created by the common analogies (Sherry 195). Common analogies for nature usually are generated just by appearance as it seen (Sherry 195). Natural thinking or logics do not formulate metaphor for eternity but instead inanimate feelings that do not hold the intellect back (Sherry 195). This is why critics call Wordsworth's metaphors "animistic"(Clark, C 303).
Wordsworth Themes were a way to see how Wordsworth strongly feels about a topic. One theme Wordsworth has many thoughts is memory. Wordsworth believed memories contribute to future judgment (Lau 678). Memories shaped the way we look at the future. This is Evident in "The Child is father of the Man". Wordsworth concludes that attention to detail and lasting memories lead to better perception of life and happiness (Lau 678). He tries to get this point across with “Lyrical Ballads” to advocate awareness of world. Memory also comforts Wordsworth when thinking of death (Nishat). Wordsworth, like many people, is fearful of death and memory is therapy. Wordsworth is assuaged knowing that he can be immortal in memories of others. The thought of complete disappearance is frightening to Wordsworth so to alleviate this distraught feeling he thinks of memory as immortal (Lau 675-676). Wordsworth has ability to take an experience, which is set off by a whirlwind of emotion, and he expresses it poetically on paper. This emotional experience tends to be troublesome to describe so many poems do not contain it, but since Wordsworth was attentive to detail, he was able to describe the indescribable. From experience such as this Wordsworth understands the value memory and especially when taking in detail. This understanding helps in literature by understanding characters personalities, settings and themes. Wordsworth stressing minor details helps because if the person picks up on details, those details will add up helps the reader makes generalizations about characters, settings and themes. Wordsworth believes memory is the best time capsule (Lau 675-676). Wordsworth is fond of tracking over a coarse of time how he has change and what has changed around him. Evident in "Tintern Abbey" when Wordsworth revisits a place and ponders the difference between the two visits. Wordsworth writes his thoughts in why he feels different when revisiting a location. When he writes his thoughts in the poem, Wordsworth is trying to get his audience to agree with him and think with him. As Wordsworth recollects his memory he states what has changed, whether it be the company of people, or the season, or his age. As he goes through this list, he elaborates which difference were a factor in his feelings. This is why memory was important to Wordsworth.
While Memory was important to Wordsworth when writing, nature is vital to him. Memory relates to nature in a way that memory allows for one to reconnected with nature just as adolescence (Nishat). Wordsworth believes that every human has an innate part inside that attaches him to nature. This is a major theme because nature holds a special part inside of all humans. When Wordsworth needed a spark of creativity, he used nature as an innovator (Lau 675-76). Nature retreats create a peaceful stronghold for Wordsworth to find himself. Nature refreshes from motions of everyday life. Wordsworth was appalled by harshness of society and sees nature a mother figure that comforts a baby that is frightened (Clark C 311). After experiencing the cruelty of society, Wordsworth retreats to nature and at that moment he realizes the value of nature and truly appreciates nature. This is why he tries writing about the value of nature in so many of his works. In “The World Is Too Much With Us”, Wordsworth explains that the brutality of materialistic society is absurd because materials come and go but nature is always there and will be there when life ends. When the reader takes in this fact of life, he will reconsider his materialistic ways. Wordsworth believes there is a connection between nature and life (Clark, B 205). This hypothesis by Wordsworth has some validity because of the popularity of nature in poems and because God created both and both were the alone at the beginning of creation so the fact that Wordsworth believes this is not crazy. Wordsworth believed that nature and humans need an connection because he felt humans held an obligation to discover nature and the purpose of nature (Watson 5). This idea is the deepest contemplation Wordsworth puts the reader through. It is rarely asked why nature exists, but it seems important to question. Many poets rave the beauty of nature, but none ask the question of why there is nature. Nature should not just be appreciate, but also questioned. This is another flaw of overly descriptive writing because these poets do not dive in any deeper than what is at the surface. But when nature is investigated, humans truly find the meaning of nature. Certain questions arise such as: why is nature exist, does nature only benefit humans, is there an underlying connection between nature and every human. In "The World is Too Much With Us" especially tries to get this question of connection across by comparing that both undergo transformation (Fox 328). These transformations include reproduction, growth and death by living beings side of nature.
Wordsworth style was a factor that separated him from other writers. One way he separated himself was through poetic language. Wordsworth’s language coordinated well with themes (Clark B 215). When Wordsworth was able to support themes with poetic language, the message is more powerful. When Wordsworth has themes and language tie together properly, it is like a runner winning a race and then getting a gust of wind behind him to separate himself from the competition. In other words, the combination only helps him. He used words that could be described as astringent, which elaborates an image (Watson 4). A literary scholar can point out a Wordsworth's work from a mile away because of harsh adjectives he used. "The language was not only peculiar and strong but at times knotty and contorted as by its own impatient strength"(Watson 4). This further proves Wordsworth unique approach in writing his poems. What readers found to be interesting were Wordsworth's distinct language and his ability to attach it to a plot (Clark B 215). When considering the language and the plot by themselves, both are spectacles that are appreciated in the world of poetry but the fact that both intertwine results in his great works. His great works demanded the cooperation of imagery, tone, and rhyme scheme which all had to align to the meaning of the poem (Clark B 211). When considering all of this, Wordsworth put in time to make sure all of this was coordinated. His friend Coleridge claimed a main reason why Wordsworth's works are revered is that he did not use the language at the time (Clark B 216). Wordsworth separated himself from other writers who thought that what Wordsworth was doing was too lofty. "In language that vibrates with inner power artistically the language is beautiful liquid sounds of rhyme and rhythm"(Clark B 211). This description speaks for itself, but also needs for explaining. When Clark describes Wordsworth it says a lot because Clark is a literary critic and he appreciates poet from centuries before him. The reader of a Wordsworth’s poem experience a language that flows and has beat that rolls off the tongue. The language was written for ages to come, not only for the current period (Clark B 203-204). Wordsworth firmly believes in his legacy that will live on for ages. This is the reason why Wordsworth receives posthumous praise.
Wordsworth is responsible for beginning the movement of romanticism and is a major contributor when considering how he set the ball rolling. Although he differs from other romantics, Wordsworth opened the minds for the rest of the writers. When compared to other authors, Wordsworth seems to be less romantic because he may lack the great symbolism that Coleridge contained in his works, or the liveliness that Lord Byron possessed, or complexity that William Blake mastered (Clark, B 203), but these writers built off of Wordsworth thinking. It seems unfair to compare Wordsworth to another romantic because the romantic would not be famous if it weren't for Wordsworth. His extensive comments and description of nature is the foundation of romanticism. Wordsworth started the movement that created more meaning to poems, more political input, and more important thoughts (). It was not Wordsworth style to make the reader laugh nor to excite them (Clark, B 203-204). What Wordsworth thought his audience would appreciate more is revealing a great level of thinking. Wordsworth good friend William Coleridge saw eye to eye on many ideas. One idea they agreed on was that intellectual inventiveness is the most important job the human brain controls (Clark, B 207). These two poets believed every person has the ability to creative but logic and reasoning inhibits this flow of thought. Wordsworth believes that poetry is a free flow of thought and should not be held back by anything. (Clark, B 207). Wordsworth strongly expresses his distaste for writers who don't express their feelings freely. This seems to be important to Wordsworth because these types of people are prohibiting creativity in a sense. Another idea they agreed was a poem was purpose of poetry is when both the poet and reader gained pleasure from the poem (Clark, B 207). The poet enjoys exploring new ideas and inspiring others while the reader is opened up to creativity and desiring to apply this new sense of creativity to everyday life.
Wordsworth was known to be simple in his writings, but most people misunderstand simple as boring. Most of his works are simple and direct and this is what he is notoriously known for. Wordsworth does not unload emotional, tragic, symbolic poems, nor does he trouble the reader to pick apart every description to analyze a simple theme (Clark B 203). Romantics were notorious for unnecessary flowery description that were not vital to the main topic of the poem. This is a common theme of Wordsworth not following the crowd. This ideology that Wordsworth adopted is genius because readers after reading thousands of poems by romantics get tired of the same writing style. So when people read a Wordsworth poem that is direct and to the point, they are immediately intrigued and think Wordsworth is a master mind. Critics believe that romantics waste time on nonsense, and then see Wordsworth invoke contemplation (Clarke B 203). Wordsworth tries to make normal life appealing which is another example of going against the social norm that is done through simple descriptions (Wordsworth). Most poets see every day life as dull and unworthy of poetry, but audiences cannot relate to this. Realizing this, Wordsworth relates to reader and makes the piece interesting. Poetry strengthen and purifies the power of the human brain (Wordsworth). When the brain is active in reading, analyzing, or contemplating, it gets habitual and applies the activity to everyday life. This is why Wordsworth is so simplistic, so that the audiences brain focus of analyzing and contemplation. This brain strengthened cannot be accomplished when the reader is too focused on (colorful) imagery which is not a essential to the purpose of the poem. With poetry that could be interpreted and enjoyed by all kinds of people, whether it be poor or rich, young or old, male or female, made Wordsworth the most popular poet of his time (Wordsworth). One of his major beliefs was poetry should not be for a select few or of a certain class, instead poetry is an art that is appreciated by all. In believing this, he had to write his poems in a certain context. Wordsworth had to make sure his writing did not follow a type of person, rather he had to write in a common person language that had no bias. "Great literature is simply language charged with meaning to the utmost possibly degree" (Clark B 211). This fits Wordsworth perfectly because one of his lines has as much meaning, as other romantics' entire poem. His lasting beliefs and his straight forward style has been appreciated throughout time (Clark B 202).
The second dominant style that Wordsworth displays in his poetry is contemporary. Wordsworth's contemporary style is also considered his mature style (Watson 4). The publication of "Lyrical Ballads" is the point where Wordsworth turns his poetry career and arguably British poetry around (Watson 4). Before this point, William Wordsworth was following the format of poetry and did not truly express himself. This way of writing did not gain Wordsworth success because his writings had no passion. As stated earlier in the paper, Wordsworth was a trend-setter and this as a result of his change to contemporary style. Wordsworth. Before this Wordsworth was influenced by 18th century poets (Watson 4). Wordsworth displayed this influence in An Evening Walk and Descriptive Sketches both were obviously 18th century heroic couplets (Watson 4). Another work that was influenced by 18th century was Salisbury Plain which took the spenserian stanzas that was common in the 18th century (Watson 4). Wordsworth only found success when he voice what he wanted and what he thought poetry should be about. Wordsworth was seen as too conventional (Watson 4) and was very unpopular. J.R. Watson claimed that Wordsworth found his voice first when he was writing Prelude (4) and the rest is history.The fact that Wordsworth followed structure and tradition of 18th century poems to critiquing those who believe the same philosophy as he did is ironic.