Question

What does Wordsworth mean by "emotion recollected in tranquility"?

• A. Feelings experienced during meditation
• B. Expressing emotions immediately
• C. Reflecting on past emotions calmly
• D. Writing in moments of inspiration

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Reflecting on past emotions calmly

"Emotion recollected in tranquility" is a phrase by William Wordsworth that describes the process of reflecting on strong emotions after a period of calm. Wordsworth believed that this process allowed poets to create more profound and authentic works of art. 

• Reflection

  Wordsworth believed that poetry should be a considered reflection on emotions, rather than an immediate expression of them. 

• Introspection

  Wordsworth's poetry often shows the process of introspection that led to the creation of the poem. 

• Emotional intensity

  Wordsworth's poetry invites readers to experience the emotional intensity that the poet felt and shaped through reflection. 

• Critical distance

  Wordsworth believed that writing in tranquility allowed him to have critical distance from the subject, which led to more mature writing. 

Wordsworth's ideas about "emotion recollected in tranquility" are reflected in his own poetry, such as Lyrical Ballads.