Question

What kind of language did Wordsworth advocate for in poetry?

• A. Archaic and grandiose
• B. Artificial and highly structured
• C. The ordinary language of common people
• D. Latinized and intellectual

Answer 1

Answer:

C. The ordinary language of common people

In his Preface to Lyrical Ballads (1800), William Wordsworth argued that poetry should be written in the real language of common people, rather than the elevated, artificial diction used in Neoclassical poetry.

Wordsworth’s Key Ideas on Language in Poetry:

• Poetry should reflect everyday speech rather than overly ornate or complex language.

• The best poetry arises from ordinary experiences and emotions.

• Rustic life and simple, natural settings reveal profound truths about humanity.

This idea was revolutionary at the time and became a defining feature of Romantic poetry, making it more accessible, emotional, and personal.