Wordsworth’s main argument about poetic language, as outlined in the Preface to Lyrical Ballads (1800), was that poetry should be written in the "real language of men"—that is, in the ordinary language used by common people. He believed that poetry should be free from artificial poetic diction, which had dominated 18th-century poetry, and should instead focus on simple, everyday language to make poetry more accessible and emotionally powerful.
Additionally, Wordsworth argued that poetry should express profound emotions and that the language of rural people was particularly suited for this purpose because they lived closer to nature and their speech was more direct and sincere. He also emphasized that poetry should be "the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings," shaped by the poet’s deep contemplation and recollection in tranquility.
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