William Wordsworth

"Poetry is the image of man and nature"
Preface to Lyrical Ballads (1802)

Points of Reflection

1. does the poem "Simon Lee" follow the linguistic and topical prescriptions for poetry laid out by Wordsworth in his second Preface (1802) to Lyrical Ballads? What of the other poems read for today?

2. is "The Reverie of Poor Susan" (1797; 1800) more about the limitations of Nature or the limitations of the human imagination? And is it more an implicit critique of industrialized cities or class inequities?

3. consider the conflicted ethics advanced by the narrator of "The Old Cumberland Beggar" (1797; 1800) as he considers what are the best circumstances for the homeless. Also, Wordsworth seems both progressive and conservative in his attitude towards the poor. Explain.

4. what does Wordsworth suggest about the relative values of interdependence and autonomy in "The OldCumberland Beggar" and "Simon Lee" (1798; 1798)?

5. "But poets do not write for poets alone, but for men" (Preface to Lyrical Ballads). Assuming this was true at one point, is it still?


6. how does the following excerpt fit the kind of poetic style Wordsworth dislikes?

"To the Pious Memory of the Accomplisht Young Lady Mrs Anne Killigrew,
Excellent in the Two Sister-Arts of Poesie, and Painting. An Ode"

I.

Thou Youngest Virgin-Daughter of the Skies,
Made in the last Promotion of the Blest;
Whose Palmes, new pluckt from Paradise,
In spreading Branches more sublimely rise,
Rich with Immortal Green above the rest:
Whether, adopted to some Neighbouring Star,
Thou rol'st above us, in thy wand'ring Race,
Or, in Procession fixt and regular,
Mov'd with the Heavens Majestick Pace;
Or, call'd to more Superiour Bliss,
thou tread'st, with Seraphims, the vast Abyss.
What ever happy Region is thy place,
Cease thy Celestial Song a little space;
(Thou wilt have Time enough for Hymns Divine,
Since Heav'ns Eternal Year is thine.)
Hear then a Mortal Muse thy Praise rehearse,
In no ignoble Verse;
But such as thy own voice did practise here,
When thy first Fruits of Poesie were giv'n;
To make thy self a welcome Inmate there:
While yet a young Probationer,
And Candidate of Heav'n.

(1686)
stanza 1 of 10
John Dryden

Tintern Abbey

Paul Marchbanks
marchban@email.unc.edu