Question

What was Coleridge’s primary objection to Wordsworth’s theory?

• A. He believed poetry should be completely different from spoken language.
• B. He argued that poetry should elevate language beyond everyday speech.
• C. He thought poetry should not include imagination or artistry.
• D. He rejected the use of meter in poetry.

Answer 1

Answer:

B. He argued that poetry should elevate language beyond everyday speech.

oleridge’s primary objection to Wordsworth’s theory of poetic language, as expressed in Biographia Literaria (1817), was that poetry should elevate language beyond everyday speech rather than simply imitate the way common people spoke.

Key Points of Coleridge’s Criticism:

1. Poetry Requires a More Elevated and Imaginative Language – Coleridge argued that while poetry should be natural, it should not be limited to the plain language of everyday conversation. He believed that poetry required a heightened, more refined, and imaginative diction to achieve its artistic and emotional effects.

2. Ordinary Speech is Not Always Poetic – Coleridge pointed out that not all speech used by common people is inherently poetic. Much of daily conversation is filled with dull, fragmented, or unremarkable expressions, which would not be suitable for poetry. He believed that a poet must select and refine language to create beauty and meaning.

3. Distinction Between Poetry and Prose – While Wordsworth claimed that there was little fundamental difference between poetry and prose except for meter, Coleridge disagreed. He argued that poetry should have an organic unity—a combination of rhythm, imagination, and heightened expression—that sets it apart from ordinary prose.

4. Role of the Poet’s Imagination – Coleridge believed that poetry should not merely reflect reality but transform it through the poet’s imagination. He emphasized the active, creative power of the poet, which shapes and elevates language to a level beyond ordinary speech.

5. Language Varies with Subject and Speaker – Unlike Wordsworth, who promoted a universal poetic language based on common speech, Coleridge argued that the language of poetry should be suited to the subject matter and the character of the speaker. Different themes and emotions require different levels of linguistic complexity.