Question

Why did Wordsworth believe that poetry should reflect the language of common people?

• A. He believed that the language of rural people was more authentic and emotionally pure.
• B. He wanted poetry to be understood only by the educated elite.
• C. He thought that complex vocabulary was necessary for poetic expression.
• D. He was influenced by the Neoclassical tradition of poetic diction.

Answer 1

Answer:

A. He believed that the language of rural people was more authentic and emotionally pure.

Wordsworth believed that the language of rural people was more authentic and emotionally pure because:

1. Closer to Nature and Simplicity – Rural people lived in harmony with nature, away from the artificiality of urban life. Their speech reflected a natural sincerity and genuine emotions, uncorrupted by social pretensions.

2. Stronger Connection to Fundamental Human Feelings – Wordsworth argued that the emotions of common people were more profound and universal, as they lived simpler lives, dealing with basic human experiences like love, loss, and survival.

3. Uncorrupted by Artificial Refinement – He believed that the poetic diction of earlier poets (especially the Neoclassical tradition) was overly elaborate and detached from real human experience. In contrast, the language of rural people was direct, heartfelt, and spontaneous.

4. Poetry as a Universal Medium – By using the everyday language of common people, poetry could be more accessible and relatable to all, rather than being confined to the educated elite.

5. Truth and Passion in Expression – Wordsworth saw poetry as an expression of truth and deep feeling. Since rural folk expressed themselves naturally, without the influence of artificial rhetoric, their language was better suited to capture genuine human experiences.