How did William Wordsworth characterize Romanticism?

How did William Wordsworth characterize Romanticism?

• A. Real language of men
• B. Ornate 18th-century style
• C. Strict classical forms
• D. Prose

Answer: (A)

Wordsworth defined Romanticism through the aim of poetry to speak in the real language of men—that is, plain, natural speech that reflects genuine human thoughts and feelings. He believed poetry should come from ordinary life and direct experience, not from artificially ornate diction or exaggerated style. This emphasis on everyday subject matter, sincere emotion, and a close bond with nature marked a move away from the refined, artificial language of much eighteenth‑century verse and from rigid classical forms. Poetry, in his view, belongs in verse and should be accessible to everyday readers, capturing how people actually express themselves in real moments. So the idea that Romanticism is about using real, everyday language best captures his stance, while ornate diction, strict classical forms, or prose do not align with his approach to how poetry should sound and what it should achieve.

Wordsworth defined Romanticism through the aim of poetry to speak in the real language of men—that is, plain, natural speech that reflects genuine human thoughts and feelings. He believed poetry should come from ordinary life and direct experience, not from artificially ornate diction or exaggerated style. This emphasis on everyday subject matter, sincere emotion, and a close bond with nature marked a move away from the refined, artificial language of much eighteenth‑century verse and from rigid classical forms. Poetry, in his view, belongs in verse and should be accessible to everyday readers, capturing how people actually express themselves in real moments. So the idea that Romanticism is about using real, everyday language best captures his stance, while ornate diction, strict classical forms, or prose do not align with his approach to how poetry should sound and what it should achieve.