Wordsworth's Concept of Imagination and Poetic Process

William Wordsworth's understanding of imagination and his approach to the poetic process were revolutionary for his time and continue to influence our understanding of poetry today.

Definition: For Wordsworth, 'imagination' was synonymous with 'intuition', the power to see into the life of things.

This concept of imagination as a kind of heightened perception or insight was central to Wordsworth's poetic philosophy. He believed that the poet's role was not merely to describe the world, but to reveal its hidden truths and connections.

Wordsworth famously stated that all genuine poetry "takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility". This idea encapsulates his view of the poetic process:

1. The poet experiences an event or scene that evokes strong emotions.
2. Later, in a state of tranquility, the poet recalls these emotions.
3. Through the act of recollection and contemplation, the initial emotions are transformed into poetry.

Highlight: What we read in the poem results from the active, vital relationship of present to past experience.

Wordsworth's poetic process can be broken down into several stages:

1. Identification of the object or experience
2. Analysis through sensations
3. Emotional response
4. Memory of the emotions
5. Contemplation of these memories
6. Writing of the poem

The final stage in this process involves the reader, who receives these emotions through the poem, creating a kind of emotional communion between poet and audience.

Example: In his famous poem "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" (also known as "Daffodils"), Wordsworth describes seeing a field of daffodils and then later recalling this scene, demonstrating his concept of "emotion recollected in tranquility".

This approach to poetry, emphasizing personal experience, emotion, and reflection, was a significant departure from the more formal and impersonal styles that had dominated 18th-century verse. Wordsworth's ideas about the poetic process would go on to influence generations of poets and help define the Romantic approach to literature.

Wordsworth's Philosophy of Nature and Man

William Wordsworth's poetry is deeply rooted in his philosophy of nature and its relationship to human consciousness. His views were influenced by various thinkers and philosophies, including Jean-Jacques Rousseau and David Hartley.

Highlight: Wordsworth shared Rousseau's faith in the goodness of nature and the inherent excellence of the child.

Wordsworth believed that man could achieve goodness through the cultivation of his senses and feelings. This idea was central to his poetic practice, which often focused on the intimate relationship between the natural world and human consciousness.

Definition: Pantheism is the belief that God is identical with the universe, or that everything composes an all-encompassing, immanent God.

In Wordsworth's poetry, when a natural object is described, the main focus of interest is actually the poet's response to that object. This approach highlights the subjective nature of experience and the importance of individual perception in understanding the world around us.

Wordsworth was particularly interested in the sensory aspects of nature, especially the sensibilities of the eye and ear. This focus on sensory experience was influenced by the philosopher David Hartley's belief that our moral character develops during childhood as a result of the pleasure and pain caused by our physical experiences.

Example: In Wordsworth's view, sensations lead to simple thoughts, which later combine into complex and organized ideas. This process underscores the deep connection between man and nature in his philosophy.

Wordsworth's pantheistic view of nature saw it as a source of pleasure and joy, a comforter in times of sorrow, and a teacher of love and moral behavior. He believed that man and nature are inseparable, with humans existing not outside the natural world but as active participants within it.

This philosophy of the interconnectedness of man and nature would become a cornerstone of Romantic thought and continue to influence literature and philosophy long after Wordsworth's time.