Wordsworth Prompts, Part I (Posted on 1/25)

1. Many people believe that poetry is difficult to read because it uses pretentious language or an uncommon vocabulary. Others feel that poetry is for highly educated people with an extensive background in literature. How does Wordsworth address these ideas in his Preface to Lyrical Ballads? What is he trying to do differently? What is your sense of Wordsworth’s idea of what a poet, and what poetry, should be? And, more importantly, do you think his poetry lives up to these ideas?

2. In "Expostulation and Reply,” "William" (probably Worsdworth, or at least a persona like him) suggests to his friend Matthew that "powers" can "impress" themselves upon us even if we are not looking for them. In fact, looking for inspiration, truth, knowledge, beauty, etc. may be too active a process. Wordsworth writes that "we can feed this mind of ours, / In a wise passiveness." What is "wise passiveness"? (Note: I promise I am not looking for one specific answer, so take a shot at this.)

3. Discuss the last lines of "The Tables Turned": "Come forth, and bring with you a heart / That watches and receives." How can one watch with the heart? What is it that can be received? Use other lines from the poem as part of your response.

4. Relate these lines from "Tintern Abbey" to something from Blake's Songs of Innocence and Experience:

For I have learned

To look on nature, not as in the hour

Of thoughtless youth, but hearing oftentimes

The still, sad music of humanity.

5. How has the speaker of "Tintern Abbey" changed in the five years since he first visited? How is he the same? Do you think it is significant that he addresses his younger sister in the poem? Please use specific lines from the poem in your response.

6. In his Preface, Wordsworth writes of "emotion recollected in tranquility" that leads to "the spontaneous overflow of feelings." What does this mean? Can it really happen? Has it happened to you? If you feel comfortable relating an experience where this has happened, I would love to read about it.

See you on Thursday.