WILLIAM WORDSWORTH Flashcards
(27 cards)
When and where was William Wordsworth born?
On 7 April 1770, in Cumbria, in the north-west of England.
What natural area deeply influenced Wordsworth’s poetry?
The Lake District National Park.
What personal losses did Wordsworth experience early in life?
His mother died when he was 7, and his father when he was 13.
Where did Wordsworth study?
Hawkshead Grammar School and Cambridge University.
How did the French Revolution influence Wordsworth?
He was enthusiastic about its republican ideals and visited France in 1790.
Who was Dorothy Wordsworth?
His younger sister, a writer who lived with him and inspired his work.
Who was Samuel Taylor Coleridge to Wordsworth?
A close friend and collaborator in creating Lyrical Ballads.
When was Lyrical Ballads first published and why is it important?
In 1798; it marked the beginning of English Romantic Poetry.
What is the significance of the Preface to Lyrical Ballads?
It is considered the manifesto of English Romanticism.
What key elements of poetry does Wordsworth outline in the Preface?
Poetry should express simple feelings, use common language, and be inspired by Nature and Imagination.
What does the phrase “emotion recollected in tranquillity” mean?
Poetry is created by reflecting calmly on strong past emotions.
How does Wordsworth define the poet?
As a visionary with heightened sensitivity and imagination.
What poetic language did Wordsworth reject?
The refined, artificial diction of 18th-century poetry.
What themes did Wordsworth often explore in his poetry?
Nature, childhood, memory, simple rural life, and human emotion.
What was Wordsworth’s longest autobiographical poem?
The Prelude – 13 books (1808 edition), written in blank verse.
What was The Excursion about?
A philosophical reflection on man, nature, and society.
What major position did Wordsworth receive in 1843?
He became England’s Poet Laureate.
When did Wordsworth die?
On 23 April 1850, at the age of 80.
What is the role of Nature in Wordsworth’s poetry?
Nature is the poet’s main source of joy, inspiration, and emotional growth.
What types of people and scenes did Wordsworth often depict?
Lonely wanderers, rustics, and natural landscapes like flowers and rainbows.
Why did Wordsworth express concern about the Industrial Revolution?
He feared it was damaging the natural environment, especially the Lake District.
How does Nature help human beings, according to Wordsworth?
It reconnects them with their spiritual selves and humanity.
What connection did Wordsworth share with Jean-Jacques Rousseau?
The belief that humans find their true selves in communion with Nature.
How would you describe Wordsworth’s writing style?
Plain, easy to understand, and rich in natural and religious imagery.
