William Wordsworth’s Preface to Lyrical Ballads: A Comparative Analysis of Classical Ideas and Matthew Arnold

Year 2024, Issue: 18, 58 - 70

Sümeyye Öztürk

https://doi.org/10.38060/kare.1393053

Abstract

William Wordsworth, in his Preface to Lyrical Ballads (1798), redefined poetry by advocating for the representation of ordinary experiences in extraordinary ways, evoking sublime emotions in readers. While his ideas draw from predecessors such as Plato, Aristotle, Longinus, and Horace, as well as his contemporary Coleridge, Wordsworth’s emphasis on imagination often overlooks critical engagement with earlier literary traditions. Matthew Arnold is included in this analysis as a comparative figure to highlight Wordsworth’s shortcomings in balancing creative and critical faculties. Arnold’s focus on synthesizing these elements offers a valuable contrast to Wordsworth’s prioritization of imaginative powers. It is thus essential to examine the distinctions in Wordsworth’s style compared to the thinkers above. The analysis provides valuable insights into diverse perspectives on the poet’s role and the nature of poetry. Indeed, it becomes essential to unfold and unravel Wordsworth’s understanding of poetry to draw parallels and to compare and contrast his ideas to gain knowledge on how poetry ought to be perceived. Present study examines Wordsworth’s contributions through Arnold’s critical lens, offering insights into the evolving role of the poet and the nature of poetry while addressing where Wordsworth may be critiqued for his limited critical scope.

Keywords

: William Wordsworth, Samuel T. Coleridge, Preface to Lyrical Ballads, Matthew Arnold, Classical Ideas

Platon’dan Arnold’a: Wordsworth’un Preface to Lyrical Ballads Üzerine Karşılaştırmalı Bir İnceleme

Abstract

William Wordsworth, Preface to Lyrical Ballads (1798) adlı eserinde, sıradan insanın günlük deneyimlerinin yüce duygular uyandıracak şekilde sunulmasını savunarak şiir anlayışına yeni bir boyut kazandırmıştır. Wordsworth’ün fikirleri, Platon, Aristoteles, Longinus ve Horace gibi düşünürlerin yanı sıra çağdaşı Coleridge’in görüşleriyle de benzerlik taşımaktadır. Ancak, Wordsworth hayal gücüne öncelik verirken, Matthew Arnold eleştirel bakış açısı ve edebi geleneklerle ilişki eksikliğini eleştirmiştir. Arnold’un yaratıcı ve eleştirel yetilerin dengelenmesi gerektiğine dair vurgusu, Wordsworth’un yaklaşımını değerlendirmek için bir çerçeve sunmaktadır. Wordsworth’ün yaklaşımının, adı geçen sanatçılardan hangi yönlerde ayrıştığını incelemek ve şiirin rolüne dair çeşitli görüşleri ortaya koymak bu çalışma açısından büyük önem taşımaktadır. Bu bağlamda, Wordsworth’ün şiir anlayışını derinlemesine ele almak ve diğer yazarlarla karşılaştırmak hedeflenmiştir. Bu makale Wordsworth’ün fikirlerini Arnold’un görüşleriyle, edebi geleneklerle ve daha geniş bağlamdaki düşünce akımlarıyla karşılaştırarak şairin rolü ve şiirin doğasına dair yeni perspektifler sunmayı amaçlamaktadır.

Keywords

William Wordsworth, Samuel T. Coleridge, Lirik Baladlar, Matthew Arnold, Klasik Teoriler

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