First Formal Essay on Romanticism

In his Preface to Lyrical Ballads (1802), William Wordsworth made the
following statement to clarify and explain the aesthetic, thematic, and ideological
goals of Romantic poetry:
The principal object, then, which I proposed to myself in these Poems
was to chuse incidents and situations from common life, and to relate
or describe them, throughout, as far as was possible, in a selection of
language really used by men; and, at the same time, to throw over
them a certain colouring of imagination, whereby ordinary things
should be presented to the mind in an unusual way; and, further, and
above all, to make these incidents and situations interesting by tracing
in them, truly though not ostentatiously, the primary laws of our
nature: chiefly, as far as regards the manner in which we associate
ideas in a state of excitement. (Wordsworth 3)
The question remains, however, as to whether or not representative
Romantic poetry fulfills the theoretical guidelines and patterns outlined by
Wordsworth in his Preface. What requirements or tendencies does Wordsworth
describe? Through the analysis of ONE of the poems reproduced below, can you
discuss Wordsworth’s ideas about Romantic poetry in relation to the “Romantic”
poem which you have selected? Does your analysis of the poem demonstrate the
“incidents and situations,” “language,” “imagination,” “laws of our nature,” and
emotional or psychological state of “excitement” which Wordsworth describes as
requirements of the Romantic? What aspects of the poem’s voice, plot, setting,
structure, imagery, diction, and theme indicate that it is or is not a Romantic poem?
Does it satisfy some of the requirements but not others? Why? Explain.
Your goal is to discuss and to develop and support your opinion through the
analysis of examples quoted from the text. You may feel free to expand your
discussion in whatever way you see fit, so long as you respond to the questions
above. Your introductory paragraph should feature your essay’s main idea
(THESIS) and mention pertinent author(s) and text(s). The essay’s main idea
should then be developed in the succeeding body paragraphs through the analysis
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of examples drawn from the pertinent text(s). Be sure to explain clearly and
thoroughly HOW your analysis develops an understanding of the material and
relates to the ideas described by Wordsworth is his Preface. Your focus
should be clear, but your treatment of the material is only limited by your own
intelligence and ingenuity. The concluding paragraph should summarize key
points and remind us about what we have learned.
LIST of Poems
Wordsworth Poor Susan
Wordsworth The World is Too Much With Us
Shelley Ozymandias
Byron Darkness
Keats When I Have Fear