英国文学之华兹华斯——我似一朵流云William-Wordsworth-and-I-Wandered-Lonely-as-a-Cloud.ppt

Topic 5—Comment on the significance of Wordsworth’s poetry First of all, Wordsworth’s theory, as stated in the “Preface” to the second edition of the “Lyrical Ballads”, serves as a manifesto of Romanticism. The poet takes the direct experience of the senses as the source of poetic truth as poetry comes from the “emotion recollected in tranquillity”. The significance of the “Preface” also presents itself in the poet’s advocation of the writing of the common people in ordinary language. Secondly, his practice is what his theory implies, for the joys and sorrows of the common people are his themes, in many of his poems such as the Lucy poems. Thirdly, natural scenery with its beauty and mystery acts also as one of his favorite themes and the sympathy out of the poet’s nature towards the poor in rural places becomes part of his concern. Fourthly, as one of the leading Romantic poets, the inner workings of individual’s mind remains what Wordsworth likes to reveal in his depiction of natural scenery, and the spiritual growth of his own makes his masterpiece The Prelude. Finally, the seemingly simplicity of the poet both in diction and description is immersed in a profound and sympathetic longing for a better world. So the most important contribution he has made is that he has not only started the modern poetry, the poetry of his growing inner self, but also changed the course of English poetry by using ordinary speech of the language and by adcocating a return to nature. Assignment 1. Analyze the special features of the poem. 2. Preview the novel Pride and Prejudice. I TOPIC: William Wordsworth and I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud II OBJECTIVES: A) Introduction to Wordsworth and his major works B) Special features of his major works C) Study of the poem D) Comment on the significance of Wordsworth’s poetry in the history of English literature. E) Assignment III TEACHING PROCEDURES: Topic 1