When William Wordsworth wrote the Preface to the Lyrical Ballads he wanted poets to have three take aways which were simply for poets to use clear and distinguishable language, use nature to connect humans, and to write poems that withdraw emotion from the reader. Wordsworth suggests that if these rules are followed it would be easier for readers and writers alike to directly express or understand their emotions. We can also assume that he also thought using such tactics would help works become more appealing to the average person. Wordsworth was a man of his word because in his poem Lucy Gray, he successfully applies the devices previously suggested.
Throughout the entire poem readers have a clear understanding of what is going on. The language is not used to impress, rather it is used to set a scene that every reader would recognize. The connectivity of the language grasps readers instead of pushing them away, like most wordy pieces would. He uses his language to take the reader on the journey with Lucy and then transitions smoothly into then having the perspective of the Parents, and he does all of this using simplistic language. Though a reader today would have a bit of trouble understanding what exactly all of the words mean, Wordsworth’s principle about simplistic language still applies for the average 1800 reader every word or slang would be understandable, and luckily for us 21st century folk we have footnotes.
When Wordsworth writes that poetry should derive some emotion from the reader the best way to completely understand what he means is to read the poem Lucy Gray. We know that the story Wordsworth is telling in the poem is based off of a story he had heard from his sister, so we can assume that the story of Lucy Gray was a well known story, at least in the town that Wordsworth was from. Though the emotional attachment to the actual Lucy Gray lies in a random town the story still has the ability to pull emotion from all types of readers because Wordsworth chose specific words that causes readers mirror the emotions of the characters in the poem. This is apparent from the beginning of the poem when he writes,
“You yet may spy the Fawn at play,
The Hare upon the Green;
But the sweet face of Lucy Gray
Will never more be seen.” (9-12)
He starts the poem by placing images of animals we are all familiar with and then shoves a disturbing realization right after. He continues to pull at the readers emotion throughout the entire poem especially when we switch perspectives from Lucy to the parents. When he writes, “The wretched Parents all that night/ Went shouting far and wide;” (33-34) We as readers feel the emotion of the distressed parents, we worry just as they do. Though this poem may pull sad emotions from readers it perfectly encapsulates what Wordsworth was trying to convey in the Preface, all readers would be able to relate to the poem and that is what makes it great.
Brit Lit 2020 