Wordsworth proposed a new theory of poetic diction that rejected the ornate language used in 18th century poetry. He argued that the language of poetry should be simple, ordinary language drawn from common people and their interactions with nature. While this theory made poetry more accessible, it was criticized because purifying rustic language removes what makes it rustic, and the difference between poetic and prosaic language is still important. However, Wordsworth's theory was still significant as it moved poetry toward simpler, more common language.

1. Theory of poetic diction by Wordsworth
Theory of Poetic Diction

2. Today's Discussion
 What is Poetic Diction?
 Theory of Poetic Diction
 Arguments supporting this theory.
 Weak points of the theory.
 Criticism
 Conclusion

3. What is Poetic Diction
 A Brief Introduction
◦ The poetic diction is the use of language in a
poetry. Wordsworth revolt against the poetic
diction of eighteenth century.
◦ He criticized the views of poetic diction of Dr
Johnson and Gray.

4. Comparison:
Dr Johnson Wordsworth
 A noble and graceful
action is degraded
when described in
ordinary and simple
action
 Wordsworth rejects
poetic diction by
saying , "avoid poetic
diction, he advocated
the same language in
poetry and prose.

5. Comparison:
Gray Wordsworth
 According to Gray;
Language of the
particular age could
not be the language
of poetry.
 Poet is a man
speaking of men and
his language should
be simple to
communicate his
feelings and ideas.

6. Recommendation of new language
 Wordsworth gives new theory for language of
poetry, according to that it should be
◦ A selection of real language of men in a state
of vivid sensation.
 By men he means rustic, folk and humble
people, by selection he means that this
language should be purified of its absurdities
and coarseness

7. Arguments supporting this theory
First
Rustic people hourly
communicate with
nature and the best
part of the language is
derives from
communicating with
nature, so their
language should be the
language of poetry.
Second
Their language is
simple and clear so it
is more suitable for
poetry.

8. Weak points this theory
First
 When Wordsworth says
that there should not
be any difference in the
language of prose and
poetry, he does not
make clear that
whether he means the
vocabulary or the
position of words.
Second
 Wordsworth
advocates metre for
several reasons, but we
know that this is
artificial as poetic
diction.

9. Criticism
 Coleridge's criticism on theory;
◦ The best part of language is not derived from
communicating with nature but from the
reflection of acts of mind itself.
◦ If the rustic language is purified then it will be
no more rustic.

10. Conclusion
Although Wordsworth' theory of poetic
diction has some limitations , yet it is very
useful. It changed the tendency of using
far-fetched difficult words for poetry. It
has great significance in the history of
English literature; the difference between
the language of poetry and prose is
getting less and less