Coleridge’s objections to Wordsworth’s theories

Wordsworth and Coleridge are the two great friends who pioneered the birth of English romantic poetry at a time when the neo-classical poetry was reigning supreme in the literary firmament in England. Their friendship led them to the collaboration in writing poetry, really new , and finally they brought out a book of poetry , called Lyrical Ballads in 1798, that shook the basis of classical poetry.

Obviously the poems written by Wordsworth were enjoyed by Coleridge but much after his return from Germany where he studied philosophy, he held different opinion from Wordsworth. His objects to Wordsworth’s poetry are mainly confined to his theory of language and poetic diction.

First of all, Wordsworth writes that he chose the low and rustic life. In the rustic condition of life, he continues, ‘’our elementary feeling coexist in a state of greater simplicity’’.

As regards the first statement, i.e. the choice of rustic characters and life, Coleridge points out first that not all the characters of Wordsworth’s best poem are drawn from the low rustic life. According to Coleridge, a man will not be benefited from a life in rural solitude unless he has natural sensibility and suitable education. Coleridge upholds Aristotle’s view that the characters in poetry must be universal and typical.

The important objection of Coleridge to Wordsworth’s poetry is his conception of poetic diction. The word diction means choice and use of words, style or manner of speaking and writing. Wordsworth suggests to write in a selection of language really used my men. But this view too, according to Coleridge, is erroneous. If the language of common men is purified, it no more remains the language of common men but the language of education men.

To conclude, Coleridge’s objections to Wordsworth’s theories carry weight but the spirit of Wordsworth consists in the use of simple language which, every man can understand. Although Coleridge’s arguments are grounded in thought, Wordsworth speaks from emotion without going, though the matter deeply.