What might this mean? (english folks)

Random Female · 10-07-2002, 01:26 PM

This is from Wordsworths' Preface to Lyrical Ballads. He's talking here about the advent of technology and monotonous city life and the effect it's producing on the common man- namely, to get quick relief from some "extraordinary incident", which he talks about. He says that this craving for extraordinary incident is met by the conformity of literature to this need, and these people produce the literature give them the sickly german tragedies and frantic novels he speaks about. Wordsworth wants to counter act it of course, and I understand that, but i'm unsure by what he means by "extraordinary incident". is it an incident that breaks the monotony? Or merely a quick-fix of pleasure at the end of a long workday? And I don't understand how he thinks he can counteract all of this simply by writing poems that are slightly more accessible tot he common man than by those of his contemporaries.
this goes into part of my essay i was talking to you about.

It has therefore appeared to me, that to endeavour to produce or enlarge this capability is one of the best services in which, at any period, a Writer can be engaged; but this service, excellent at all times, is especially so at the present day. For a multitude of causes, unknown to former times, are now acting with a combined force to blunt the discriminating powers of the mind, and, unfitting it for all voluntary exertion, to reduce it to a state of almost savage torpor. The most effective of these causes are the great national events which are daily taking place, and the increasing accumulation of men in cities, where the uniformity of their occupations produces a craving for extraordinary incident, which the rapid communication of intelligence hourly gratifies. to this tendency of life and manners the literature and theatrical exhibitions of the country have conformed themselves. The invaluable works of our elder writers, I had almost said the works of Shakespeare and Milton, are driven into neglect by frantic novels, sickly and stupid German Tragedies, and deluges of idle and extravagant stories in verse.—When I think upon this degrading thirst after outrageous stimulation, I am almost ashamed to have spoken of the feeble endeavour made in these volumes to counteract it;

Random Female · 10-07-2002, 01:28 PM

maybe that IS it. cos all the poets of his day were into writing for only the highly educated, and wordsworth strove to create poetry with "comon language" that the common man could understand. Therefore, the more common men are touched, the more it counter acts their desire for sickly novels or whatever.

Squashing Pineapples · 10-07-2002, 01:54 PM

your thread is too long and I'm too lazy...

Samsa · 10-07-2002, 03:06 PM

yeah i hope i never have a male teacher again i 'm always so scared they will think i'm stupid altho my g'vt teacher is af emale and she's so cool and i'm scared she thinks i 'm stupid too cuz she rocks yeah

Random Female · 10-07-2002, 03:11 PM

interesting. i tend to be less intimidated by male teachers. (except for this one that's gotm e quakin in my boots this semester) but then again, i'm intimidated by women in general.

sawdust restaurants · 10-07-2002, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Random Female
maybe that IS it. cos all the poets of his day were into writing for only the highly educated, and wordsworth strove to create poetry with "comon language" that the common man could understand. Therefore, the more common men are touched, the more it counter acts their desire for sickly novels or whatever.

Yeah, that is pretty much it. The "extraordinary incident" he's referring to is just something, anything interesting to break the otherwise stifling monotony of the average workday; it's related to people's desire for outrageous stimulation.

Random Female · 10-07-2002, 04:05 PM

ahh. thank you for your genuine reply!

10-07-2002, 01:26 PM	#1
Random Female Apocalyptic Poster Location: white folks' ghetto, San Diego Posts: 2,005	What might this mean? (english folks) This is from Wordsworths' Preface to Lyrical Ballads. He's talking here about the advent of technology and monotonous city life and the effect it's producing on the common man- namely, to get quick relief from some "extraordinary incident", which he talks about. He says that this craving for extraordinary incident is met by the conformity of literature to this need, and these people produce the literature give them the sickly german tragedies and frantic novels he speaks about. Wordsworth wants to counter act it of course, and I understand that, but i'm unsure by what he means by "extraordinary incident". is it an incident that breaks the monotony? Or merely a quick-fix of pleasure at the end of a long workday? And I don't understand how he thinks he can counteract all of this simply by writing poems that are slightly more accessible tot he common man than by those of his contemporaries. this goes into part of my essay i was talking to you about. It has therefore appeared to me, that to endeavour to produce or enlarge this capability is one of the best services in which, at any period, a Writer can be engaged; but this service, excellent at all times, is especially so at the present day. For a multitude of causes, unknown to former times, are now acting with a combined force to blunt the discriminating powers of the mind, and, unfitting it for all voluntary exertion, to reduce it to a state of almost savage torpor. The most effective of these causes are the great national events which are daily taking place, and the increasing accumulation of men in cities, where the uniformity of their occupations produces a craving for extraordinary incident, which the rapid communication of intelligence hourly gratifies. to this tendency of life and manners the literature and theatrical exhibitions of the country have conformed themselves. The invaluable works of our elder writers, I had almost said the works of Shakespeare and Milton, are driven into neglect by frantic novels, sickly and stupid German Tragedies, and deluges of idle and extravagant stories in verse.—When I think upon this degrading thirst after outrageous stimulation, I am almost ashamed to have spoken of the feeble endeavour made in these volumes to counteract it;

10-07-2002, 01:28 PM	#2
Random Female Apocalyptic Poster Location: white folks' ghetto, San Diego Posts: 2,005	maybe that IS it. cos all the poets of his day were into writing for only the highly educated, and wordsworth strove to create poetry with "comon language" that the common man could understand. Therefore, the more common men are touched, the more it counter acts their desire for sickly novels or whatever.

10-07-2002, 01:54 PM	#3
Squashing Pineapples Banned Location: I'm outta here! Posts: 2,774	your thread is too long and I'm too lazy...

10-07-2002, 03:06 PM	#4
Samsa Banned Location: A theater near you Posts: 7,929	yeah i hope i never have a male teacher again i 'm always so scared they will think i'm stupid altho my g'vt teacher is af emale and she's so cool and i'm scared she thinks i 'm stupid too cuz she rocks yeah

10-07-2002, 03:11 PM	#5
Random Female Apocalyptic Poster Location: white folks' ghetto, San Diego Posts: 2,005	interesting. i tend to be less intimidated by male teachers. (except for this one that's gotm e quakin in my boots this semester) but then again, i'm intimidated by women in general.

10-07-2002, 04:05 PM	#7
Random Female Apocalyptic Poster Location: white folks' ghetto, San Diego Posts: 2,005	ahh. thank you for your genuine reply!