"Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings; it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility: the emotion is contemplated till, by a species of re-action, the tranquility disappears, and an emotion, kindred to that which was before the subject of contemplation, is gradually produced, and does itself actually exist in the mind." -William Wordsworth So basically it is saying that poetry begins with the feelings one has when they are at peace, and then by analyzing the poem, the reader is able to feel what the poet was feeling when they wrote it? Is that correct?

Question

"Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings; it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility: the emotion is contemplated till, by a species of re-action, the tranquility disappears, and an emotion, kindred to that which was before the subject of contemplation, is gradually produced, and does itself actually exist in the mind." -William Wordsworth  So basically it is saying that poetry begins with the feelings one has when they are at peace, and then by analyzing the poem, the reader is able to feel what the poet was feeling when they wrote it? Is that correct?

PsyDAG · Answer

Pardon my poking my nose in, but the saying does not seem to indicate "analyzing" as much as experiencing the poem.

Having the reader experience what you try to relay in writing is every author's goal, whether in poem or prose.

I hope this helps. Thanks for asking.

Writeacher · Answer

PsyDAG is correct -- please re-read what you wrote and notice the difference.