The Preface to the Lyrical Ballads

The Preface is one of the greatest documents of literature. As Rene Wellek asserts "though Wordsworth left a small body of criticism , it is rich in survivals, suggestions, anticipations and personal insights." It is the first romantic critics attempt at attempting to put into words the creative process, vindicating the romantic principle of liberalism in literature. It opposed all rigid rules in literature that left nothing to freedom and nature. It judged a work of art by its ends rather than its means. "Critics are apt to forget, " said Coleridge, "that rules are but means to an end; consequently where the ends are different, the rules must be likely so." Wordsworth was not a critic by temperament or training. He was pushed into criticism as he had to defend himself and as it was inevitable. And the result was a piece of document that is often heralded as the unofficial manifesto of the Romantic movement.

Wordsworth begins the Preface by referring o the success of the experimentation of his poems. He was originally reluctant to include the Preface as he felt that he needed no appreciation of his poetry. Secondly he adjudged that a suitable and adequate defence cannot be put forward within such a small compass of a preface. However, he decided to include an introduction on the advice of his friends and because he thought it was unfair to thrust a collection of new poems which were radically different from those of the time. Indeed it brought about such a revolution that the base built of the neo-classical tenets was broken, thanks to the French revolution. Its aftermath echoed the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity. It marked a new epoch and heralded the age of the romantic revival of which the giants were Wordsworth, Keats, Shelley and Coleridge.