Arts and Humanities Commons^™

The Differences Between Dorothy Wordsworth's Journals And William Wordsworth's Poetry: Applying The Principles Of "Preface", Susan Dean Elzey

Theses & Honors Papers

The difference between the accounts of Dorothy Wordsworth and William Wordsworth of the events they experience together is studied. At times it almost seems like William contradicts himself in his dictums. However, that assumption is not the case. He takes from Dorothy’s journals a memory, an idea, a description and uses it as the foundation of deeper and more personal poetic revelations that Dorothy ever did. Together, through their writings, the brother and sister illustrate the basic definition of what it is to be a poet. Dorothy was not a poet, William was.