ENGL 200 D: Reading Literature: Literature in the Marketplace

Note to the class: this reading is longer than some; be sure to give yourself time to get through it!

1. Today, Wordsworth is known as one of the “great” poets — but he was nothing of the sort when he wrote the introduction (Preface) to the collection of poems called the Lyrical Ballads. As you read, one of the most important things to keep in mind is why he thinks people ought to be interested in buying his book. What does he think makes it valuable?

2. Along the same lines as the first question, what kind of poetry and/or writing/art/etc. does Wordsworth see as not valuable? Why not?

3. You’ve now seen the poor described by Mandeville and Smith. What does Wordsworth think about them? How would you describe his views? Are they sympathetic? Sinister? Somewhere in between?

4. Mandeville seems to think that all art is luxury (see <i>The Grumbling Hive</i>, ll. 387-390). Would Wordsworth agree with him? Is there a way that we can decide whether a specific piece, or type of art, is a luxury, or if it is not?

5. Is writing poetry a laborious process? Why or why not? (Be prepared to cite evidence from the text!)