Wordsworth said that “poetry is passion, it is the history or science of feeling”. In conjunction with Shelley's quote, this is a bold statement to make. Wordsworth calls poetry not only the “science” of emotion – creating a sense of authorial logic – but also the “history” of feeling. This suggests that poetry was able to “record” every past emotion, whether elation or despair. This statement itself implies that other modes of documentation, such as prose, are inadequate for recording such emotion. And Wordsworth takes this definition even further. Shelley states that poetry is "the record of the best and happiest moments", while Wordsworth states that "poetry [is] passion". Poetry is therefore not only the act of a witness; reading and writing poetry creates those “happiest moments.” Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Shelley's opening quote argues that poetry is a "record," suggesting that the poet's word choice simply translates the view into verse. However, Shelley's "Defense of Poetry" also highlights the importance of the poet in creating such happy moments within a poem. It is only thanks to their imagination that words are able to exalt a “dull and dense world”, from an ephemeral humanity to an eternal and true beauty. This continues when he cites that poetry “removes the veil of familiarity from the world.” It is important to consider this metaphor of the “veil,” as an image that prevents humanity from seeing absolute beauty. It is therefore up to the poet to reveal the world and highlight its beauty. This metaphor, however, is even more complicated. A veil is supposed to be partially transparent, suggesting that humanity is only a whisper away from exultation. Additionally, Shelley perhaps suggests the power of language to make everything familiar suddenly unfamiliar again. As human beings, we become so accustomed to our surroundings that we stop noticing them. By presenting them in such a poetic way, one can hope that the world will be reborn in the eyes of humanity and that they will transcend the ignorance of the arts and constant monotony. This perhaps suggests that these poets are placing themselves, as “better minds,” on a pedestal. Only they are privy to these captivating and idiosyncratic perspectives, and through poetry they also allow the masses to share their lofty opinions. However, this exploration of Shelley's work is not entirely representative of the broader Romantic tradition. For example, Wordsworth, as a first-generation Romantic poet, sees a beauty in the world that is not necessarily good, but nonetheless creates an impact on his life. Therefore, Shelley's "Defense of Poetry" refuses to adhere to his own statement. Poetry is not simply about recording these moments of happiness; it is only thanks to the transcendent quality of verse that these very moments can appear this way, and without it they would remain as dark as reality. While Shelley focuses on the "best and happiest times," Wordsworth's The Two-Part Prelude recalls memories that, while not entirely positive, are nonetheless important in shaping one's life. However, his poetry is not completely negative. Wordsworth often sees the potential for happiness, as if he is on a path that he knows will eventually lead to it. This concept is found in all his poetry, displayed through the motif of a restorative nature. THEworld around Wordsworth “purifies […] the elements of feeling and thought […] both pain and fear, until we recognize/A greatness in the beating of the heart.” For Wordsworth, poetry is not simply the “story” of the happiest moments. In writing these verses, the beauty lies in its interaction with the world, from mere witness to participant. He claims that nature has the power to "purify" us, suggesting that it refuses to remain a mere landscape to be described. Nature is instead personified to act as a deity-like figure, producing not only happy "moments" , but refining our senses so that they influence our entire future. As mentioned previously, Wordsworth encourages a sense of expectation in his verse. We are currently accused of being impure in both “feeling and thought,” waiting to “recognize” how sacred “the heartbeat” is. Instead, humanity must rely on the power of nature to make us understand how beautiful life can be, until we ourselves come to realize it. Furthermore, the pronoun “we” rejects the exclusivity previously explored by Shelley. His poetry suggests that only poets can recognize such a "great high", but Wordsworth's verse almost hopes that one day everyone will attain this lofty perspective. Additionally, Shelley's quote defines poetry as the recording of "the best and happiest moments", but this is not entirely accurate with Wordsworth's two-part Prelude. He refuses to ignore other emotions, such as "pain and fear", suggesting that they are just as important in shaping the "best minds". By experiencing such negativity, the exultation of “greatness” that follows will only seem more intense; the further down we go, the higher they have to go up. Wordsworth sees a potential for achieving a form of happiness, a “greatness” that suggests a hope of future greatness. Therefore, Wordsworth's poetry is less a "record" of happiness than a hope for future joy and inspiration. The quote given by Shelley mainly focuses on happiness. But conversely, it limits these emotions to simple “moments”. In Wordsworth's other works, such as Tintern Abbey, he adheres closely to the Romantic tradition, using nature as a backdrop for this important theme of time. Instead of these “moments” only existing in the present, Wordsworth uses this idea of ​​memory to suggest that past happiness can also influence a present epiphany. It is therefore possible that the world does not need to be constantly glorious, if these “best moments” are always accessible through mental images. This would also mean that the poet controls the moment in which he feels this exaltation; unlike spontaneous emotion, we can choose a memory and therefore the feelings that accompany it. Wordsworth explores how memories are not only restorative, but sometimes also imperative: These forms of beauty […] I owed them In hours of weariness sweet sensations Felt in the blood Despite a certain control in the return to these memories, the verb "owed » implies an unpaid debt; the narrator relies heavily on his past happiness to try to rid him of the current darkness. Without this 'beauty' to be expressed through poetry, one's imagination would be devoid, the world would be dark and a poet's mind would be incapable of creating such verses. Additionally, the ambiguous language: "forms of beauty" gives poetry a universality among other arts, suggesting that poetry is not exclusive in its ability to record humanity's happiest moments. And these “moments” seem,, 1985)