(Lecture-2), Definitions of Poetry by William Wordsworth, William Hazlitt, A. E. Houseman

Since poets and writers are trying to capture the uncapturable, their definitions of poetry often tell you as much about their own philosophy as they do about the art form itself. Here are some of the most famous and insightful definitions of poetry from great minds:
William Wordsworth says, "Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquillity."
Emily Dickinson opines, "If I read a book and it makes my whole body so cold no fire ever can warm me, I know that is poetry. If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know that is poetry."
Robert Frost states, "Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words."
Percy Bysshe Shelley expresses, "Poetry is a mirror which makes beautiful that which is distorted."
T.S. Eliot explains, "Poetry is not a turning loose of emotion, but an escape from emotion; it is not the expression of personality, but an escape from personality."
These diverse perspectives highlight why poetry is so rich: it can be a tranquil reflection, an electrical shock, or a carefully constructed argument—it just depends on the maker (from the Greek poiesis).
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Important Links:
   • (Lecture-1), Meaning of Poetry  
   • (Lecture-3), Meaning, Definitions and Func...  
   • (Lecture-4), Analysis of Poetry: Read the ...  
   • (Lecture-5), Review: What is Poetry? Defin...  
   • (Lecture-6), Definition of Poetry by Willi...  
   • (Lecture-7), Functions of Poetry, Why do W...  
   • (Lecture-8), What is Poetic Language?  
   • (Lecture-9), How to analyze poetry?  
   • (Lecture-10), Language of Poetry, Simile, ...  
   • (Lecture-11), Origin, Definition, Structur...  
   • (Lecture-12), Types of Poetry, Lyric, Sonn...  
   • (Lecture-13), Difference between Parts of ...  
   • (Lecture-14), Geoffrey Chaucer, William Sh...  
   • (Lecture-15), Examples of Figures of speec...  
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