Chapter XXII Summary and Analysis

Wordsworth experimented in some of his poetry. The poem mentioned is entitled 'Fidelity' and Wordsworth wrote in a lower form of language. Wordsworth claims the experiment failed. Coleridge says Wordsworth's tendency towards greatness still came through even though there is some inconstancy in style. He uses a style that consists of three divisions of language. The first is language that is peculiar to poetry. The second is language that is proper to prose. The third is language that is common to both.

Coleridge also mentions Crowley who mixes verse and prose. with the poetry interspersed throughout the prose. Coleridge does not feel that this approach satisfies a cultivated taste. He cites several examples to prove his point and says that there is an era of incongruity. Coleridge also feels that there is what he calls, a certain matter-of-fact nature...