He is a great poetic theorist. Although his main work is only the preface to the second edition of Lyric Songs (1800), that essay contains explosives that can destroy18th century classicism.
He said that poetry must contain strong emotions, which excludes all games and games; Poetry must be written in ordinary and vivid real language, excluding "poetic rhetoric" and cliches; The function of poetry is to enable readers to gain a keen ability to distinguish between good and bad, so as to get rid of "fanatical flood of novels, morbid and stupid German tragedies and boring and exaggerated verse stories";
Wordsworth believes that "all good poems are spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings", advocates that poets "choose the language that people really use" to write "events and scenes in daily life", and opposes18th century "poetic writing" represented by Gray. He then discussed the lofty status of poetry and poets, and thought that poetry was something that could not be underestimated. "Poetry is the starting point and end point of all knowledge, which is as immortal as the human heart", while poets are "the strongest protectors, supporters and defenders of human nature". Everywhere he went, people's friendship and love were broadcast. "