Romantic Concept of the Poet and His Function

Discussion about Romantic Concept of the Poet and His Function

a. Ordinary Individual: A poet differs from an ordinary individual not in nature but in degree.

b. Speaking to Men: A poet is essentially a man, speaking to men not speaking to other poets.

c. Living Sensibility: He has more living sensibility than others.

In other words, he should have the capacity to receive impressions (ideas/feelings/opinion) through the senses.

d. Greater Imagination: He has greater imagination and so he can feel and react emotionally to events and incidents which he has not directly experienced. Generally a poet has a mental power which is highly imaginative.  

e. Greater Knowledge of Human Nature: He has greater knowledge of human nature and so he can understand the nature of passions which he has not directly experienced. Normally without losing a son, a poet can observe the pain of the parents who have lost their son.

f. Greater Power of Expression: He has greater power of expression and communication. He communicates to his readers not personally felt emotions but also emotions which he has not directly experienced.