What is poetic diction?

Elevated and often archaic language used by poets to create a heightened emotional or intellectual effect.

The Art of Language Elevation: Poetic Diction

At the heart of poetry lies the art of language elevation, and one of its key techniques is the use of poetic diction. This refers to a set of elevated and carefully chosen words and phrases that poets use to create a heightened emotional or intellectual effect. Such language typically includes archaic words, unusual syntax, and figurative language.

The use of poetic diction is not limited to poetry alone but can also be found in works of prose. However, its use in poetry is considered more prominent and effective. The careful use of language elevation can help to create a sense of grandeur, awe, or sublimity, emotions that are best expressed through language that is elevated above the ordinary.

It's important to note that poetic diction is not the same as archaic language. Poets do not necessarily use old-fashioned words simply for the sake of sounding poetic. Rather, they carefully select words that fit the mood and tone of the poem, and that are capable of conveying the intended emotion or idea in the most powerful way possible.

The Power of Elevated Language: Two Examples of Poetic Diction in Literature

Below are two examples of how poets have utilized poetic diction to create a powerful and immersive reading experience.

William Wordsworth's 'I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud'

In his poem 'I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud,' William Wordsworth utilizes poetic diction to create a sense of calm and tranquility. The opening stanza reads:

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Wordsworth's use of the elevated language 'o'er' and 'host' create a dream-like quality to the poem that immerses the reader in the speaker's experience of the natural world.

John Keats's 'Ode to a Nightingale'

In his well-known poem 'Ode to a Nightingale,' John Keats uses poetic diction to convey the speaker's feelings of awe and wonder in encountering the nightingale. One of the most famous lines in the poem reads:

Already with thee! Tender is the night,

Here Keats uses the phrase 'tender is the night' not merely as a way to describe the setting but to evoke a sense of deep emotion in the reader, as the speaker in the poem finds solace in the beauty of the nightingale's song.