Fill in the blank: Wordsworth’s promotion of poets using the “language really used by men” in the preface to Lyrical Ballads signifies __________?
Explanation
Wordsworth’s emphasis on everyday language marked a clear break from the 18th-century tradition that favored formal and elevated diction. This approach contrasted with the styles of poets like Alexander Pope and rejected the use of elaborate figurative language, focusing instead on simplicity and natural expression.