Which of the following poets does William Hazlitt call ‘Don Quixote-like’ in his essay, My First Acquaintance with Poets?

Correct option is A

Explanation:

The correct answer is William Wordsworth.

In his essay My First Acquaintance with Poets, William Hazlitt describes William Wordsworth as "Don Quixote-like."

This is a reference to the famous character from Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote, who is often seen as idealistic, naive, and impractical in his quest to revive chivalry and fight for noble causes.

Hazlitt compares Wordsworth to Don Quixote because of Wordsworth's lofty and idealistic views on poetry, nature, and life. Hazlitt admired Wordsworth's poetic vision but also saw him as someone who lived in a world of ideals that did not always align with reality.

This comparison reflects Hazlitt’s perception of Wordsworth as both noble and somewhat disconnected from the practicalities of the world around him.

Information Booster:

William Hazlitt was an English writer, remembered for his essays, literary criticism, and philosophy. He was known for his insightful and often harsh critiques of his contemporaries.

My First Acquaintance with Poets is one of Hazlitt’s famous essays, written in 1823. It describes his first encounters with famous poets of the time, including Wordsworth and Coleridge.

William Wordsworth, one of the key figures of the Romantic movement, is famous for his poetry that emphasizes the beauty of nature, human emotion, and the simplicity of rural life.

Hazlitt was critical of certain aspects of Wordsworth’s idealism, though he still respected his poetic achievements. The comparison to Don Quixote is made to highlight Wordsworth's romantic and somewhat impractical views.

In the essay, Hazlitt contrasts Wordsworth's idealistic nature with his own more cynical outlook. Hazlitt admires Wordsworth’s poetic vision but sees him as somewhat detached from the practicalities of life. Wordsworth's deeply emotional and nature-focused poetry was highly idealized, much like Don Quixote’s fantasies of chivalric adventures.

Additional Knowledge:
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Samuel Taylor Coleridge: Coleridge was another Romantic poet known for his deep philosophical thoughts and his partnership with Wordsworth. While Hazlitt admired Coleridge, he did not describe him as "Don Quixote-like."

William Cowper: Cowper was an 18th-century poet known for his deep emotional poetry and religious themes. Hazlitt did not describe him as "Don Quixote-like" in his essay.

Lord Byron: Byron was known for his rebellious, flamboyant character and is often associated with the Byronic hero, a passionate and cynical figure. He was not compared to Don Quixote by Hazlitt in the essay