Archaicisms

[TranquillityBase]

Hello, I have a question.  I’m not trying to start an argument, this is an honest question that I have always wanted to ask.  

What is so bad about sounding archaic, or using archaic words, etc?  Why is it considered to be a detriment to the writing?  More often than not, the thing being called archaic is a part of the writing that I found to be charming and delightful.  Is this not the case for other readers?  Is it truly ‘bad’ to be archaic, or is it only that there are those who enjoy it and those who don’t? 

 Sincerely,
Confused and curious

I think it's all about the writer's skill in using those archaicisms, whether they add to the poem or simply distract the reader.  Also, we sometimes forget that the reader has some responsibilities too; it's not all up to the writer.  To automatically reject an archaicism as a reader is just plain laziness.

I'd add that poets have a duty to keep the language alive and that may very well include resurrecting words that are labelled obsolete by the compilers of dictionaries.  There are many beautiful words out there that have been consigned to history and we have every right to bring them back to into use, if only for a brief moment.

TqB