He described his feelings and the landscape while he was crossing Westminster Bridge in London. This poem is a Petrarchan sonnet. By William Wordsworth. In the still of the morning, the city sleeps, and the wonders of nature are temporarily highlighted. imaginable degree, area of credit-by-exam regardless of age or education level. What is the summary of William Wordsworth's poem "The Education of Nature? A close look at his poem, however, reveals that this is much more than a celebration of the achievements of industrial civilization. Wordsworth begins the poem with a hyperbole, or an exaggeration that emphasizes a point, idea, or theme. William Wordsworth's Composed Upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802 features a speaker looking at London just as the sun rises. Sonnet-Westminster Bridge Summary Sabaq Foundation - Free Videos & Tests, Grades K-12. Services. 'Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples,' spread before the speaker. It features a speaker sharing his impressions of the view from, you guessed it, Westminster Bridge. Summary of the poem London 1802. 1. That of a mighty city, full of the amazing accomplishments of man. So what makes a sonnet Petrarchan? The ninth line of the poem introduces a 'turn' on the subject that has been introduced in the first section. In a vivid example of personification, the speaker describes the houses in the town below him as sleeping: 'the very houses seem asleep.' What form of poetry do these schemes reveal the poem to be in? ― Explain the line in the context of the poem. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 83,000 study Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802. Sign up now, Latest answer posted March 25, 2016 at 5:22:43 PM, Latest answer posted May 15, 2015 at 4:54:25 PM, Latest answer posted May 07, 2018 at 9:05:23 AM, Latest answer posted January 08, 2011 at 3:36:03 AM, Latest answer posted October 24, 2018 at 7:36:48 AM. Get the unbiased info you need to find the right school. Get access risk-free for 30 days, 2 Educator answers eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. He stopped his journey and appreciated the beauty of the morning there. In this poem, London seems like a part of nature rather than a separate sphere of existence. Create your account. Log in here for access. Awe and Amazement: This poem is a classic example of someone being taken by surprise by beauty and just staring at it, wide-eyed and open-mouthed. England, the speaker says, is stagnant and selfish, andMilton could raise her up again. It has fourteen lines divided into two sections. In fact, the more correct title of the sonnet is ‘Composed on Westminster Bridge, September 3 rd, 1802’. Visit the College English Literature: Help and Review page to learn more. Log in or sign up to add this lesson to a Custom Course. Wordsworth poetry derives its strength from the passion with which he views nature. Study.com has thousands of articles about every The title marks a specific place and time—a viewpoint over London’s River Thames during the Industrial Revolution—and is typical of Wordsworth, whose work often deals with both the power and fleeting nature of remembered moments. How does Conrad describe the river Thames in contrast to William Wordsworth in the poem 'Composed Upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802'? Erin has taught college level english courses and has a master's degree in english. A sight so touching in its majesty: This City now doth, like a garment, wear. If, however, you have ever been in a city or town in the early morning on a clear, sunny day, before the bustle and activity has begun, you know what Wordsworth is talking about. What is the social context behind William Wordsworth's poem ''Composed upon Westminster Bridge''? Wordsworth's poem is a Petrarchan sonnet, developed by the Italian poet Petrarch (1304-1374), a … It features a speaker sharing his impressions of the view from, you guessed it, Westminster Bridge. It employs figurative language such as simile and metaphor, hyperbole, and personification. courses that prepare you to earn Loading... Unsubscribe from Sabaq Foundation - Free Videos & Tests, Grades K-12? He immediately entered a state of awe and amazement when confronted with the beauty of the silent city. Are you a teacher? All of these choices help paint a more vivid picture in the reader's mind. "Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802" is a Petrarchan sonnet by William Wordsworth describing London and the River Thames, viewed from Westminster Bridge in the early morning. In Compose Upon Westminster Bridge, why is the air 'smokeless'? He marvels over how still it is. An error occurred trying to load this video. Plunder of your own defeat, O necessary sewer. The main theme of the poem is the theme of awe. Wordsworth gazed upon God’s expressions of His nature, and whether he realized it or not, the poet stood truly amazed at its Creator, not the creation itself. 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As the title suggests, the poem was composed almost instantly, as the poet was crossing the Westminster Bridge. It was first published in the collection Poems, in Two Volumes in 1807. "Composed Upon Westminster Bridge" takes the view that the city can be surprisingly restful, and the speaker goes so far as to compare it favorably with the solitude of nature. More specifically, in the first three lines Wordsworth says the city is so beautiful ("fair") that you would have to be a very callous person ("dull ... of soul") not to respond to its beauty. and M.C.Q. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. In this poem, the speaker observes the view of London from the Westminster Bridge. The bridge was the site of a Pit Stop during the fourth season of the Israeli version of The Amazing Race. As the title suggests, the poem was composed almost instantly, as the poet was crossing the Westminster Bridge. Of course, there were less bridges then and things have changed. In this case, he is inspired by the view he saw from Westminster Bridge on the morning of 31 st July 1802, although he didn’t write the poem until September of the same year. The sun is personified as a male: 'his first splendor.' What is the rhyme and meter of this poem? © copyright 2003-2021 Study.com. Sonnet Composed Upon Westminster Bridge Writer: The poem was written in 1802 when Wordsworth and his sister, Dorothy, were going to Calais, to meet with his former French mistress Annette Vallon and Caroline, his illegitimate daughter by her. What is the theme of the poem "Lucy Gray" by William Wordsworth? The poet watches the city from the Westminster Bridge over the Thames River. 4. The poem … The poem is a Petrarchan sonnet, written in iambic pentameter and following the rhyme scheme of A/B/B/A A/B/B/A C/D/C/D/C/D. Given how busy and full of activity this major commercial city and center of empire usually is, it's no wonder Wordsworth is surprised at the calm. In his poems, Wordsworth associates freedom of emotions with natural things. Did you know… We have over 220 college In a simile, the city 'wears' the early morning light like clothing: 'This City now doth, like a garment, wear/ The beauty of the morning.' The beauty of the morning; silent, bare, Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie. So now let us make our heads brass and proof, O Thames. The great 'heart' of the city is still, and nature's wonders continue unchecked: the splendid sun, the rushing river. The first poem ‘upon Westminster bridge’ by William Wordsworth is about his love of London as he looks out from Westminster bridge in the early morning. ©2021 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. succeed. In the speaker’s eyes, the morning in the Westminster Bridge was the most beautiful scene he had never seen before. 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