Examining 'Sonnet Composed Upon Westminster Bridge' by William Wordsworth



Sonnet Composed Upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802

Earth has not anything to show more fair:

Dull would he be of soul who could pass by

A sight so touching in its majesty:

This City now doth, like a garment, wear

The beauty of the morning; silent, bare,

Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie

Open unto the fields, and to the sky;

All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.

Never did sun more beautifully steep

In his first splendour, valley, rock, or hill;

Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!

The river glideth at his own sweet will:

Dear God! the very houses seem asleep;

And all that mighty heart is lying still!


~ William Wordsworth - 1770-1850

NOTE: This poem is in the public domain.

Consider the following questions as you read the poem:

  • What is the speaker looking at?
  • Where is he making his observation from?
  • What time of day is it?
  • What effect does the view have on the speaker?
  • Does the poem use specific literary devices to convey meaning? How so?
  • What is the poem's tone?
  • What themes are explored in the poem?
  • What is the form of the poem?

It is early morning and the speaker is looking at the city of London.   He  is completely amazed by  how beautiful the city looks  and is convinced  that Earth has no natural scenes that  can match the beauty of the city as it appears in the morning's sun. Such a striking scene it is that he believes that only a  dull  soul would pass by this scene without being touched by its majestic beauty.    The city is adorned by the morning’s beauty - like a dress - and ships, domes, theatres and temples lie open to the sky and field. They are bright and glittering in the sun because there is no smoke to hide them.

The speaker maintains that the sun has never shone  so beautifully over any valley, hill or rock. Also, the tranquility of the morning is something he has never seen or felt before.  He observes that since there is no industrial activity, the river can flow  naturally - ‘at his own sweet will’.   Generally there is a stillness over the city as houses seem asleep and the city ‘that mighty heart’ is silent. Typically,  London would be bustling with industrial activity - factories would be emitting smoke, streets would be filled with vendors and pedestrians and ships would be busy making their way up and down the River Thames.  However,  at that time of day, the city of London is free from all that and  is able to showcase all the  beauty that is usually suppressed  by industrialization.

Poem’s Form: sonnet (English)

Tone: It is clear that the speaker has a tone of admiration as he views the  magnificent scene before him.   Other words that can be used are:  captivated,  impressed or fascinated.

Themes: industrialization, the natural environment and human developments

Literary devices

  • Simile: ‘This City now doth, like a garment, wear/The beauty of the morning’
  • Personification: 1. The river glideth at his own sweet will. 2. Dear God! The very houses seem asleep.
  • Imagery: Visual imagery dominates the poem. Examples:  1.‘All bright and glittering in the smokeless air’ 2. The river glideth at his own sweet will. 3. Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie/ Open unto the fields, and to the sky'
  • Repetition: 'Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!' The word ‘never’ is repeated to emphasize the novelty of the scene and the tranquility he sees and feels.
  • Metaphor - 'Never did sun more beautifully steep...'
  • Diction: The word choice in the poem helps to convey the writer’s  admiration for the  beauty of the city in the early morning. Note words like: majesty, touching, calm, bright, glittering etc

 As you reflect on the use of literary devices in the poem,  remember to  pay keen attention to how they are used to communicate the effect the scene has on him. You  should be able to comment on their effectiveness in achieving the writer’s purpose for writing the poem.

NOTE: This poem is often paired with ‘God’s Grandeur’ for the comparative essay.


Study Hub for CXC English A & B
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Simplifying Reflection 2 of the CXC English A SBA

Image
Students who are completing the English A SBA are asked to write three reflections. One in particular is quite challenging to many students - Reflection 2. What does Reflection 2 entail? Reflection 2 requires students to comment on the use of language in their chosen pieces. This requirement has plunged some students in a whirlpool of frustration. However, the experience of writing this specific reflection does not have to be overwhelming if students become more aware of what they are expected to do. Now, it is important for students to realize that the pieces they have selected serve a specific purpose - to communicate information about the students' individual topics. Therefore, if an individual topic focuses on the benefits of social media, for example, then students may come across a poem, article and a picture that provide pertinent information on this topic.  Reflection 2 requires students to pay attention to the language that is used to convey meaning. The word ' comment...
Read more

Tips on Writing Reflections for the CXC English A SBA

Image
THE ENGLISH A SBA (Writing the Reflections) Worth: 5 marks Please note that the reflections must be written in class. Each reflection should comprise of 150 words . You should have three reflections in all, and each reflection has a different focus. Reflection 1 In this reflection, you are expected to reflect on how each of the three pieces you have selected shaped your thinking about the topic. As you consider how each piece has shaped your thinking, consider the following: Have you gained any new knowledge? What does each piece make you think or feel about the topic? What do you understand more? Has your thinking changed? Recommendation: Encourage students to reflect on how each piece shaped their thinking in a separate paragraph. Reflection 2 This reflection focuses on the use of language in each piece. For print stimuli, focus on how the writer/author uses words to communicate or evoke a specific response in the selected stimuli. Firstly, the candidate mus...
Read more

English SBA - The Plan of Investigation

Image
This is an individual task that is worth 5 marks . It should comprise of 100 words. It is an introduction to the topic/issue/theme. It answers the following questions: What is your chosen theme and sub-topic? Why did you choose this issue/topic/theme? What are the expected benefits to you as a student of English? Consider how it will impact your vocabulary, knowledge, research skills, discussions and other aspects of your performance in English. How do you plan to collect relevant information on your issue/topic/theme and use specific English skills to analyse the pieces?  Overall, this section gives an overview of the general direction the SBA will take.   Once you are finished with your plan of investigation, then you should start writing your reflections. SAMPLE PLAN OF INVESTIGATION NOTE: Please note that this sample is by no means prescriptive (or standard) but should be used as a guide . My group and I have chosen the theme skin bleaching. I wil...
Read more