William Wordsworth

How is the Beauty of Nature

presented in “composed upon

Westminster bridge”

How is the Beauty of Nature presented in

“composed upon Westminster bridge”

Upon Westminster Bridge is a sonnet praising the beauty of London and

comparing It favorably to the wonders of nature.

William Wordsworth was born on 7 April 1770 at in Cumbria.His father was a lawyer. Both Wordsworth's parents diedbefore he was 15, and he and his four siblings were left inthe care of different relatives. As a young man, Wordsworthdeveloped a love of nature, a theme reflected in many of hispoems .

'Lyrical Ballads', a collection of poems published in 1798, mostly by Wordsworth is generally taken to mark the beginning of the Romantic movement in English poetry. The poems were greeted with hostility by most critics.

William Wordsworth was a leading figure in the Romantic movement and

although many of his poems deal with rural themes Upon Westminster Bridge

describes a very urban landscape.

Poet

William Wordsworth was one of the major poets of the Romantic movement

in Britain, and his poetry is generally focused on nature and man's

relationship with the natural environment. Many of his poems are focused on

the landscapes of the Lake District, paying particular attention to the power

of nature and the ordinary people living and working on the land. This poem

is perhaps a little unusual for Wordsworth as it takes the city of London as its

subject.

William Wordsworth is an important Romantic poet. His

poetry focuses on feelings and emotions, often those

provoked by interacting with nature.

Other aspects of Romantic poetry are creativity and a less

formal approach to the composition of poems than the

period immediately before Romanticism.

• In lines 1 through 8, the speaker describes what he sees as hestands on Westminster Bridge looking out at the city.

• He begins by saying that there is nothing "more fair" on Earth thanthe sight he sees, and that anyone who could pass the spot withoutstopping to look has a "dull" soul.

• The poem takes place in the "beauty of the morning," which lieslike a blanket over the silent city. He then lists what he sees in thecity and mentions that the city seems to have no pollution and lies"Open unto the fields, and to the sky."

Brainstorm as many techniques you can find

within this poem with evidence!

You have 5 minutes, the highest scorer will

gain 5 merits!

PersonificationCreates a sense of the city as a living creature. He writes of the city wearing 'The beauty of the morning' 'like a garment', as if the city has consciously clothed itself in nature. The city does not clash with nature but becomes part of it.

Theme Nature is the dominating

theme. London is not introduced in its negative aspect, but it is inserted in

natural scenery.

Connotation/TonePositive leaves the reader in no doubt about the speaker's attitude to the sight before him. Words like 'bright', 'glittering', 'splendour' and 'glideth' create a magical vision of the city in the early morning light.

MetaphorThe city, represented in the last line by the metaphor of

the heart, is thus alive because it is inactive and is

dominated by its natural environment.

Rhyme The natural parts of the

landscape, the sunlight, the "valley, rock, or hill" as well

as the river are now active, they dominate over

the sleeping city, as is emphasized by the rhyming

words ‘hill’, ‘at their will’, ‘lying still’.

EnjambmentIn the octave express the

boundless admiration for this beautiful sight, the

overflowing emotion of the poet.

“This city now doth, like a garment wear”

“The beauty of the morning; silent, bare,”

The poet personifies the city as a person wearing beautiful clothes.

"The river glideth at his own sweet will”

The poet personifies the river as a person moving on his way at his own free

will.

"Dear God, the very houses seem asleep;”

The poet personifies the houses as people who are still asleep in the early

morning.

"And all that might heart is lying still;”

The poet personifies the mighty heart; the world of industry, as a person who is

asleep.

What effect does this have on the reader?

Individually or in pairs, look for 3 different

images and describe them in 5 lines each.

The purpose of the artistic task is to

express your understanding of the poem

in a still picture.

• In pairs, pick one image from the poem and create an artistic illustration on A3 paper.

• You will present your work, highlighting what you found interesting in it.

• I will be assessing your understanding of the poem.