A world where you live, a world that you love, what would happen if you see it slowly changing? What if it changes right in front of your eyes, turning into something dull, something polluted, something toxic? This sight is bound to take a toll on you. The poem “Composed Upon Westminster Bridge” by William Wordsworth is a poem that is connected to such feelings.
Composed Upon Westminster Bridge was written in the year 1802, presumably after a morning walk over the Westminster Bridge. The poet looks at the sight and is mesmerized by it. He could not explain how beautiful this sight is but mentioned how he feels looking at the city view. The serene calmness and the quietness of the houses sleeping arouses a deep sense of peace in him. But there’s more to unpack here.
Take a look at the poem and then at the summary, meaning, and analysis of the poem.
Composed Upon Westminster Bridge by William Wordsworth
Earth has not any thing 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
Summary and Meaning of the Poem
The poem starts with Wordsworth saying that there is no other sight in the world that could be as fair as beautiful as the one he can see. We can infer from the poem that the poet is taking a morning walk, during the early hours of the day and has reached Westminster bridge. Here he sees the entire city of London. There’s no doubt that the sight from Westminster bridge is enchanting.
The bridge conquers the Thames and you can see Big Ben, and the house of Parliament from the bridge, along with all the other buildings. London can be seen in its full glory from the bridge, and that is what Wordsworth saw. He says that only a person with a dull soul can see this sight and not feel happy about it.
He then describes the scene; there is a gentle calmness spread all across the city. The houses, ships, boats, theaters, and temples all sit quietly. The sky is clear and everything glitters in this “smokeless” sky. The sun is shining in its golden grace, while the river flows at its pace, and everything feels perfect. Even the houses are still like they’re sleeping, and London, the heart of the country is lying still.
Analysis of the Poem
Earth has not any thing 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 first stanza of this sonnet is about the emotional effect of seeing this beautiful sight. The poet says that only a person who does not have a colorful, cheerful soul, a person who dwells in dullness would find such a sight plain. This majestic sight can touch anyone’s heart and make them feel good.
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.
From the last line of the first stanza to the second stanza, we get to know what is so beautiful about this scene. Wordsworth says that the city has worn the morning like a garment. Everything is so still, and quiet. There’s no one rushing around, the ships, domes, temples, and buildings, are all 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:
Never before has the sun so beautifully surrounded the valley, rocks, and hills, in his first shine like today. The sun’s soft, golden light has covered everything. The poet also feels a sense of calmness very deep in his heart seeing the river, not littered with boats and ships, flowing at his own will.
Dear God! the very houses seem asleep;
And all that mighty heart is lying still!
The city that always moves now seems to be resting. The quietness is so intense that Wordsworth feels that even the houses seem asleep. The last line refers to the city of London. The Westminster bridge shows the hub of London, the part that’s always running, and always “pumping blood” to the city. And yet in the morning, at that moment, the heart is lying still.
The Theme of the Poem
There’s a reason why Wordsworth is astounded by the beauty of the city in the early hours of the morning. There’s a reason why he says the skies are free of smoke and the sunshine can make the buildings glitter. William Wordsworth was a lover of nature, and almost all of his poems are a testament to that. He fell in love with everything about nature.
But while he was creating lyrical verses about the greenery and the colorful world nature has given us, something sinister was growing at the heart of London; The Industrial Revolution. When machines took over man, it was not only better at making things better and faster, but it was also better at ruining nature.
Put yourself in Wordsworth’s place. Imagine seeing a beautiful city slowly getting devoured by ugly, large, shapeless buildings that spew out smoke, smog, and dust, and slowly cover the entire sky with the disease. How these factories would soon find a place where once greenery lived. This devastative nature of the Industrial revolution disturbed Wordsworth.
He was a prominent criticizer of the Industrial revolution, fearing that it would replace the beautiful gardens, the lush green valleys, and the clear blue sky. This poem is special because, in the morning, he could see the city he loved to come back to life. There was no smoke, no smog, no rush, just the clear sky and every child of nature.
Literary Devices of the Poem
Metaphor: The examples of metaphors in the poem are:
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by
Like a garment, wear the beauty of the morning
Never did sun more beautifully steep
In his first splendour, valley, rock, or hill;
And all that mighty heart is lying still!
Alliteration: The examples of alliteration in the poem include:
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by
A sight so touching in its majesty:
Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie
Ne’er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!
Rhyming Scheme: The rhyming scheme of this poem is ABBA ABBA CDCD CD. The first stanza’s rhyming might be confusing as “by” and “majesty” do not rhyme. But it is used as slant rhyme (where they sound similar)
Tone: The tone of this poem is cheerful and happy.
Imagery: A lot of imagery is used in this poem, as it is required to create the impression. Example include:
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
This was all about Composed Upon Westminster Bridge by William Wordsworth.