The idea that nature´s beauty is worth writing poems about was not new to the poet Wordsworth. In poems like “I wandered lonely as a cloud” and “A slumber did my spirit seal” he portrayed nature as gorgeous majesty where life begins and ends in. He was a poet with faith in the beauty of nature. Most of his poems can therefore in one way or another be related to nature. And Wordsworth, as a wanderer on earth who paid much attention to his environment, was able to SEE this reality with all their beauty - and put it into words.
On this September morning in 1802 he walks across London´s Westminster Bridge and gets enchanted – but not by nature that catches his eye, but by the sight of a city.
Many sources claim that Wordsworth was accompanied by his sister, since she wrote about the walk over Westminster Bridge in her diary. In fact, it is not important to elaborate if this is true or not, since Wordsworth - the speaker of this poem – is only talking about HIS feelings and impressions.
The poem´s main emphasis lies on a subjective description of the city of London at morning. Everything is calm and quiet, people are still asleep, the sun is shining and the chimneys of the industry have not yet started polluting the air.
In order to describe the beauty of this city, Wordsworth uses well-known pictures from the wordfield of nature. Since he has more experience in describing nature, he now describes a city´s beauty in natural terms.
This connection between nature and the city is achieved by imagination. The speaker´s position is an artificial one – he imagines the city´s beauty by remembering all the little details that turned this moment on the bridge into a special one. Due to his faith in his own imagination he can refresh his emotions that he had while walking over the bridge.
So “Faith” and “Beauty” are the concepts with which Wordsworth works in this poem. But it is less the faith in God but the faith in imagination and the beauty of a city that form the topic of this poem. To underline this thesis, the connection between nature, city and imagination form the center of discussion in this paper.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Lines Composed upon Westminster Bridge, Sept. 3, 1802
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper analyzes William Wordsworth's poem "Lines Composed upon Westminster Bridge, Sept. 3, 1802," focusing on how Wordsworth uses his faith in imagination to depict the beauty of London. It examines the poem's subjective description of the city, Wordsworth's use of natural imagery to describe an urban scene, and the interplay between nature, city, and imagination in shaping the poem's meaning. The analysis explores the significance of the "smokeless air" and the personification of the city as a "mighty heart."
- Wordsworth's depiction of London's beauty through the lens of nature.
- The role of imagination and memory in shaping the poem's aesthetic vision.
- The significance of the "smokeless air" and its contribution to the overall beauty.
- The personification of the city and its implications.
- The contrast between rural and urban landscapes.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introductory section establishes the context of Wordsworth's poem within his broader body of work, highlighting his established connection to nature and his capacity to perceive and express its beauty. It emphasizes that while Wordsworth's poetry frequently focuses on nature, this particular poem shifts the focus to an urban setting, specifically London on a quiet September morning. The introduction also briefly touches on the possible presence of Wordsworth's sister during the experience that inspired the poem, but clarifies that the poem primarily focuses on the poet's personal emotions and impressions, emphasizing the subjective nature of his artistic creation. The introduction ends with a statement of the paper's aim to explore the interconnectedness of nature, city, and imagination within the poem.
Lines composed upon Westminster Bridge, Sept. 3, 1802: This section delves into a detailed analysis of Wordsworth's poem, exploring the contrast he draws between the rural and urban landscapes. While the city is inherently man-made, unlike the natural world, Wordsworth uses natural imagery to describe its beauty, emphasizing the calm and quiet of a smokeless morning. The analysis discusses the poem's powerful opening line, "Earth has not anything to show more fair," highlighting its conviction and the profound impact the experience had on Wordsworth. It analyzes Wordsworth's use of personification in describing the city, giving human attributes to the river, houses, and even the sun, thus enhancing the vitality of the scene. The significance of the "smokeless air" is emphasized as a crucial element contributing to the uniqueness and beauty of this particular moment, allowing the city's architecture to reveal its magnificence. The section also examines the metaphor of London as a "mighty heart," highlighting the city's role as a cultural, financial, and political center, yet focusing on the unusual stillness and silence of this specific morning, emphasizing the contrast between the typical bustling activity and the temporary tranquility observed by Wordsworth. Finally, the analysis concludes by exploring how Wordsworth's memory and imagination reconstruct the experience, suggesting that the poem's beauty lies not solely in the observed reality but also in its subjective reimagining and remembrance. The structure of the sonnet itself is analyzed to support the concept of Wordsworth's memory acting as the primary source of creative inspiration, presenting the poem as a continuous stream of consciousness without interruptions.
Keywords
William Wordsworth, Lines Composed upon Westminster Bridge, nature, city, imagination, memory, beauty, smokeless air, personification, subjective experience, urban landscape, contrast, sonnet.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of William Wordsworth's "Lines Composed upon Westminster Bridge"
What is the main focus of this analysis?
This analysis delves into William Wordsworth's poem, "Lines Composed upon Westminster Bridge, Sept. 3, 1802," examining how Wordsworth uses his imagination and faith in it to portray the beauty of London. It explores the poem's subjective depiction of the city, Wordsworth's use of natural imagery in an urban setting, and the interplay between nature, city, and imagination in shaping the poem's meaning.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
The key themes include Wordsworth's depiction of London's beauty through the lens of nature; the role of imagination and memory in shaping the poem's aesthetic vision; the significance of the "smokeless air" and its contribution to the overall beauty; the personification of the city and its implications; and the contrast between rural and urban landscapes.
What does the introduction to the analysis cover?
The introduction provides context for Wordsworth's poem within his broader work, highlighting his connection to nature and his ability to perceive and express its beauty. It notes the shift from his usual focus on nature to an urban setting (London) and briefly mentions the possible presence of his sister, emphasizing the poem's focus on the poet's subjective experience. It concludes by stating the paper's aim: exploring the interconnectedness of nature, city, and imagination within the poem.
How does the analysis interpret Wordsworth's poem?
The analysis explores the contrast between rural and urban landscapes in the poem. It examines Wordsworth's use of natural imagery to depict the city's beauty on a quiet, smokeless morning. The significance of the opening line, "Earth has not anything to show more fair," and the use of personification (giving human qualities to the river, houses, and sun) are analyzed. The importance of the "smokeless air" in contributing to the unique beauty of the moment is highlighted, as is the metaphor of London as a "mighty heart." The role of Wordsworth's memory and imagination in reconstructing the experience and shaping the poem's beauty is also examined. The sonnet's structure is analyzed in relation to Wordsworth's stream-of-consciousness style.
What are the key words associated with this analysis?
The key words include: William Wordsworth, Lines Composed upon Westminster Bridge, nature, city, imagination, memory, beauty, smokeless air, personification, subjective experience, urban landscape, contrast, sonnet.
What is the overall purpose of this document?
This document serves as a comprehensive preview of a language analysis paper focusing on William Wordsworth's "Lines Composed upon Westminster Bridge," providing a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. It is intended for academic use, facilitating the structured and professional analysis of themes within the poem.
- Quote paper
- M.A. Nicole Gast (Author), 2005, William Wordsworth: Lines composed upon Westminster Bridge, Sept.3, 1802, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/49817
