Compiled By- Dr. Salunkhe T. B.
Class-XI
2.4 Poem-Upon Westminster Bridge
William Wordsworth
About the poet:
About the title: Upon Westminster Bridge
The poem 'Upon Westminster Bridge' is a Petrarchan Sonnet which is also known as Italian Sonnet in which William Wordsworth describes the beauty of the bridge as seen at dawn from the Westminster Bridge, London. The poet is driven to write this poem after viewing the panoramic landscape, beauty, clam and quiet nature before him. This poem was first published in the 'Collection of Poems' in 1807.
This poem is a sonnet means it has fourteen lines and particular rhyme scheme. This sonnet is devoted to the city of London and the river Thames and off course Westminster Bridge.
Explanation of poem:
The poem opens with the line 'Earth has not anything to show more fair'. In this line the word 'fair' means attractive and beautiful. The poet wants to say that is there anything more beautiful in the world than what he sees from this bridge. Thus, the first line is the evidence of the outmost beauty of the place William Wordsworth views from the Westminster Bridge. The entire earth has nothing attractive than this sight. The first line reveals nothing but the excellence of the scenery experienced by the poet.
If someone passes by from this beautiful sight, and does not wish to appreciate or praise what he or she sees from the Westminster Bridge, then that person doesn't have perceptive attitude or ability because he or she is not able to judge the reality. In this line, the word 'soul' means the way or attitude to look at. If the majesty of this city remains unappreciated, it would be great loss for the passerby. At this moment, the city of London wears the beauty of morning as any person wears the cloth. The city seems to wear the garment of beauty. The poet goes on describing the garment that the garment is silent and there is peace and tranquility everywhere. The word 'bare' makes clear that there is hardly anyone around. This is how the poet describes the silence and beauty of morning in the first five lines of the poem.
Further the poet William Wordsworth lists and describes what he sees in the entire city like ships, towers, domes, theatres and temples which lie open unto the fields and to the sky. Everything can be seen clearly as the city seems to have no pollution. The word 'smokeless' clarifies that the poet enjoys the purity of air in the morning. The air in the morning is so smokeless that everything seems to be bright and glittering.
Next, the poet describes the sun and its arrival. The words 'In his first splendour' means the rising sun, the sun is just about to come from the horizon and rising up to shine upon the entire city of London. So the parts of nature like valley, rock, hill etc. are really good setting for the sun to shine upon. The poet feels that the sun has never shone more beautifully on nature that he has seen so far.
The river Thames smoothly flowing underneath the Westminster Bridge without disturbing the tranquility or silence of the night or dawn. It shows the poet sees even beauty in the way Thames flows.
In the last the poet talks about the people living in city of London. The people in their houses are asleep yet, and their hearts rest quiet. In other words, it can be said that people living the city are also experiencing the silence and tranquility of the morning.
Activities Based on the Poem:
A1. Discuss with your partner and prepare a set of five questions based on the poem. To frame questions overall understanding of the poem is must.
For example-
a. What is the name of the bridge?
b.......................................................
c.......................................................
d.......................................................
e.......................................................
A2. Choose the correct alternative for the given lines. Focus on the inference of the poet.
(a) 'Earth has not anything to show more fair'
The line means-
1. The poet thinks that the place was not so good.
2. The poet thinks that there is no place on the earth which is as beautiful as this one.
3. The poet thinks that there is no place on the earth which is as beautiful as this one.
(b) 'Dull would be of soul who could pass by'
The line means-
1. One can walk over the bridge and ignore the surrounding beauty.
2. One can halt at the place to enjoy the beauty.
3. Anyone with an appreciative mind would not be able to ignore the beauty.
A4. Find out the man-made entities the poet has mentioned in the poem.
a....................
b...................
c....................
d....................
e....................
A5. Make a list of pairs of rhyming words from the poem.
A6. The poem creates a delightful picture of the city, rich in its natural beauty. Work in pairs, groups and pick out the lines from the poem which give the pictorial effect to the poem. Write in your own words.
A7. Find out the words and phrases which describe the following. One is done for you.
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Sight |
touching in its majesty |
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Air |
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River |
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House |
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Morning |
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Sun |
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A8. Compose a poem on an imaginary village. Try to maintain the rhyme scheme in the poem. You may begin like this.....
Settled on the bank of a river like a queen.
Is my beautiful village full of bushes green.
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A.9 Pick out examples of Inversion and Personification from the poem.
Compiled By-Dr. Salunkhe T. B.
