Composed Upon Westminster Bridge

'''Composed Upon Westminster Bridge; September 3, 1XXX'''

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!

Translation

Die Erde hat nichts Schöneres zu zeigen:

Dumm wäre eine Seele, die vorbeiziehen könnte

an einem Anblick, der in seiner Majestät so berührt.

Diese Stadt trägt jetzt wie ein Kleidungsstück

die Schönheit des Morgens: Stille, nur Schiffe,

Türme, Dom, Theater und Tempel liegen

offen bis zu den Feldern und zum Himmel;

Alles hell und glitzernd in der rauchlosen Luft.

Niemals war die Sonne schöner

in ihrer ersten Pracht auf Tal, Fels oder Hügel;

niemals sah ich, niemals fühlte ich, eine Stille so tief!

Der Fluss  fließt nach seinem eigenen süßen Willen:

Lieber Gott! Die Häuser scheinen zu schlafen;

und das mächtige Herz liegt immer noch.

Summary:

In the poem the lyrical identity lists the things he sees while standing on the Westminster Bridge. All this happens in the morning. After that he describes the nature around the city and his feelings during standing on this bridge and watching what happens.

'''About the Author '''

William Wordsworth was born in 1770 in England and died in 1850. He was one of the major poets of the Romantic Movement in Britain. He studied at the University of Cambridge. His first sonnet “the European Magazine” was published in 1787. In 1791 he visited revolutionary France because he was interested in the revolution. In 1802 the poem “Upon Westminster Bridge” was released. In 1805 Wordsworth released the autobiographical poem “The Prelude”. He became England's poet laureate in 1843, a role he held until his death in 1850.

'''Context “Upon Westminster Bridge”'''

The poem is a sonnet and was written in the Romantic. Wordsworth always lived with his sister Dorothy together. She kept a journal about nature impressions and adventures with her brother. Sometimes phrases from Dorothy’s journal reappear in Wordsworth’s poems. The poem “Upon Westminster Bridge” is written about an experience, when Wordsworth and his sister were on a trip to France. In her diary she tells how they left London and wrote down her impressions of the city. What she wrote down this day, inspired Wordsworth for his poem. Actually this poem is perhaps a little unusual for Wordsworth as it takes the city of London as its subject.

Interpretation

Generally the poem describes the predawn view of London from the angle of the Westminster Bridge. The lyrical identity feels calm and comfortable, because of the relaxed atmosphere. This silence appears in the nature´s description. The first line “Earth has not anything to show more fair” shows the lyrical identity`s impression over the view of London. In the second line the lyrical identity appeals to go onto the bridge and take a moment to enjoy and appreciate the beautiful view (line 2). He shows the sights of London (line 5 to 6) in the “beauty of the morning” (5). The sunset creates a lovely view of the sights, also because of the “smokeless air” (8) and a positive, romantic and calm atmosphere. A smokeless air is not that typical for a big city like London, so that shows, that for the lyrical identity the city is perfect.

After that he shows the nature around London. The sun is shining over the landscape and that let the lyrical identity calm down (11). Towards the end of the poem the speaker exclaims ""Dear God!"", indicating the power of this experience. As with Wordsworth's nature poems, the speaker's reaction to what he is encountering reveals a powerful spiritual effect.

To sum up the interpretation: the lyrical identity describes everything that belongs to London, for example the houses, the river, and the sights because all these different things together make the city so special.

Stylistic devices:

Rhyme pattern:

a...Earth has not anything to show more fair: b...Dull would he be of soul who could pass by b...A sight so touching in its majesty: a...This City now doth like a garment wear a...The beauty of the morning: silent, bare, b...Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie

b...Open unto the fields, and to the sky, a...All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.......8 c...Never did sun more beautifully steep d...In his first splendour valley, rock, or hill; c...Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep! d...The river glideth at his own sweet will: c...Dear God! the very houses seem asleep; d...And all that mighty heart is lying still!...............14

Different rhythms:

·        trochaic patterns (fast rhythm) → line 1 or 2

·        iambic pattern (slow) → line 5 and 6

Others stylistic devices:

·        enumeration (Line5/6)

·        metaphor (whole poem)

·        Inversion (line 1)

·        Simile (line 4/5)

·        Metaphor (line 13) →  comparison to house that sleep

·        Personification (line 12)

·        Positive adjectives

http://www.gradesaver.com/wordsworths-poetical-works/study-guide/summary-composed-upon-westminster-bridge

= =