Composed upon Westminster Bridge has been divided poetically into firstly an octet and secondly a sextet. A reader does not visually see a break in stanza but when read, the reader is aware of a change in tone. Wordsworth has created a change in tone as it allows him to reinforce his feelings of wealth, power, and beauty within London which at this stage of the poem is most obvious. In the octet the tone is very descriptive of the man made sights in London “Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie. All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.” Within Wordsworth incorporates imagery for his readers by using the simile “This city now doth like a garment wear.” This imagery reveals more feelings from Wordsworth showing London to be like a garment which we wear. In respect London is worn it takes a part of everyone. A positive part of us like a garment will London can make us more fashionable, or in touch with the times or even appear wiser. This is what Wordsworth feels and he brings it to the surface with this ingenious image.
It appears that William is a great over of personification within Composed upon Westminster Bridge as he uses it many a time. In his octet London is clearly personified “A sight so touching in its majesty: This city now doth like a garment, wear”. This use of personification helps to convey Wordsworth’s feelings that London is so glorious, powerful and even spiritual that it can come alive. It has its own emotion to generate upon others as it has on Wordsworth himself. There is an idea that London in some respect is spiritual as “This City” is portrayed as anointed by God to represent his kingdom on Earth. There as also many spiritual connotations running throughout the poem to allow Wordsworth to convey his feelings of London being religious “Temple, God and Soul”
The tone is then changed in the sextet, where it’s as if Wordsworth’s speech of celebration is repeated, but this time using a contrast of the natural aspects of London. “In his first splendour valley, rock or hill.” By Wordsworth marvelling at nearly everything around him in his physical world we are able to understand his feelings of London. Wordsworth then takes these natural nouns and lays them by various abstract nouns “The river glideth at his own sweet will.” This readily conveys those feelings of majesty Wordsworth has for London within his poem.
In the sextet we find personification again as it is so desired by Wordsworth to make his feelings clear. Within this section of the sonnet the personification is created using the pronoun his “In his splendour valley, rock, or hill.” This type of personification was used by Wordsworth to convey his feelings of London being alive and by the use of his the idea that London relates to both Wordsworth and the reader alike.
Within the last two lines of the poem we hear Wordsworth really get to the peak of his emotion “Dear God! The very houses seam asleep, And all that mighty heart is lying still!” This is conveyed by the extreme punctuation and the hyperbole used within the language “Dear God!” A reader would not expect such phrases to be used in a poem although Wordsworth feels it necessary, because he has the idea that it is also not expected for London to hold so many qualities mentioned in this poem. Wordsworth’s feelings at this moment were to be estranged and somewhat shocked. London could be so alive with emotion at morning yet so quiet at night, even the “most mighty heart is still”. In this poem Wordsworth creates a feeling for London that man made things exist at morning and natural things at night which is why man made sights are written about in the octet and the natural sites written in the sextet. Wordsworth believes this is in fact how London works together through day and night. Wordsworth shows this through his sonnet by making it songlike with a delicate rhythm. This rhythm being rhymes of three “fair, wear, bear, by, lie and shy.”
Wordsworth conveys his feelings of scenic beauty and architectural marvels in London by appealing to his reader’s senses of sight, touch, taste, smell, and hearing. He makes one visualize each mighty scene so perfect, until you yourself believe you’ve never seen a calm so deep or sun more beautifully deep than in London. “….All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.” Here appealing to your sight. By appealing to our sense of hearing Wordsworth is then able to convey his love of solitude in London in the early morning away from the hustle and bustle of London in afternoon. ”The beauty of the morning; silent and bear.”
As a whole I found this poem very entertaining which runs along with its theme as London is suppose to be entertaining. It also helps young readers of today remember our city as it once was, and although today London looks significantly different it still has many of the glorious sparks that’s have been described in London in 1803.
