Introduction To 

Composed Upon Westminster Bridge Analysis Line by Line

  The name of Westminster Bridge is well-known to the reader. Actually, it is
located near St. Paul’s cathedral in London. Therefore, the title “Composed upon
Westminster Bridge” causes curiosity in the readers as to what does the poet
compose from this bridge. One expects that the poet composes what he sees from
this bridge. It is in order to unveil the association between the content of the poem
and the real experience of the poet that one goes through the poem. The poem
poetizes the first-hand experience of the poet of seeing the beauty of London early
in the morning of 31st July in 1802 from the roof of a coach while it is on the said
bridge on his way to France with his sister Dorothy.
Composed Upon Westminster Bridge Analysis Line by Line Section 1

COMPOSED-UPONWESTMINSTER-BRIDGE-SECTION-1
Composed Upon Westminster Bridge Text Section 1
There is no substitute for reading a literary text for having a perception of the
literary flavour of the writer. So, give a patient reading to the text.
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:
Composed Upon Westminster Bridge Word Notes Section 1

 Earth -the world
 Show -exhibit
 more fair – fairer (than the beauty of the world which the poet sees in front
of him). The note of wonder, a feature of romanticism, is evident here.
 Dull – devoid of
 Soul – feelings
 pass by – be unimpressed
 Sight – Landscape. It refers to the beauty of London early in the morning as
viewed from the Westminster Bridge.
 Touching – appealing
 Majesty – grandeur. The poet imparts a royal touch to the beauty of London
early in the morning. 
Composed Upon Westminster Bridge Paraphrase Section 1
According to Wordsworth, the beauty of London early in the morning is the greatest
beauty of the world. He adds that if a person remains unmoved to this grand beauty
of Nature, it can be concluded that he has no sensibility at all.
Composed Upon Westminster Bridge Analysis Line by Line Section 2

COMPOSED-UPONWESTMINSTER-BRIDGE-SECTION-2
 Composed Upon Westminster Bridge Text Section 2
This City now doth, like a garment, wear
The beauty of the morning; silent, bare,
Composed Upon Westminster Bridge Word Notes Section 2

 This City – large town. It refers to London.

 Now – early in the morning. It is the experience of this time of the day which
is poetized by the poet.
 Doth – does. The word has a poetic effect.
 Garment – Dress. The simile of the beauty of London early in the morning
and a garment suggests the transitory nature of this beauty.
 Wear – exhibit
 Beauty – the glory of Nature
 Morning – the beginning of day time. Dorothy, the sister of Wordsworth
states that the actual incident of seeing the beauty of London took place in
the morning: “It was a beautiful morning”.
 Silent – Noiseless. As it is early in the morning, the normal activity of London
has not yet started. So the city is noiseless.
 Bare – devoid of any outer covering. Here the covering of smoke is
suggested.

Composed Upon Westminster Bridge Paraphrase Section 2

  The beauty of London early in the morning is akin to a dress because it will cease
to exist after a while. As the normal activity of London has not started as yet,
quietude prevails in the atmosphere. Again, as most of the people are still asleep, it
seems that the town itself is devoid of people.
Composed Upon Westminster Bridge Analysis Line by Line Section 3 
Composed Upon Westminster Bridge Text Section 3
Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie
Open unto the fields, and to the sky;
All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.
 Composed Upon Westminster Bridge Word Notes Section 3

 Towers – tall and multi-storeyed houses

 Domes – buildings with rounded roofs. The word refers to St. Paul’s
Cathedral which lies close to Westminster Bridge.
 Theatres – places where plays are performed
 Temples – places where people usually go for religious purposes
 Lie – exist
 Open – clearly seen
 Unto – to
 Fields – grassy lands. The word here refers to the top terrestrial view.
 Sky – firmament. The word here refers to an aerial view.
 Bright – clearly visible
 Glittering – shining
 Smokeless – devoid of smoke. As the factories have not started working,
there is no smoke in the air. It contributes to the visibility and gloss of all
objects.

Composed Upon Westminster Bridge Paraphrase Section 3 

Due to the non-operation of factories early in the morning, the amount of
discharged smoke in the air is non-existent. Naturally, both the aerial view and the
terrestrial view of ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples are great. Moreover,
due to the same factor, these objects appear as shining to an onlooker. 
Composed Upon Westminster Bridge Analysis Line by Line Section 4 
Never did the sun more beautifully steep
In his first splendour, valley, rock, or hill;
Ne’er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!
Composed Upon Westminster Bridge Word Notes Section 4

 Never – at no point of time

 Beautifully – with glory. There is a sense of wonder on the part of the
speaker.
 Steep – decorate
 First – original
 Splendour – grandeur. It refers to the freshness of sunlight at the time of its
creation.
 Valley – a piece of land surrounded by hills and usually consisting of a river
 Rock – tall and large piece of stone
 Hill – a naturally raised area of land
 Felt – experienced
 Calm – quietude
 Deep – profound. The quietude of the area impresses the poet.

Composed Upon Westminster Bridge Paraphrase Section 4

At the time of creation, the sun came out with full radiance. The same kind of
radiance is seen in the sun early in the morning as it falls on the piece of land,
surrounded by mountains, a large and tall piece of stone, and naturally raised area
of land. London is normally a city of din and bustle. The prevailing silence of the
atmosphere early in the morning, therefore, surprises the poet and he says that he
has never felt so deep quietude in Nature.
Composed Upon Westminster Bridge Analysis Line by Line Section 5
The river glideth at his own sweet will;
Dear God! The very houses seem asleep;
And all that mighty heart is lying still!

 River – a natural source of water. It refers to the Thames.

 Glideth – flows. The use of ‘glideth’ in place of ‘glides’ has a poetic
effect.
 His – the river’s. Here the river has been personified.
 Sweet – pleasant and free
 Will – desire
  Houses – dwelling places. It is a reference to the people living in the
houses. The figure of speech used here is metonymy —- container for
the thing contained.
 Seem – appear to be
 Asleep – having a sleep
 Mighty – powerful
 Heart – breast. Here London is looked upon as a giant.
 Lying – existing
 Still – motionless

 Composed Upon Westminster Bridge Paraphrase Section 5

  The river Thames flows smoothly and that too without any obstruction.
Invoking God the poet says that the people of the houses seem to be
sleeping. Actually, the din and bustle of the normal activity of London have
not started as yet. It seems that the town itself is a giant that is sleeping
peacefully.
Composed Upon Westminster Bridge Analysis Line By Line Summing Up
London is basically an industrial city. Naturally, the beauty of Nature, as is
present here, cannot be seen because of the smoke produced by factories.
Moreover, the sounds, produced by vehicles and other means, create an
atmosphere where even the existing beauty of Nature cannot be appreciated.
No wonder, the poet who happens to see the beauty of Nature early in the
morning and that too in an unobstructed becomes highly impressed by it.
Moreover, the sense of wonder which he feels counts for his romanticism so
to say.