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Question
Write an appreciation of the sonnet. Refer to the points to be covered for appreciation.
- About the poem/poet/title
- Theme
- Poetic devices, language, style
- Special features/novelties/focusing elements
- Values, message
- Your opinion about the poem
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Solution
Appreciation of the poem
'Upon Westminster Bridge'
About the poem/poet/title: "Upon Westminster Bridge" is a Petrarchan sonnet by William Wordsworth and thus is a fourteen-line poem, divided into an octave (observation) and a sestet (conclusion).
Theme: The offers a vivid description of the view of London from Westminster Bridge. It captures the poet's awe at the early morning scene.
Poetic devices, language, style: The poem achieves accessibility through its simple language, making it approachable for a broad audience. Simile, hyperbole, and personification are masterfully employed, elevating the imagery to a rich and evocative level. The simile, notably in "This city now doth, like a garment, wear the beauty of the morning," crafts a potent visual, immersing the reader in the city adorned with the morning's beauty. The poem's use of personification, seen in descriptions like houses that'seem asleep' and the city likened to a'mighty heart,' adds depth and vitality to the portrayal, contributing to the overall effectiveness of the poem.
Special features/novelties/focusing elements: Personification breathes life into the surroundings, endowing inanimate elements with vitality. The river, described as a living entity, flows with its own distinct will, adding dynamism to the scene. Furthermore, the deliberate use of end rhymes imparts a melodic rhythm to the poem, enhancing its auditory appeal and creating a harmonious composition.
Values, message: The main message Beauty of the city in its natural setting before activities begin. This highlights the negative impact of industrialization, which the poet believes will ruin the city.
Your opinion about the poem: The poem effectively visualises the scene, drawing parallels between the city and nature.
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