Critical Appreciation of Poetry Essay

William Wordsworth had a variety of concerns which he expressed in collected Upon Westminster Bridge. He was a metaphysical poet and the thought he writes about in this poem is nature and its relationship to globe. He has intentd a variety of poetic rules which have all helped to shape and evoke the poem such as rhyming couplets, simile, and personification. The main concerns he highlights in this poem are the annihilative nature of man, the relationship of man and nature, and the damaging reach of industrialization on nature.Wordsworth made use of similes as one of his poetic methods. In line four of the poem he writes This city doth like a garment wear Here he compares the city to a garment as according to him figuratively the city wears the beauty of the morning. He uses this poetic method to highlight the extent to which the city exudes beauty in the early hours of the morning while all is silent and the industrial excesses of the day have not nevertheless begun.Word sworth in presenting the beauty and tranquility of the morning could be highlighting the negativity that pervades when morning leaves because of mans intervention. This is all too likely as the line of business that Wordsworth probes in this poem is the relationship of man and nature and he clearly highlights the negative aspects of this relationship. Wordsworth also utilizes rhyming couplets, in particular end rhymes.This is demonstrated in the following lines of the poem This city now doth like a garment The Beauty of the morningsilent, bare and also in Ships, towers,domes, theatres and temples lie open unto the fields, and to the riffle This has quite an interesting effect as rhythm is described as a poems sound system and through the poets tricksy manipulation of the rhymes he is able to give the poem a particular rhythm which enhances its style, value and meaning and draws attention to what it projects.It is portrayed almost like a song and helps to create visual images li ke a painting and Wordsworth freighter be likened to a painter in this way. This is Wordsworths literary skill at work and this contributes to the readers understanding of his status in literature as one of the better if not the best metaphysical poets known to man. Wordsworth also employs the use of personification. He says The river glideth at his own sweet will Dear GodThe very houses seem asleep The reader cannot help noticing the way in which this poet personifies the river and houses describing them as if they are alive and well and capable of exhibiting human capabilities , that of gliding gracefully and of sleeping as if tired. All of this combined with the poets extensive use of nature imagery help to bring the subject Wordsworth writes about to life as well increasing its significance. One of Wordsworths main concerns in Composed Upon Westminster Bridge is the destructive nature of man.Wordsworth presents a vision of nature in the early hours of the morning when man has not yet begun to intervene. He presents its beauty and olympian nature but he does not stop there. He opens with a line praising the beauty of nature Earth has not anything to show more fair but closes on a sad note And all that mighty is lying still His comment is that mans nature is destructive and out-of-pocket to the effect of man on nature stillness and dullness has been the result.Smoke , dust and noise have become the grim characteristics of nature due to industrialization, and the only time a smokeless air, a beautiful atmosphere can be enjoyed is in the tranquility of the morning before industrialization continues. The negative impact of industrialization on nature is one of the poets concerns in the poem. In mans lustful aggrandizing efforts to make progress through industrialization negative effects have been wrought on nature. There is the problem of noise and various types of pollution and this has been caused by industrialization.The picturesque beauty of nature W ordsworth describes can only be enjoyed in the morning. For the rest of the day smoke and noise predominates. This could be Wordsworths comment on the selfish and cruel nature of man in that through industrialization man chokes and suffocates nature in an attempt to suit his own ends. In Conclusion, the writer has a variety of concerns and poetic methods such as mans destructive nature, simile and personification. All these concerns and poetic methods enhance the poems structure and meaning giving it its significance in the world of metaphysical poetry.