Analysis of “When I Have Fears” and “Composed upon Westminster Bridge”
When I Have Fears… – John Keats
Analysis
Voice
Lines 1-8: First Voice
Lines 9-14: Second Voice
Mood
Melancholy, transitioning to frustration towards the end.
Summary
The speaker fears dying before fulfilling his potential as a writer and experiencing true love. He worries about not having enough time to accumulate knowledge and achieve his goals. This fear leads to frustration and a sense of uncertainty.
Topic
Uncertainty and Fear of Mortality
Parts
- First 2 Quatrains: Fear of dying before fulfilling his destiny as a writer.
- 3rd Quatrain: Fear of dying before experiencing true love.
- Last 3 Lines: Consequences of these fears – frustration and a sense of unfulfillment.
Metrics
Shakespearean sonnet: 14 lines in iambic pentameter.
Figures
- Repetition of temporal indicators (Lines 1, 2, 3, 5, 11, 14) to create a sense of expectation.
- Simile: Language compared to wheat in a grain bin (Line 4).
- Personification: Night and its stars personified as a face (Line 5).
- Metaphor: Love as something written on the night sky (Lines 5-8).
- Personification: Chance given a hand (Lines 6-7).
- Symbolism: “Fair creature” represents the natural world and its transience (Line 9).
- Metaphor: Love as a fairy power (Lines 11-12).
- Imagery: Speaker pulling away from the world to stand on its shore (Lines 12-14).
- Symbolism: “Wide world” represents nature’s vastness (Line 13).
Composed upon Westminster Bridge – William Wordsworth
Analysis
Voice
First person throughout the poem – the poet reflects on his experience.
Mood
Amazement, tranquility, and a sense of awe.
Summary
The poem celebrates the beauty of London in the early morning light, emphasizing the harmonious integration of the city with nature. It suggests that even a bustling city can be a source of beauty and tranquility when viewed through the lens of appreciation.
Topic
The beauty of the city in the morning light, the integration of urban life and nature, and the appreciation of beauty.
Parts
- Lines 1-3: Introduction and setting the scene.
- Lines 4-10: Describing the city’s integration with nature.
- Lines 11-14: Portraying the city as a living organism.
Metrics
Petrarchan sonnet: 14 lines divided into an octave (8 lines) and a sestet (6 lines). Rhyme scheme: ABBAABBACDCDCD. Iambic pentameter.
Figures
- Personification: The city is personified throughout the poem, e.g., wearing the morning beauty like a garment (Line 4), having a heart (Line 14).
- Hyperbole: Exaggerated statements to emphasize the city’s beauty (Lines 1, 9, 11).
- Hyperbaton: Inversion of word order for emphasis (Line 2).
- Simile: The morning beauty compared to clothing (Line 4).
- Enumeration: Listing of details to create a vivid picture (Line 6).
- Paronomasia: Wordplay using “bright” and “glittering” (Line 8).
- Alliteration: Repetition of consonant sounds for emphasis (e.g., “s” in Line 3, “l” in Line 12).
- Metonymy: “Mighty heart” representing the city’s essence (Line 14).
Other Observations
- Wordsworth uses personification to create a sense of the city as a living being.
- Lists are used to describe the city’s features and qualities.
- Negative language (e.g., “Never,” “Ne’er”) emphasizes the city’s superiority.
- Words like “majesty” and “mighty” suggest the city’s power and grandeur.
- Positive language (e.g., “bright,” “glittering,” “splendour”) conveys the speaker’s admiration.