Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802

BY WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

Summary:
This sonnet captures a serene moment at dawn as Wordsworth crosses Westminster Bridge in London. He’s struck by the city’s stillness and beauty in the early morning light, untouched by smoke or traffic. The river gently flows, the buildings—ships, domes, theatres—stand bright against the sky, and the whole metropolis appears calm, almost asleep. The poet marvels that such grandeur can exist within a city, expressing awe at this urban beauty rivaling nature.

Theme:
The poem seamlessly blends urban and natural imagery, demonstrating that beauty and tranquility can be found even in a bustling city. It celebrates the unspoiled majesty of London before the day awakens.

सारांश:
यह सॉनेट लंदन में वेस्टमिंस्टर ब्रिज से सुबह की यात्रा के दौरान कविता की गयी है। कविता में कवि उस क्षण की शांति और सुनसान रूप से प्रभावित होता है; जब असमय धुंआ और भीड़ शहर को परिभाषित नहीं करती। नदी सौम्य प्रवाहित हो रही है, और जहाज, गुंबद, थियेटर सभी स्वच्छ, दमकते हुए आसमान के सामने खड़े दिखते हैं। पूरा शहर मानो सोया हुआ हो। कवि इस नगरीय सुंदरता को देख कर हैरान रह जाता है, और इसे प्रकृति की सुंदरता के समान महत्वपूर्ण मानता है।

प्रथम संदेश:
यह कविता दिखाती है कि शांति और सौंदर्य केवल प्राकृतिक वातावरण में ही नहीं बल्कि शहरों में भी संभव है, खासकर उस नाजुक क्षण में जब दिन अभी नहीं उठा।

🎯 50 MCQs for Class 11 English (WB Board)—“Composed upon Westminster Bridge”

Section 1: Literal Comprehension

1. The “mighty heart” in the poem refers to:
   a) Thames River
   b) London ✅
   c) Westminster Bridge
   d) Poet

2. “Smokeless air” suggests the city is:
   a) Foggy
   b) Polluted
   c) Clean and peaceful ✅
   d) Hot

3. The city is described as “silent, bare” because:
   a) People are absent ✅
   b) It has no buildings
   c) It rains
   d) Traffic is heavy

4. “Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie / Open unto the fields, and to the sky” implies:
   a) Structures are hidden
   b) Structures merge with nature ✅
   c) Structures are broken
   d) Poet dislikes buildings

5. The poet’s first emotional reaction is:
   a) Disgust
   b) Awe ✅
   c) Fear
   d) Anger

Section 2: Inference & Interpretation

6. “Earth has not anything to show more fair” expresses:
   a) Exaggeration
   b) Sincere admiration ✅
   c) Defiance
   d) Fear

7. “Valley, rock, or hill” are compared to London to show:
   a) London is inferior
   b) London rivals nature’s beauty ✅
   c) London is destructive
   d) Poet dislikes nature

8. The phrase “calm so deep” indicates:
   a) Superficial silence
   b) Profound tranquility ✅
   c) Emotional conflict
   d) Noise

9. The poet calls out “Dear God!” to express:
   a) Complaint
   b) Reverent amazement ✅
   c) Sarcasm
   d) Boredom

10. “All that mighty heart is lying still!” highlights:
    a) City is about to wake
    b) City’s life force rests in dawn calm ✅
    c) City never sleeps
    d) Poet is lonely

Section 3: Vocabulary in Context

11. What does “steep” mean in the line “sun more beautifully steep…”?
    a) To pour gently ✅
    b) To steepen
    c) To decorate
    d) To destroy

12. “Garment” in line 4 is a metaphor for:
    a) Clothing
    b) Covering beauty upon city ✅
    c) Bed sheets
    d) Poet’s coat

13. “Glittering” most nearly means:
    a) Shining brightly ✅
    b) Noisy
    c) Dirty
    d) Dark

14. “Smokeless” emphasizes:
    a) Industrial pollution
    b) Pristine morning air ✅
    c) Fire everywhere
    d) Poet’s sadness

15. “Glideth” in “The river glideth at his own sweet will” means:
    a) Glides smoothly ✅
    b) Drowns
    c) Flows angrily
    d) Is blocked

    
    

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Section 4: Assertion–Reasoning

16. A: The city is compared to a garment.
    R: Because it is being worn by the morning sunlight.
    a) Both A & R true, R explains A ✅
    b) Both A & R true, R doesn’t explain
    c) A true, R false
    d) A false, R true

17. A: The poem praises urban life unconditionally.
    R: It describes silence, not dynamic life.
    a) A true, R false ✅
    b) Both true, related
    c) Both false
    d) A false, R true

18. A: The phrase “all that mighty heart” is metaphorical.
    R: It refers to the Thames river.
    a) Both true, R explains A ✅
    b) Both true, not related
    c) A true, R false
    d) Both false

19. A: The poet uses religious tone.
    R: He thanks God for the calm beauty.
    a) Both true, related ✅
    b) Both true, not related
    c) A true, R false
    d) Both false

20. A: The city is devoid of man-made noise at dawn.
    R: Smokeless air implies absence of industry.
    a) Both true, related ✅
    b) Both true, not related
    c) A true, R false
    d) Both false

Section 5: Higher-Order Thinking

21. The sonnet form of the poem highlights:
    a) Romantic beauty ✅
    b) Political message
    c) Historical narrative
    d) Personal diary

22. The tone of the poem is best described as:
    a) Satirical
    b) Reverent ✅
    c) Destructive
    d) Nostalgic

23. The use of natural imagery in London serves to:
    a) Create contrast ✅
    b) Show industrial decay
    c) Praise commerce
    d) Mock city dwellers

24. The poem portrays London not as a metropolis but as:
    a) A battlefield
    b) A peaceful beauty ✅
    c) A prison
    d) A marketplace

25. Wordsworth’s outlook in this sonnet is primarily:
    a) Urban pessimism
    b) Spiritual appreciation ✅
    c) Social critique
    d) Historical recounting

26. Why does the poet mention “fields” and “sky”?
    a) To highlight urban dominance
    b) To show a balance with nature ✅
    c) To criticize rural life
    d) To ignore nature

27. The phrase “valley, rock, or hill” introduces:
    a) Nature for comparison ✅
    b) City’s ugliness
    c) Historical landmarks
    d) Religious context

28. The poet’s exclamation shows:
    a) Anger
    b) Devotion ✅
    c) Indifference
    d) Fear

29. The poet saw beauty in London because:
    a) It was abandoned
    b) He passed through at dawn ✅
    c) He lived there forever
    d) He wanted to write poetry

30. The sonnet’s tranquility suggests:
    a) Dawn is magical ✅
    b) Day is dangerous
    c) Night is ideal
    d) Poet hates sleep

Section 6: Detailed Understanding

31. What type of sonnet is this?
    a) Petrarchan ✅
    b) Shakespearean
    c) Miltonic
    d) Continental

32. The octave ends with which image?
    a) Calm river ✅
    b) Silent houses
    c) Golden sunlight
    d) Glittering towers

33. The sestet begins with:
    a) “Never did Sun…” ✅
    b) “Dear God!”
    c) “Silent, bare”
    d) “All that mighty heart…”

34. “Never did sun more beautifully steep…” emphasizes:
    a) Natural beauty ✅
    b) Religious faith
    c) Political critique
    d) Industrial change

35. The poem’s shift from city to divine tone occurs at:
    a) Line 1
    b) Line 7
    c) Line 9 ✅
    d) Line 14

36. The word “glideth” adds to the poem’s:
    a) Music and rhythm ✅
    b) Harsh tone
    c) Structural rigidity
    d) Didactic message

37. The river’s movement symbolizes:
    a) Human activity
    b) Natural ease ✅
    c) Industrial power
    d) Emotional turmoil

38. The city at dawn is likened to:
    a) A battlefield
    b) A sleeping giant ✅
    c) A crowded market
    d) A stormy sea

39. The poet’s final “heart” image refers to:
    a) Humanity
    b) City’s pulse ✅
    c) Bankers
    d) Houses

40. The sonnet celebrates:
    a) Urban chaos
    b) Urban harmony ✅
    c) Social injustice
    d) Political power

Section 7: Matching

Match the words with their meanings:

41. i–a, ii–b, iii–c, iv–d ✅

42. i–b, ii–c, iii–a, iv–d

43. i–a, ii–d, iii–c, iv–b

44. i–c, ii–b, iii–d, iv–a

Section 8: Mixed Recall

45. Date in the title refers to:
    a) Poem’s publication date
    b) Day poet crossed bridge ✅
    c) Poet’s birthday
    d) City’s foundation

46. Location of the poem:
    a) Calais
    b) Lake District
    c) Westminster Bridge ✅
    d) Stratford-upon-Avon

47. The poem is addressed to:
    a) God
    b) London’s beauty ✅
    c) Nature spirits
    d) The poet’s friend

48. The poem’s main setting time is:
    a) Dawn ✅
    b) Noon
    c) Evening
    d) Midnight

49. The speaker imagines city structures wearing:
    a) Clothes
    b) Morning beauty ✅
    c) Darkness
    d) Wealth

50. The river in the poem is:
    a) Thames ✅
    b) Severn
    c) Mersey
    d) Trent

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