Composed Upon Westminster Bridge/Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan: "Composed Upon Westminster Bridge" by William Wordsworth

1. General Information

Class: X / XI
Subject: English (Poetry)
Topic: Composed Upon Westminster Bridge
Poet: William Wordsworth
Board: West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE)
Duration: 40 minutes
Type of Lesson: Appreciation of poetry / Critical reading

2. Teaching Learning Material (TLM)

Printed copy of the poem
Map of London and the River Thames
Picture of Westminster Bridge (then and now)
Flashcards with poetic devices
Chalkboard/whiteboard
Audio reading of the poem
Venn diagram template

3. Learning Objectives

General Objectives

To develop an appreciation for English poetry
To enhance literary sensitivity
To understand Romantic poetry and its themes

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

Recite the poem with correct intonation
Identify poetic devices used in the poem
Analyze the theme and tone of the poem
Compare urban and rural landscapes through poetic expression
Express personal views about natural beauty

4. Previous Knowledge (Link)

Students are familiar with:

Basic poetic forms
William Wordsworth as a nature poet
Difference between city and rural life

Prior Knowledge (Link with Students' Understanding)

Before reading this poem, students are likely to:

Be familiar with basic poetic structure like rhyme, rhythm, and imagery.
Have learned about city vs rural life and the difference in lifestyle.
Know London as a global city, possibly in history or geography.
Have read other nature-themed or descriptive poems in earlier classes.
Know that early mornings are often peaceful and quiet, which helps them relate to the poet's experience

Background Information

1. The Era – Early 19th Century England

The poem was written in 1802, during the Industrial Revolution.
England was undergoing massive changes—factories, machines, and urbanization were altering the natural landscape.
Cities like London were booming in trade, population, and pollution.
Amid this growth, poets like Wordsworth looked toward nature and simplicity to find peace and truth.

2. Romanticism (circa 1798–1837)

Romanticism was a literary and artistic movement reacting against the industrial and scientific age.
It celebrated:

Emotion over reason
Imagination over logic
Nature over technology
Simplicity and individualism

Romantic poets believed that nature had healing power and connected humans with something divine.

5. Brief Summary of the Poem

"Composed Upon Westminster Bridge" is a Petrarchan sonnet written in 1802 by William Wordsworth. The poet describes the breathtaking view of London at dawn as seen from Westminster Bridge. Contrary to his usual love of the countryside, Wordsworth is mesmerized by the stillness, calm, and majesty of the sleeping city, which he claims has never looked so beautiful. The poem expresses a deep appreciation of serene natural beauty within the urban landscape.

3. About the Poet – William Wordsworth (1770–1850)

Wordsworth was a leading figure of English Romanticism.
He was Poet Laureate of England from 1843 to 1850.
He spent much of his life in the Lake District of England, which deeply influenced his poetry.
He co-authored Lyrical Ballads with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, marking the start of the Romantic Age in English poetry.

His Writing Style

Simple, everyday language (in contrast to the elaborate style of earlier poets)
Strong emphasis on natural beauty and emotional response
Use of personification, imagery, and sensory detail
Deeply reflective and meditative tone
Often wrote about childhood, memory, and the spiritual connection with nature

🌿 Famous works include Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey, The Prelude, and I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud.

6. Poetic Devices Used

Simile – “like a garment wear”
Personification – “The city now doth, like a garment, wear / The beauty of the morning”
Alliteration – “silent, bare”
Enjambment – lines continue without pause
Hyperbole – “Earth has not anything to show more fair”

7. Bloom's Taxonomy Based Questions

Level	Sample Questions
Remembering	Who wrote Composed Upon Westminster Bridge?
Understanding	What does the poet compare the beauty of the morning to?
Applying	Can you find another poem that describes nature’s beauty and compare it?
Analyzing	How does the poet personify the city of London?
Evaluating	Do you agree with the poet’s admiration for a city over countryside? Why/Why not?
Creating	Write 4 lines of your own describing your city/town in the early morning.

8. Teaching Procedure

Steps	Teacher’s Activity	Student’s Activity
Introduction	Shows London map and image of Westminster Bridge	Observe and respond
Presentation	Reads poem aloud with expression, explains line by line	Listen, take notes
Explanation	Highlights poetic devices, tone, and theme	Identify and mark them in text
Interaction	Asks Bloom's level questions	Answer and discuss
Activity	Venn Diagram task + Write a mini poem	Participate actively
Conclusion	Recaps key points, assigns home task	Listen and note homework

9. Venn Diagram

Comparison of Nature in City vs Countryside in Wordsworth's Poetry

*Urban Nature (Westminster Bridge)*	Shared Elements	*Rural Nature (Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey)*
Silent London morning	Beauty of nature	Wild forests, flowing rivers
Buildings glowing in sunlight	Tranquility	Rustic scenery, hills
Calm River Thames	Connection to soul	Green landscape

10. Learning Outcomes

By the end of the session, students will be able to:

Recite the poem fluently and meaningfully
Explain the key themes and tone
Identify and interpret literary devices
Compare the portrayal of nature in urban vs rural contexts
Compose a short descriptive verse using similar imagery

11. Home Assignment

Write a paragraph describing a morning in your town or village
Identify 3 poetic devices from any poem in your textbook
Memorize the poem (if part of curriculum)