Q: Write the critical appreciation of the poem London 1802.
Introduction: “William Wordsworth” is one of the most striking figures of the “Romantic Age”. “London 1802” Is a sonnet that was written by William Wordsworth (1770-1850). In this poem, the poet addresses the late poet John Milton (1608-1674) who is famous especially for his epic poem “paradise lost”.
London 1802
Click here: For all notes of Poetry
Key information
“London, 1802” is a poem by the English Romantic poet William Wordsworth. In the poem, Wordsworth castigates the English people as stagnant and selfish and eulogizes seventeenth-century poet John Milton. The poem was composed in 1802 and published for the first time in 1807.
Form of the poem
The poem is written in the form of an Italian sonnet. The Italian sonnet is divided into two sections. The first section consists of the first eight lines and it is called the octave. In the octave, the subject matter of the poem is introduced. The second section consists of the last six lines and it is called the sestet. In the sestet, the decision is made. The rhyme scheme of the poem “London 1802” is abba, abba, and that of the sestet cde cde which is somewhat unconventional.
The subject matter of the poem
The poem “London 1802 ” begins by addressing the soul of the dead poet “John Milton”. the poet declares that Milton should be living at this moment because England needs him today very seriously. He continuously describes England as a marshy land of stagnant water where everything that was once a natural gift has been lost with the touch of modernity. He asks Milton to come back once more to teach morality, unselfishness, manners, virtue, freedom, and power.
“We are selfish men,
Oh! Raise us up, return to us again,
And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power!”
He tells that Milton’s voice was like the sea and the sky, a part of nature. He compares Milton’s soul to a star and his voice to the sound of the sea and the purity of Milton’s soul is compared to the cloudless sky.
“Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free,
So didst thou travel on life’s common way”.
Figures of speech
This poem has been decorated with some figures of speech that are really praiseworthy. The poem starts with addressing great epic poet John Milton that is an allusion. The line “she is a fen of stagnant waters” is at the same time metaphoric and symbolic comparison. Fen is a symbol that declares that England is completely corrupted and polluted. Other symbols of the poem are altar, sword, and pen, fireside which mean that religion; military, literature, and familial life have been polluted. The use of simile is also puissant.
Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart:
Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea:
Thus, the figurative language of the poem has made it outstanding.
Click here: For all notes of London 1802
Conclusion
By writing this poem, Wordsworth has paid great homage to Milton by saying that he can save the entire England with his nobility and virtue. The poet also expresses his anxiety in the poem to feel the problem that England faces today.
