poetry essay london 1802

London, 1802 Summary & Analysis by William Wordsworth

• Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis
• Poetic Devices
• Vocabulary & References
• Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme
• Line-by-Line Explanations

"London, 1802" is a sonnet by William Wordsworth, one of the most influential English Romantic Poets. The poem praises the famous 17th-century poet John Milton and suggests that England would be better off if it modeled itself after Milton and the values of his era. Wordsworth composed the poem in 1802, shortly after returning to London from France, where he witnessed the aftermath of the French Revolution. Comparing France's somber social landscape to England's boisterous, care-free atmosphere, Wordsworth composed "London, 1802" as both a critique of his country and a celebration of its former glory.

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The Full Text of “London, 1802”

1 Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour:

2 England hath need of thee: she is a fen

3 Of stagnant waters: altar, sword, and pen,

4 Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower,

5 Have forfeited their ancient English dower

6 Of inward happiness. We are selfish men;

7 Oh! raise us up, return to us again;

8 And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power.

9 Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart:

10 Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea:

11 Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free,

12 So didst thou travel on life's common way,

13 In cheerful godliness; and yet thy heart

14 The lowliest duties on herself did lay.

“London, 1802” Summary

“london, 1802” themes.

The Past and Societal Decline

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Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis of “London, 1802”

Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour: England hath need of thee: she is a fen Of stagnant waters:

altar, sword, and pen, Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower, Have forfeited their ancient English dower Of inward happiness.

We are selfish men; Oh! raise us up, return to us again;

And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power.

Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart: Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea: Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free,

Lines 12-13

So didst thou travel on life's common way, In cheerful godliness;

Lines 13-14

and yet thy heart The lowliest duties on herself did lay.

“London, 1802” Symbols

John Milton

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The Natural World

“london, 1802” poetic devices & figurative language.

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End-Stopped Line

Personification, “london, 1802” vocabulary.

Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem.

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Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme of “London, 1802”

Rhyme scheme, “london, 1802” speaker, “london, 1802” setting, literary and historical context of “london, 1802”, more “london, 1802” resources, external resources.

A Reading of the Poem — Listen to a clear, slow, and concentrated reading of "London, 1802."

Preface to Lyrical Ballads — Read Wordsworth's "Preface to Lyrical Ballads," an essay that greatly influenced the trajectory of Romantic poetry.

The Industrial Revolution — Watch an informative BBC documentary about the Industrial Revolution and its impact on England.

More Information about John Milton — Learn about John Milton's life, his writing, and how he influenced the course of British literature.

Wordsworth's Life and Work — Read an overview of William Wordsworth and his life as a Romantic poet.

LitCharts on Other Poems by William Wordsworth

A Complaint

A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal

Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802

Expostulation and Reply

Extract from The Prelude (Boat Stealing)

It Is a Beauteous Evening, Calm and Free

I Travelled Among Unknown Men

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud

Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey

Lines Written in Early Spring

My Heart Leaps Up

Nuns Fret Not at Their Convent’s Narrow Room

Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood

She Dwelt among the Untrodden Ways

She was a Phantom of Delight

The Solitary Reaper

The Tables Turned

The World Is Too Much With Us

Three Years She Grew in Sun and Shower

To a Snowdrop

We Are Seven

Everything you need for every book you read.

A Short Analysis of William Wordsworth’s ‘London, 1802’

A summary of a classic Wordsworth sonnet

‘Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour’. With this opening line, William Wordsworth (1770-1850) begins one of his most famous sonnets. Although he’s best-known in the popular consciousness as the poet who praised daffodils and wandered lonely as a cloud, ‘London, 1802’ shows a Wordsworth who is very critical of England and its people, and looking back nostalgically to a happier time in English (literary) history. Here is ‘London, 1802’ with some notes towards an analysis of the poem.

Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour: England hath need of thee: she is a fen Of stagnant waters: altar, sword, and pen, Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower, Have forfeited their ancient English dower Of inward happiness. We are selfish men; O raise us up, return to us again, And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power! Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart; Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea: Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free, So didst thou travel on life’s common way, In cheerful godliness; and yet thy heart The lowliest duties on herself did lay.

Wordsworth then praises Milton’s gifts: his soul was like a star which ‘dwelt apart’, suggesting Milton was one in a million among men, but also a lone voice crying in the wilderness, the only man who could cut through the nonsense and show England where it was going wrong. Milton’s voice is associated with the sound of the sea, pure as heaven. Although Milton was ‘majestic’ (i.e. like a king) he also travelled ‘on life’s common way’ and was happy to perform the ‘lowliest’ (i.e. humblest or simplest) duties. It’s not clear how deliberate this is, but the two images in the first part of the sonnet (the octave), the ‘stagnant waters’ and the corrupted fireside, find themselves made glorious again in the water and fire symbols that appear in the second part of the sonnet (the sestet): namely, the mighty vastness of the sea and the white heat of the star used to describe Milton. Of course, it’s possible to over-analyse these things, but it’s a nice fortuitous touch, if nothing else.

Why Milton? It’s significant that he reaches for the author of not only Paradise Lost (1667) but also Areopagitica (1645), the first defence of the freedom of the press written in English, and still one of the most important. Milton also lived during the English Civil War and supported Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarians who fought against the King, Charles I. Milton’s most famous work, Paradise Lost , is – at least in one interpretation – about mankind being liberated from the unreasonable strictures placed on them by God. (William Blake certainly thought so.) So, Milton stands for liberty and freedom of various kinds.

Wordsworth wrote his poem addressed to Milton in 1802, as his title tells us. In 1802, Wordsworth was a literary celebrity, thanks to the publication of Lyrical Ballads , which he co-authored with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, in 1798. Wordsworth had been a staunch supporter of the French Revolution in 1789, later declaring, ‘Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive!’ But by 1802, the Revolutionary regime had given way to Napoleon’s imperial tyranny, and the Napoleonic Wars. How can England defend itself against a foreign power while there is such corruption and selfishness among its people? Milton thus stands as a beacon of enlightenment and integrity, a man who has the best interests of England at heart and has the skill and influence to make a real political difference. (As well as being one of the finest English poets of the seventeenth century, Milton was also an influential pamphleteer, as Areopagitica , among others, attests.)

In short, then, Wordsworth exclaims ‘Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour’ because John Milton got the country through the difficult period of the English Civil War and showed that freedom, liberty, and opposition to tyranny are noble values worth defending. In the last analysis, ‘London, 1802’ is a fine sonnet because, although it threatens to lapse into a moaning rant by a former radical poet about the state of his country, it is saved from this by its genuine concern for the country and a wish to make it better with words rather than swords.

Image: Portrait of William Wordsworth by Benjamin Haydon, 1842; via Wikimedia Commons .

4 thoughts on “A Short Analysis of William Wordsworth’s ‘London, 1802’”

I feel I must congratulate you on your choices for inclusion. This blog certainly befits the name. Thank you for giving us such insights.

Thank you! :)

Wordsworth was naive in this instance; Milton was a regicide and a willing participant in Cromwell’s religious persecutions, overthrow of Parliament, and genocide in Ireland.

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Wordsworth's Poetical Works

By william wordsworth, wordsworth's poetical works summary and analysis of "london, 1802".

In the beginning of "London, 1802" William Wordsworth cries out to the dead poet, John Milton , telling him that he should be alive, because England needs him now. He goes on to describe England as a swampy marshland of "stagnant waters" where everything that was once a natural gift (such as religion, chivalry, and art, symbolized respectively by the altar, the sword, and the pen) has been lost to the scourge of modernity:

Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour; England hath need of thee: she is a fen Of stagnant waters: altar, sword, and pen, Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower, Have forfeited their ancient English dower Of inward happiness.

The speaker continues by telling Milton that the English are selfish and asking him to raise them up. He asks Milton to bring the English ("us") "manners, virtue, freedom, power":

We are selfish men; Oh! raise us up, return to us again; And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power.

The speaker then tells Milton that his "soul was like a Star," because he was different even from his contemporaries in terms of the virtues listed above. The speaker tells Milton that his voice was like the sea and the sky, a part of nature and therefore natural: "majestic, free." The speaker also compliments Milton's ability to embody "cheerful godliness" even while doing the "lowliest duties":

Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart; Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea: Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free, So didst thou travel on life's common way, In cheerful godliness; and yet thy heart The lowliest duties on herself did lay.

"London, 1802" is a sonnet with a rhyme scheme of abbaabbacddece. The poem is written in the second person and addresses the late poet John Milton, who lived from 1608-1674 and is most famous for having written Paradise Lost .

The poem has two main purposes, one of which is to pay homage to Milton by saying that he can save the entirety of England with his noblity and virtue. The other purpose of the poem is to draw attention to what Wordsworth feels are the problems with English society.

According to Wordsworth, England was once a great place of happiness, religion, chivalry, art, and literature, but at the present moment those virtues have been lost. Wordsworth can only describe modern England as a swampland, where people are selfish and must be taught about things like "manners, virtue, freedom, power."

Notice that Wordsworth compliments Milton by comparing him to things found in nature, such as the stars, the sea, and "the heavens." For Wordsworth, being likened to nature is the highest compliment possible.

Wordsworth’s Poetical Works Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Wordsworth’s Poetical Works is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

To a Butterfly by William Wordsworth

D reminds him of forgotten days

Explain the philosophical, socio-cultural and religious concerns in the Tintern abbey

This is a pretty detailed question for this short space. You can actually find what you need at the GradeSaver link below:

https://www.gradesaver.com/wordsworths-poetical-works/study-guide/summary-lines-composed-a-few-miles-above-tintern-abbey

Differences and similarities between London and London 1802?

I know the poem London 1802. Is there a separate poem called only London?

Study Guide for Wordsworth’s Poetical Works

Wordsworth's Poetical Works study guide contains a biography of William Wordsworth, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Wordsworth's Poetical Works
• Wordsworth's Poetical Works Summary
• Character List

Essays for Wordsworth’s Poetical Works

Wordsworth's Poetical Works essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of William Wordsworth's poetry and prose.

• Wordsworth and Blake: The Plight of Mankind
• Back to the Future: Wordsworth's "Ode to Duty" and "Elegiac Stanzas"
• The Union of Opposing Elements: Poems by Wordsworth and Coleridge
• The Connection between the Natural Scene and the Speaker's State of Mind in William Wordsworth's "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud"
• Blake and Wordsworth Versus Society

Lesson Plan for Wordsworth’s Poetical Works

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Wordsworth's Poetical Works
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Wordsworth's Poetical Works Bibliography

E-Text of Wordsworth’s Poetical Works

Wordsworth's Poetical Works e-text contains the full text of William Wordsworth's poetry and prose.

• Table of Contents
• A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal
• Composed Upon Westminster Bridge
• I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud
• It Is a Beauteous Evening

Wikipedia Entries for Wordsworth’s Poetical Works

• Introduction
• Early career
• Germany and move to the Lake District
• Married life

London, 1802

By William Wordsworth

Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour: England hath need of thee: she is a fen Of stagnant waters: altar, sword, and pen, Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower, Have forfeited their ancient English dower Of inward happiness. We are selfish men; Oh! raise us up, return to us again; And give us manners, virtue , freedom, power . Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart: Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea: Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free, So didst thou travel on life’s common way, In cheerful godliness; and yet thy heart The lowliest duties on herself did lay.

Summary of London, 1802

• Popularity of “ London , 1802”: The poem ‘London, 1802’ was written by William Wordsworth, a great English poet, and an  author. This melancholy poem appeared in his collection Two Volumes  in 1807. The poem talks about the iconic poet and writer John Milton . It also explains how the people of London have lost their originality following the changing patterns of the world. The poet’s depiction of two different London cities makes this poetic piece a powerful one.
• “London, 1802” As a Representative of Sorrow: This poet recollects the memory of John Milton, one of the established poets of history. At the start of the event, the speaker passionately implores Milton to return, emphasizing the pressing need for an intellectual of his caliber in England during this critical period. The city has lost its ancient charm; the people have become selfish and mean. They have lost all their manners and virtues. According to him, he firmly believes that Milton should return and impart manners, virtues, power, and freedom to these individuals. He views Milton as a great poet who seems in tune with God and nature. He thinks that Milton possesses all the qualities a nation’s leader should have, and only he can restore the lost spirit of London. Therefore, he wants this Great Spirit to revert and change the ugly face of his city.
• Major Themes in “London, 1802”: Admiration, imagination versus reality, and patriotism are the major themes of the poem. The speaker’s patriotism reflects throughout the poem. He is unsatisfied with the present state of his place, thinking that the church, the military, and legal establishments have lost their direction and actual meanings. To him, only Milton can change the fortune of the city. Therefore, he urges him to come back and redirect his people to the righteous path.

Analysis of Literary Devices Used in London, 1802

literary devices permit writers to choose their words to create their unique styles . William Wordsworth used some literary devices in the poem whose analysis is as follows.

• Allusion : It means to allude to some event, persona or incident of historical importance such as Wordsworth has alluded to Milton as well as England.
• Apostrophe : This literary device means to call somebody or idea such as the poet has called Milton saying “Milton! Thou shouldst be living at this hour.”
• Assonance : Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /ee/ in “In cheerful godliness; and yet thy heart” and the sound of /i/ in “Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour”.
• Consonance : Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /t/ and the sound lf /l/ in “The lowliest duties on herself did lay” and the sound of /z/ and /d/ in “Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea”.
• Enjambment : It is defined as a thought in verse that does not come to an end at a line break ; rather, it rolls over to the next line. For example,

“ In cheerful godliness; and yet thy heart The lowliest duties on herself did lay.”

• Hyperbole : Hyperbole is a device used to exaggerate any statement for the sake of emphasis. Wordsworth exaggerates about the condition of England, such as, “England hath need of thee: she is a fen”.
• Imagery : Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. William Wordsworth used imagery in this poem such as “Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart”, “Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour” and “Have forfeited their ancient English dower”.
• Personification : Personification is to give human qualities to inanimate objects . The poet has personified the England throughout the poem such as,

“England hath need of thee: she is a fen Of stagnant waters: altar, sword, and pen.”

• Simile : It is a device used to compare something with something else to make the meanings clear to the readers. Wordsworth has used this device at many places in the poem, such as “Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart” and “Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea.” The use of the word “like” shows that these two are similes used for comparison .
• Symbolism : Symbolism is using symbols to signify ideas and qualities, giving them symbolic meanings that are different from literal meanings. The expression “forfeited their ancient English dower” symbolizes changing attitude of the people of England.

Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in London, 1802

Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used only in poetry. Here is the analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem.

• End Rhyme : End Rhyme is used to make the stanza melodious. William Wordsworth has used end rhyme in this poem such as; “fen/pen”, “way/lay” and “sea/free.”
• Octave : An octave is an eight lined stanza derived from Italian poetry. The poem contains only one octave.
• Rhyme Scheme : The poem follows ABBAABBA and CDDECE rhyme scheme .
• Stanza : A stanza is a poetic form of some lines. It is a fourteen lined poem with no stanza break in it but two parts; a sestet and an octave.

Quotes to be Used

These lines from “London, 1802” are useful to quote when talking about great persons who have done great deeds in the past,

“Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart: Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea: Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free, So didst thou travel on life’s common way, In cheerful godliness; and yet thy heart The lowliest duties on herself did lay.”

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London, 1802

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Literary Context: Milton and Romanticism

There are two important literary contexts relevant to “London, 1802”: the figure of John Milton and what he represents in the English literary tradition, and the cultural and political ideals of Romanticism as a movement.

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Daily Quote A man, after he has brushed off the dust and chips of his life, will have left only the hard, clean questions: Was it good or was it evil? Have I done well — or ill? (John Steinbeck) Poem of the Day London, 1802 By William Wordsworth Beauty of Words 春 丰子恺

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