1
The themes include morality,
humanity and the natural
environment. He describes Milton’s
soul: "soul was like a Star," because
he was different even from his Structure:
contemporaries in terms of being It is a Petrarchan sonnet of 14 lines divided
a virtuous man. The speaker feels into an octave rhyming abba abba and a
that Milton’s voice was like the sea sestet rhyming cddece which presents an
‘London, 1802’
and the sky, a part of argument followed by a suggested solution.
William Wordsworth
nature and therefore natural: SACAI JUN 2021
"majestic, free." The speaker also 1. Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour:
compliments Milton's ability to
embody "cheerful godliness" even 2. England hath need of thee: she is a fen
while doing the "lowliest duties." As 3. Of stagnant waters: altar, sword, and pen, The use of poetic apostrophe:
stated above the speaker
on several instances refers to Milton 4. Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower, The poet dramatically addresses his poem to Milton.
as a celestial/godly being. 5. Have forfeited their ancient English dower This creates a sense of urgency highlighting the issue of
England’s degeneration in the poet’s opinion. It also
6. Of inward happiness. We are selfish men;
focuses the reader’s attention on the heroic model of
Wordsworth compliments Milton by 7. O! raise us up, return to us again; the ideal leader that England needs to solve its
comparing him to things found in 8. And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power. problems. SACAI JUN 2021
nature, such as the
stars, the sea, and "the heavens." 9. Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart;
For Wordsworth, being likened to 10. Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea:
nature is the highest compliment
possible 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 "London, 1802" portrays something of Wordsworth's
moralism and his growing
14. The lowliest duties on herself did lay
conservatism. He often tried to convey the message of
morality to his readers. Here again,
pleads with the English people to return to morality and
selflessness. He criticizes them for
lacking "manners, virtue, [and] freedom." But he also refers
to "inward happiness" as a right, or
"dower," and asks Milton to bestow "power" as well as virtue
on the English.
, 2
Lines 1 - 4
‘Milton! Thou shouldst be living…wealth of
hall and bower.’ The imagery support the
speaker’s argument:
By comparing all the aspects of British
‘London, 1802’
society to a fen, a disgusting smelly bog, the
William Wordsworth
speaker is reinforcing his argument that
England needs someone heroic like Milton to 1. Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour:
save her. SACAI JUN 2022
2. England hath need of thee: she is a fen
3. Of stagnant waters: altar, sword, and pen, Lines 7 & 8
4. Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower, TONE:
Lines 9
The tone is pleading/supplicating as the
IMAGERY: 5. Have forfeited their ancient English dower
speaker begs Milton to return to them. This
6. Of inward happiness. We are selfish men; is mixed with a worshipful/admiring tone as
The simile comparing Milton to a star has
7. O! raise us up, return to us again; the speaker describes the marvellous
the effect of establishing Milton’s superiority
attributes that Milton can bring them like
in the poet’s eyes. Just as a star was used to 8. And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power.
‘manners’, ‘virtue’, etc. SACAI JUN 2022
guide travellers and orientate them in the
9. Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart;
world, so Milton too could be a strong
stabilising influence, showing England a 10. Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea:
better way forward. A star also represents 11. Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free,
light in darkness which extends the imagery
to include a sense of how enlightened Milton 12. So didst thou travel on life’s common way, Lines 13 & 14
was thus supporting his value as a moral The diction in these lines highlights the speaker’s
13. In cheerful godliness; and yet thy heart
example for England. SACAI JUN 2022 viewpoint in the poem:
14. The lowliest duties on herself did lay The description of Milton’s humility, performing the
‘lowliest duties’ unselfishly in the service of England
provides an example to the reader of what is needed
in the people of England. It also establishes a contrast
between Milton, a man utterly dedicated, with
complete integrity and the selfish people of the
country who, according to the poet no longer deserve
to be happy. SACAI JUN 2022
The themes include morality,
humanity and the natural
environment. He describes Milton’s
soul: "soul was like a Star," because
he was different even from his Structure:
contemporaries in terms of being It is a Petrarchan sonnet of 14 lines divided
a virtuous man. The speaker feels into an octave rhyming abba abba and a
that Milton’s voice was like the sea sestet rhyming cddece which presents an
‘London, 1802’
and the sky, a part of argument followed by a suggested solution.
William Wordsworth
nature and therefore natural: SACAI JUN 2021
"majestic, free." The speaker also 1. Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour:
compliments Milton's ability to
embody "cheerful godliness" even 2. England hath need of thee: she is a fen
while doing the "lowliest duties." As 3. Of stagnant waters: altar, sword, and pen, The use of poetic apostrophe:
stated above the speaker
on several instances refers to Milton 4. Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower, The poet dramatically addresses his poem to Milton.
as a celestial/godly being. 5. Have forfeited their ancient English dower This creates a sense of urgency highlighting the issue of
England’s degeneration in the poet’s opinion. It also
6. Of inward happiness. We are selfish men;
focuses the reader’s attention on the heroic model of
Wordsworth compliments Milton by 7. O! raise us up, return to us again; the ideal leader that England needs to solve its
comparing him to things found in 8. And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power. problems. SACAI JUN 2021
nature, such as the
stars, the sea, and "the heavens." 9. Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart;
For Wordsworth, being likened to 10. Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea:
nature is the highest compliment
possible 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 "London, 1802" portrays something of Wordsworth's
moralism and his growing
14. The lowliest duties on herself did lay
conservatism. He often tried to convey the message of
morality to his readers. Here again,
pleads with the English people to return to morality and
selflessness. He criticizes them for
lacking "manners, virtue, [and] freedom." But he also refers
to "inward happiness" as a right, or
"dower," and asks Milton to bestow "power" as well as virtue
on the English.
, 2
Lines 1 - 4
‘Milton! Thou shouldst be living…wealth of
hall and bower.’ The imagery support the
speaker’s argument:
By comparing all the aspects of British
‘London, 1802’
society to a fen, a disgusting smelly bog, the
William Wordsworth
speaker is reinforcing his argument that
England needs someone heroic like Milton to 1. Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour:
save her. SACAI JUN 2022
2. England hath need of thee: she is a fen
3. Of stagnant waters: altar, sword, and pen, Lines 7 & 8
4. Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower, TONE:
Lines 9
The tone is pleading/supplicating as the
IMAGERY: 5. Have forfeited their ancient English dower
speaker begs Milton to return to them. This
6. Of inward happiness. We are selfish men; is mixed with a worshipful/admiring tone as
The simile comparing Milton to a star has
7. O! raise us up, return to us again; the speaker describes the marvellous
the effect of establishing Milton’s superiority
attributes that Milton can bring them like
in the poet’s eyes. Just as a star was used to 8. And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power.
‘manners’, ‘virtue’, etc. SACAI JUN 2022
guide travellers and orientate them in the
9. Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart;
world, so Milton too could be a strong
stabilising influence, showing England a 10. Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea:
better way forward. A star also represents 11. Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free,
light in darkness which extends the imagery
to include a sense of how enlightened Milton 12. So didst thou travel on life’s common way, Lines 13 & 14
was thus supporting his value as a moral The diction in these lines highlights the speaker’s
13. In cheerful godliness; and yet thy heart
example for England. SACAI JUN 2022 viewpoint in the poem:
14. The lowliest duties on herself did lay The description of Milton’s humility, performing the
‘lowliest duties’ unselfishly in the service of England
provides an example to the reader of what is needed
in the people of England. It also establishes a contrast
between Milton, a man utterly dedicated, with
complete integrity and the selfish people of the
country who, according to the poet no longer deserve
to be happy. SACAI JUN 2022
