William Wordsworth's "Composed  upon Westminster Bridge"
Read the poem by clicking on the title.

Aim: Why does the poet pinpoint the time and place for his poem?

Questions:  What's a place that you've enjoyed in its quiet moments?

Where does the poet situate himself?  We know what day his observation is, where he is standing, and what time of the day it is.  How does he reveal what he can see from his vantage point?
When the poet lists everything he admires about the landscape, what aspect of city life is conspicuously left out?  How can you read that omission into the strength with which he opens the sestet?

How does Wordsworth's use of rhyme mirror the theme of the poem?  Look at the "A" rhymes?  What is unusual about the way they look in relation to the sound of the rhymes?  Why does he introduce the slant (also called near, approximate, or imperfect) rhyme in lines 2-3?  Is there any way that we can tie in this use of rhyme into the "action" and theme of the poem?

Internet activity:
Visit "England Live" at <http://www.bbc.co.uk/webcams/ukcams.shtml> and take a look at one of the sites that is transmitting live over the Internet 24 hours a day.  You will have to allow for the time difference to see London live during the day or night.  You'll notice that the web cams are labeled very much like Wordsworth's poem with the exact date and local time you are viewing London.  Try to view several sites and pick one scene that is striking to you. 
Keep a journal of your observations:  write your ideas according to your own impressions of what a sonnet is.  The requirement is a 14 line response.  Although you are not asked to rhyme your impressions, try to break your poem into an octave and sestet.  Shift from simple observation to your feelings at the piece's volta or turn in meaning.  Try to keep your measure to 10 syllables per line.