There are obvious differences and contrasts between both poets as they respond to the cities in which they live. The speakers respond to the city in such opposite way for a number of reasons. The areas in which they live in are of completely opposite standards, which also relate to the different social class that each speaker belongs to. The time period in which both poems are written diverge, as does the actual time of the day and season in which the poems are set. The solemn tone that dominates `Prelude, is a sharp contrast to the tone of absolute awe and veneration present in `Westminster Bridge'. The analogous cityscape spoken of in both poems, seem completely opposite in both appearance and atmosphere.

`Westminster Bridge' is written in 1802, pre-World War I, portraying a much more innocent and euphoric London in comparison to the city spoken of in `Prelude'...