Poetry - London by William Blake Flashcards
Give context for ‘London’
- William Blake was writing during the Romantic literary era
- He lived in London most his life, and saw it as corrupted by greed and inequality.
- He used poetry to instigate change and was considered to have radical political views
- London was published when the French Revolution had become an inspiration for many radicals as it was a symbol of how the oppressed could seize power from the privileged
Describe the regular rhythm and rhyme in ‘London’
- There’s a regular ABAB rhyme scheme and four stanzas of four lines each
- The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, echoing the never-ending suffering, oppression in London
- The enjambment has the same effect
Describe the shifting focus of ‘London’
- The first part describes the deprivation and misery in London
- The focus shifts in stanza 3 to those Blake feel are responsible for this (the “black’ning church” and “palace”)
- In the final stanza, the poet emphasises how widespread the problem is, affecting even new-borns (further emphasises how inescapable the deprivation is)
Describe the dramatic monologue in ‘London
- The poem is written in the form of a dramatic monologue
- The reader gets a strong sense of the speaker’s personal anger and frustration about the pain he sees around him
How are corrupt institution presented in ‘London’?
- “Runs in blood down palace walls.”
- This metaphor emphasises that the monarchy are guilty of living in luxury while doing nothing to alleviate the struggles of the city
How is colour imagery used in ‘London’?
The colour imagery of “black’ning church” is associated to corruption and even death
How is sensory imagery used in ‘London’?
- To bring the horror of London at this time alive
- “Cry of fear”
- “Marks of weakness, marks of woe”
How is vivid language used in ‘London?
Vivid verbs like “curse” and “blast” exacerbate the horrors of London
How is emotive language used in ‘London’?
- It expresses not only the extent of the suffering but also Blake’s anger at the institution that fail to help
- “Marks of weakness, marks of woe”
- “In every infant’s cry of fear”
- “Blasts the new-born infant’s tear”
How is repetition used in ‘London’?
- Repetition of “every” throughout heightens the sense that the problem is widespread
Finish the quote: ‘I wander through…’ and describe it
- “I wander through each chartered street Near where the chartered Thames does flow”
- Something that is chartered is listed and regulated
- Repetition of “chartered” highlights the extent of the government authority: they even have control over rivers, associated with nature and freedom (Trapped imagery)
Finish the quote: ‘ The mind-forged…’ and describe it
- “The mind-forged manacles I hear”
- “Mind-forged manacles” could hint that people are trapped by their attitudes, preventing them from better lives (Trapped imagery)
What can you compare ‘London’ to with the theme of unpleasant and /or powerful experiences?
- The Emigree
- Tissue
What can you compare ‘London’ to with the theme of human power and the misuse of power?
- My Last Duchess
- Ozymandias
Give similarties between ‘London’ to ‘The Emigree’
- Both explore the power of a place through its ability to influence its citizens
- Both explore places which cause suffering
