London Flashcards
Who was the author of London?
William Blake
Summarise the poem
- Centres on a first person perspective from an anonymous speaker walking through London and commenting on the filth and corruption he sees, including:
- Child labour
- Monarchical abuse
- Prostitution
- Short and obvious in its criticisms of the authorities which have allowed the city to get into such a dangerous and unpleasant state
What are the themes present in London?
Place
Power
Powerlessness
Society/ social criticisms
Suffering
Corruption
control
What is the mood/atmosphere of the poem?
- gloomy/apocalyptic
- Sorrowful
- Pitiful
- Restrictive
- Disorder
- Chaotic
Describe the structure of London and explain its effect on the reader.
- Cyclical structure
- 1st: impact on the people
- 2nd stanza: focuses on impact on people
- 3rd stanza: explores sources of suffering
- 4th goes back to impact
- Implies that people will keep suffering until they rebel against authority
- written in Iambic tetrameter
What is the effect of the iambic tetrameter?
→ this is occasionally broken, implying that Blake is frustrated that the general public won’t stand for themselves
→ ‘marks of weakness, marks of woe’
Shows order + control, as the consistency of the rhyme provides a sense of relentless oppression
Describe the form of London and its impact on the poem.
- Simple four stanza monologue to contrast with difficult and complex ideas within the poem
- First person speaker is passionate about what he sees and experiences but the tone is conversational
- Quatrains use a regular ABAB rhyme scheme
- First line of each line in the third stanza spells HEAR whilst Blake is focusing on auditory sounds of suffering in the poem
What is the impact of the rhyme scheme on the poem?
→ fixed rhyme structure emphasises sense of complete control + oppression
→ also represents speaker walking
→ unbroken: reflects relentlessness
What is the main theme in London?
- freedom and restriction of Londoners brought about by decay and death due to the industrialisation of the city
- Through the surreal depiction of human suffering, Blake criticises the impact of the Industrial Revolution on human freedom
What is some context surrounding the poet?
- William Blake was an English poet and author
- Much of his work was influenced by his radical political views (at the time)
- Questioned the teachings of the church and the government
- This poem was part of songs of experience, which focuses on the corruption and loss of innocence within society
- Lived in London for his whole life
Complete the quote
‘I wander through…
…each chartered street’
Analyse the quote
‘I wander through each chartered street’
→ oppression stemming from privatisation
→ ‘I wander’ sounds aimless and purposeless - could reflect how he feels powerless to change what is happening
→ ‘each’ suggests that the whole city is affected, not just one area
→ chartered is repeated often
→ In the 1700s, legislation was passed giving common land to the wealthy for exclusive use and ownership, causing the land in the city to suddenly be owned and controlled by the wealthy
Complete the quote:
‘Mark in every face I meet…
…marks of weakness, marks of woe’
Analyse the quote
‘Mark in every face I meet, marks of weakness, marks of woe’
→ repetition of mark emphasises feelings of bleakness - despair affects everyone, there is no escape from it
→ could imply the city is stained
→ alliteration seems mournful and melancholic
→ Blake realises the importance and the need for things to change
Complete the quote
Mind forg’d…
…manacles
