London Flashcards
(6 cards)
What is the (structure) rhyme scheme of ‘London’ and what does it show?
A, B, A, B rhyme scheme
The form has a childlike simplicity-
Blake is writing this as a political protest poem so he writes it in a way that is so memorable to get his message across.
Alternatively, this rigid rhyme scheme reflects control and oppression
What is the form of ‘London’?
London is a dramatic monologue.
Analyse this key quote
’I wander through each chartered street,
Near where the chartered Thames does flow’
It suggests that in London, nothing is free — everything is owned and controlled, even nature.
This illustrates how both people and the natural world are stripped of their freedom and power.
The ‘Thames’ is traditionally a symbol of natural flow and freedom, yet the fact that even the river is described as ‘chartered’ highlights the extent of human control and oppression.
The repetition of ‘chartered’ implies that London is dominated by political and economic forces that restrict both society and the environment.
Analyse this key quote
’The mind-forged manacles I hear’
+ explode
The metaphor of ‘mind-forged manacles’ suggests that people are socially and psychologically shackled, representing their imprisonment.
The homonym ‘forged’ has connotations to faking something. Here Blake is suggesting that our belief in the social hierarchy and class system is a false/ fake way of looking at the world
Analyse this key quote
’And blights with plagues the marriage hearse.’
+ explode
The verb ‘blights’ conveys a sense of disease spreading uncontrollably, implying that the corruption infects all levels of society.
At the time, marriage was a pillar of society therefore, Blake uses the oxymoron of ‘marriage hearse’ to complain about the behaviour of the men who were killing off their marriage through prostitution.
The ‘plagues’ is a reference to STD’s which were incurable at that time. This alludes to the physical consequences of prostitution and also acts as a symbol of moral and social decay.
What 3 quotes are you doing for ‘London’?
’I wander through each chartered street,
Near where the chartered Thames does flow’
’The mind-forged manacles I hear’
’And blights with plagues the marriage hearse.’
