London Flashcards
(7 cards)
Form of London
4 ABAB quatrains with trochaic tetrameter; anaphora and repetition create rhythmic oppression; narrated walk through the city.
Quote: “Marks of weakness, marks of woe”
Interpretation 1: Repetition highlights widespread suffering.
Interpretation 2: Alliteration emphasizes weariness and despair.
Quote: “Mind-forged manacles”
Interpretation 1: People’s minds are trapped by societal constraints.
Interpretation 2: Metaphor for internalised oppression and loss of freedom.
Quote: “The youthful Harlot’s curse”
Interpretation 1: Symbolises moral decay and exploitation.
Interpretation 2: Juxtaposition of youth and hardship shows lost innocence.
Key Themes in London
Social injustice, oppression, corruption, loss of innocence.
Main Message of London
Industrial revolution and society have caused widespread suffering and moral decay.
About William Blake
Romantic poet and artist; critiqued social injustice and championed imagination and freedom.
