London

Question 1

What is the structure of London?

Answer 1

-Written by Blake
-ABAB rhyme scheme, repetitiveness reflects the relentless and inescapable suffering in the city, rhythm is like him walking.
-Cyclical structure, Stanza 4 returns to focus on those who are suffering, shows the repetitive cycle of suffering.

Question 2

What are the themes of London?

Answer 2

-Abuse of power
-Control

Question 3

What is an analysis of the quote “In every infant’s cry of fear”

Answer 3

-Children have no hope of a future of freedom as the cycle of poverty will never end.
-Repetition of ‘every’ portrays an overwhelming sense of oppression and unfairness.

Question 4

What is an analysis of the quote “Marks in every face I meet, marks of weakness, marks of woe”

Answer 4

-Repetition of ‘mark’ stresses how indelible the suffering was.
-Shows they were weakened by the government’s control and were unable to fight back.
-They are branded with the look of poverty.

Question 5

What is an analysis of the quote “Mind forged manacles I hear”

Answer 5

-Symbolises how they had no free thinking or the ability to fight against the government.
-Blake can ‘hear’ the chains, symbolises how he could hear the oppression and the people trying to fight it.