Poetry Anthology - London

Question 1

Key themes

Answer 1

Power
Suffering
Strong feelings
Rich vs poor
Control

Question 2

Structure

Answer 2

Controlled rhyme scheme - represents how people are controlled (rigid societal structures)
4 stanzas of equal length - quatrain - no change, relentless
Harsh tone

Question 3

Key quotes (8)

Answer 3

‘Charter’d street’ and ‘charter’d Thames’
‘In every’
‘Mind forg’d manacles’
‘Every black’ning church appals’
‘Soldier’s’ and ‘new born infant’s’
‘Cry’

Question 4

Analyse ‘Charter’d street’ and ‘Charter’d Thames’

Answer 4

Rivers and streets are controlled by the rich
Diminishes power of the poor
Sever extent of misery and loss of control

Question 5

Analyse ‘in every’

Answer 5

Anaphora of ‘in every’
Emphasises severe scale of suffering - everyone is affected

Question 6

Analyse ‘mind-forg’d manacles’

Answer 6

Powerful metaphor
Suggests their minds are controlled and chained by the rich
Idea of conflict between freedom and oppression

Question 7

Analyse ‘every black’ning church appals’

Answer 7

Link to context of his loss of belief in religion
Rather than being a symbol of purity and hope, the church is dark and dirty
This emphasises moral decay in society

Question 8

Analyse ‘soldier’ and ‘new born infants’

Answer 8

Mentions many members of society
Exaggerates the extent of conflict and corruption
Even babies are affected - born into the cycle of poverty

Question 9

Analyse repetition of ‘cry’

Answer 9

Connotations of suffering, pain and desperation
Misery is everywhere
Suffering is constant and unavoidable

Question 10

Context

Answer 10

Romantic poet - believed in the freedom of people
Written during Industrial Revolution- he believed it was bad for London and should be stopped
He lost faith in religion due to his belief that the church exploited people rather than helping them (link to quote)
He lived in London - understood and critiqued it