Poetry - London

Question 1

Who is the poet that wrote London?

Answer 1

The poet is called William Blake.

Question 2

What is the context behind William Blake?

Answer 2

1. He was a Romantic poet, so was critical of institutions and the Industrial Revolution.
2. He was religious, but was heavily critical of the Church in England and thought it was corrupt.

Question 3

Why might have William Blake written ‘London’ ?

Answer 3

1. To criticise corrupt institutions who choose to not use their power to help the general public.
2. To highlight the suffering of most Londoners in 19th century London.
3. To highlight how commoners are controlled in 19th century London by institutions.

Question 4

Write down all the quotations you can remember from ‘London’.

Answer 4

Some examples:
“Mind-forged manacles”
“Marks of weakness, marks of woe”
“Hapless soldier’s cry // Runs in blood down palace walls”

Question 5

Analyse the quotation:
“Mind-forged manacles”

Answer 5

Metaphor - the “manacles” of the people of London are made up by the speaker’s mind, suggesting that the people of London are trapped and controlled by institutions