The Emigrée + London Flashcards
(9 cards)
Points
1) Both poems present cities under greedy and tyrannical leadership
2) Both poems show the power of literature/imagination in resisting the authoritarian power
Extra idea: both poems present large amounts of suffering (especially children)
London evidence 1
“chartered street near where the charted Thames does flow”
“black’ning church appalls”
Iambic tetrameter and ABAB rhyme scheme
London analysis 1
Repetition of ‘chartered’ -> nothing is free from the greedy hands of the powerful + wealthy
Use of the natural, free flowing river (‘Thames’) being obstructed by man shows the harsh impact of this leadership
Colour black negatively associated with corruption
literally -> imagery of church covered in soot -> presents itself as pure but is dirty + corrupted
Figuratively -> connotations of evil -> church morally blackens
Through doing this, Blake criticises the Church (failure to provide for the poor), and the corruption of society by greed. Very specific to London
Iambic tetrameter and the ABAB rhyme scheme creates a sense of order and control and the consistency of the rhythm builds this sense of relentless oppression
Emigrée evidence 1
“a country”
“sick with tyrants”
“banned by the state”
Emigrée analysis 1
“sick with tyrants” -> personification of the country as a vulnerable, diseased being. Presents this leadership as damaging and harmful.
“banned” -> sense of censorship and an abusive, controlling regime on literature, speech and thought.
Although we understand this to be specific, personal experience for the speaker (through her use of the personal pronoun “I” and the article ‘the’ for ‘the city’) Rumens intentionally does not name the country. By doing this, she implies this experience is more widespread, as there are other people and other countries that are affected by the same issue as her.
London evidence 2
Acrostic of HEAR in 3rd stanza
“infant’s cry of fear”
Cyclical structure
London analysis 2
Distressing imagery suffering, including “infant’s cry of fear” evokes upset and anger in the listener. Blake uses pathos in order to convince the reader to recognise the corruption within society and to encourage them to rebel. The acrostic of HEAR in the 3rd stanza , and the auditory imagery of suffering throughout the poem (“cry”, “sigh”) has a similar effect, as perhaps Blake wants the reader to start listening to the signs of suffering. Blake also uses a cyclical structure, with the first and last stanza focusing on the impact on people. This could suggest the suffering is never-ending, and is asking the reader to break the cycle by rebelling against society. Blake uses his poem to call for an end of corruption, and in doing so, reflects the power of literature.
Emigrée evidence 2
“Sunlight”, “bright”, “glow”
“branded by an impression of sunlight”
Emigrée analysis 2
Semantic field of light -> contrasts with the negative description of conflict. The positive description is clearly her own imagination and memories (not reality) - metaphor “my original view, the bright filled paperweight”. The word ‘paperweight’ creates an image of memories encased in glass, keeping them embedded within her, permanent. Her view is ‘bright’ - she chooses to believe the best -> this may be unrealistic, or it could be optimistic. The speaker says the city is ‘sick’, could be suggesting there is hope for recovery. “branded” -> her hopeful view of the city is permanent, implying no authority has the power to take that away. Poet presents the idea that her memories, imagination and hope can resist the tyrannical leadership, perhaps encouraging the reader to remain hopeful?
Last line - “and my shadow falls as evidence of sunlight” - although it seems negative (she falls, as if destroyed?) it could be interpreted to be the opposite, that her fight is the legacy of the wonderful city before
