Blake: Songs of Experience: London Flashcards
Plot summary:
What is the plot summary?
In the poem the speaker observes the suffering of the poor in the streets of the city, including chimney sweeps and soldiers.
He criticises the Church and the monarchy for contributing to this misery by maintaining power structures that exploit the vulnerable.
The poem portrays a corrupt, morally decayed society, where even children suffer from the effects of this oppression.
Key Quotes:
What are the key quotes? (THERE ARE 2)
‘Till it bore an apple bright’ - He manipulates positive imagery to present the apple as something good even though it was produced out of anger showing how it is a symbol of deceit and anger. Although anger may feel like a good decision in the moment it always leads to harm.
‘My foe outstretched beneath the tree’ - causes the reader to think about the consequences of anger as they it shows what it did to the speaker’s enemy. Sin has turned them into villain - Speaker becomes satanic/sadistic/immoral - there is no sense of remorse.
Form/Structure:
What is the form and structure?
The poem is written with an ABAB rhyme scheme and iambic tetrameter.
The regular, controlled form reflects the relentless, oppressive nature of the suffering in the city showing Blake’s critique of societal institutions like the Church and monarchy.
Key Themes:
What are the key themes e.g. social injustice and poverty
Blake critiques the stark contrast between the rich and poor in London, highlighting the suffering of the working class, particularly the poor children (e.g. chimney sweeps) who are exploited.
Key Themes:
What are the key themes e.g. loss of innocence
The suffering of the poor, especially children, symbolises the loss of innocence in a society corrupted by greed and power.
Context:
What is the context for this poem?
Blake was writing during the Industrial Revolution.
It critiques the suffering of the poor in the city, highlighting the exploitation caused by social and political institutions, particularly the Church and monarchy.
Blake uses the poem to condemn the moral and social corruption of his time, reflecting his radical views on inequality and injustice.
Other poems it could link to:
What other poems could this link to?
“The Chimney Sweeper” (SOE): Both poems focus on the exploitation of children and the poor.
“Holy Thursday” (SOI): Both critique the hypocrisy of institutions like the Church, which parade the suffering poor without addressing its causes.
“The Human Abstract” (SOE): Both poems examine how society’s artificial virtues, like mercy, can justify exploitation.
