First PAragraph

Question 1

First sentence

Answer 1

Anger about social injustice

• presented through naturally suppressing atmosphere
• underlying themes of corruption, industrialisation and capitalism brought upon London in the 1790s

Question 2

What does the first line in the poem illustrate?

Answer 2

The lack of freedom and individuality mankind suffers in the streets of London

Question 3

Use of word charter’d (first meaning) - what does it introduce?

Answer 3

Imagery of mankind in bondage

Question 4

What does charterd at first glance illustrate?

Answer 4

• chaotic streets as organised and without out confusion
• sense of organisation associated with word
• dates back to the chartist movement of the nineteenth century which was dominated by its people’s charter and structured revolutionary tactics

Question 5

What does Charter also mean?

Answer 5

Hired out or leased

• city is at mercy to the merchants
• even streets and river Thames being controlled for profit

Question 6

What does it mean that Charters are exclusive

Answer 6

When one man is given rights it is almost certain the consequence of another’s are removed - highlighting further theme of social injustice
- while a group or person benefits, another will pay the consequence

Question 7

City is claiming to its own people

Answer 7

Unjust nature of capitalism in its infancy with money being taken from the majority (wc) and transferred to the minority (aristocracy) through taxation

Question 8

What does the open line essentially encompass?

Answer 8

Karl Marx’s perspective on society; that it mirrors its economic base; if we are surrounded by a corrupted economical system the worker will become alienated and the aspect of equality throughout humanity will be evaporated

Question 9

What does the structure of the first stanza compliment?

Answer 9

Undercurrents of depression and unrest

• words ‘wander’ ‘charter’d’ and ‘mark’ all contribute to a somber atmosphere
• long drawn out ‘a’ sound conjures a sense of lethargy which prompts the reader to imagine mans ‘cry’ of despair

Question 10

Repetition of ‘mark’

Answer 10

People constantly branded with visible signs of misery and ‘wow’

Question 11

Blake reinforced the effects of being

Answer 11

Dragged into an imprisoned world, where nothing reveals from the faces he meets but weakness and woe