In Depth London

Question 1

Content

Answer 1

In a microcosm

Narrator describes walk around London and how saddened by sights and sounds of poor

Poem addresses loss of innocence and determinism of inequality- new borns born into poverty

Poem uses rhetoric (makes persuasive) to convince reader that people in power (landowners,church,government) are to blame for this

Question 2

Language

Answer 2

Marks of weakness, marks of woe: sensory language creates immersive effect (visual) and cry of every man is aural

Mind forged manacles: trapped in poverty

Repetition in every and emotive infants cry of fear: rhetoric devices persuade

Each chartered street: criticises powerful
Every black’ning church appals: everything gowned by rich and church corrupt
The hapless soldiers sigh… runs down palace walls: soldier suffer and die due to decisions of those in power

But most youthful harlots curse… marriage hers

Question 3

Structure

Answer 3

Dramatic monologue: first person narrator who speaks passionately about what sees

Rhyme simple ABAB: reflects unrelenting misery of city and maybe feet as trudges through city

First two stanzas focus on people; third on institution he holds responsible; fourth return to people as central focus