London Flashcards
intro
In the poem London, Blake describes a walk around London. Everywhere he goes he sees people who are infected with the disease of misery and despair. This despair is relentless and perpetual affecting generations after generation but most saliently he criticises the monarchy and church as they are the root cause of the problems.
what are the moods expressed in London
a bleak mood encompassing anger and helplessness is expressed
how does Blake create a bleak mood?
repetition emphasises that this despair affects everyone and there is no relief from it
“And mark in every face i meet / Marks of weakness, marks of woe.”
Blake present anger
”"”How the chimney-sweeper’s cry””
““And the hapless soldier’s sigh”””
Blake present hopelessness
“In every cry of every man, / In every infant’s cry of fear … The mind-forged manacles I hear.”
corruption of the church and state
”"”Every black’ning church appals,””
““Runs in blood down in palace walls.”””
vicious cycle of pain that perpetuate itself
“youthful harlot’s curse / Blast the new-born infant’s tear,”
ideas presented in London
vicious cycle of pain that perpetuate itself
corruption of the church and state
Techniques used in London
repetition - monotony
four quatrains in iambic tetrameter
repetition used in London
“each chartered street, / Near where the charted Thames does flow,”
four quatrains in iambic tetrameter
simple rhyme - predictable - humanity repeat it’s problems
like four walls of a prison - man’s power to destroy each other
