London Flashcards
1
Q
“I wander thro each charter’d streets”
A
- ‘wander’ connotations of freedom heavily juxtaposed by ‘charter’d’ – referring physical barrier ‘thames’
- Figuratively, alludes to mental; barriers imposed upon people by rich
- Blake is romantic, yet criticises ‘thames’ suggest vast extent of corruption
2
Q
“Marks in every face I meet”
A
- ‘Marks’ something that is permanently imprinted, conveying deep misery of poor – alludes to vulnerability and fragility of desperate peple he encounters
3
Q
“In every infants cry of fear”
A
- Auditory imagery creates realism, emphasising truth
- Use of metonymy throughout, not one but every child suffering
- Infants are victims upon their birth
- Emphasis of widespread nature of struggle through anaphora ‘every’
4
Q
“Mind- forg’d manacles”
A
- Mentally restrained by gov, pitifull in trapped society
- Maybe Blake suggests prison of their mind, as refusal to question authority
5
Q
“Blackening church”
A
- Offers damning description of corrupt institutions of power
- ‘blackening’ alludes to immorality as they neglect poor, ironic church usually associated with virtue
6
Q
“Youthful harlot…Blights with plague”
A
- Juxtaposition marriage and death: allude to spread of syphilis, result of male promiscuity via ‘harlots’ – reinstating state of moral perversity 1817 London
- Youth, sense of innocence and vulnerability, reference to children – reveals disdain towards child exploitation (current day as well)
