London Flashcards
Who wrote London
William Blake
Quotations that are criticising positions of power
“Every blackening church appals” - symbol of soot symbolising the chimney sweepers are being used and are suffering for a holy building but “blackening” also has connotations of immorality and evil - criticism of organised religion, and the churches failure to provide for the disadvantaged members of society. “Appalls” connotes to horror and reflects the lack of action of the church, who should offer support and help to the poor.
“ the hapless soldiers sigh, runs in blood down Palace walls” This is to show that the unhappiness of the British soldier could lead to a similar uprising to the French revolution if its causes are ignored. “Palace” suggests the monarchy is to blame.
“ Marriage hearse” how can happy image of marriage be associated with death. This oxymoron is used to suggest that the old London is destined to be destroyed as the abuse of power has led to widespread suffering and despair. 
Quotations to show the inescapable suffering of the citizens of London
“ I wander through each chartered street, near where the chartered Thames does flow” repetition of chartered refers to the forcing of human power onto something natural. Therefore, the repetition is used to highlight the inescapable fate of those in the city.
“ marks of weakness, marks of woe” reflects the weakness of those who are suffering. Most of the poem is in iambic tetrameter which is done to highlight the inescapable fate of the city, but this quotation is not in this form to really emphasise how much suffering there is.
How is structure used in the poem to present the ideas of William Blake?
Repetitive structure, and repetitive rhyme scheme reflects the relentless repetitive and overwhelming suffering in the city. The cyclical, repetitive structure (as it starts and ends on focusing on those who are suffering) highlights the inescapable fate of the city
Mainly iambic, tetrameter used once again, reflect the inescapable fate of the city of the suffering, apart from one line which breaks away from this repetitive structure
