london

Question 1

who wrote London

Answer 1

William Blake

Question 2

what is London about

Answer 2

the narrator is describing a walk around the city, he says everyone around him is affected by misery and despair which seems relentless which no one can escape not even the young and innocent. He says people (church, monarchy or wealthy landowners) seem behind the problems and do nothing to help the people in need.

Question 3

form

Answer 3

dramatic monologue - first person narrator

Question 4

structure

Answer 4

first 2 stanzas focus on people he sees and hears, before a shift for stanza 3 of the institutions he holds accountable. Finally, the final stanza returns to looking at people, showing how newborns are affected

Question 5

what are the 2 attitudes of the poem

Answer 5

anger : emotive language and depiction shows the narrators anger to the situation
hopelessness : people themselves are to blame - trapped by their own attitudes

Question 6

finish the quote + analysis: ‘wander through…

Answer 6

each chartered street’

• wander : purposeless - reflects how he feels powerless
• chartered street : whole city not just area

Question 7

finish the quote + analysis: ‘chartered…

Answer 7

Thames’

• even more powerful, natural features are under control and affected by the city’s problems

Question 8

what does repetition of ‘marks’ show

Answer 8

• marked by experience

Question 9

what does repetition of ‘every’ show

Answer 9

emphasises feelings of bleakness - despair effects everyone

Question 10

finish the quote + analysis: ‘mind…

Answer 10

forged manacles’

• people are trapped in their everyday ways, thoughts and attitudes

Question 11

finish the quote + analysis: ‘infants

Answer 11

cry of fear’

• speaker hears various distressing noises - hellish experience

Question 12

finish the quote + analysis: ‘chimney

Answer 12

sweepers cry’

• chimney sweepers are usually young boys, emotive language or child labour

Question 13

finish the quote + analysis: ‘black’ning…

Answer 13

church’

• angry at all forms of power - corrupt or tarnished by failure to look after people - grim visual of the industrial revolution

Question 14

finish the quote + analysis: ‘runs in blood..

Answer 14

down palace walls’

• reference to French Revolution - ordinary people suffer whole those in the palace are protecting behind walls

Question 15

finish the quote + analysis: ‘youthful harlots curse..

Answer 15

blasts the new-born infants tear’

• contrast between innocence of the youthful and sordidness of prostitution

Question 16

finish the quote + analysis: ‘blights..

Answer 16

with plagues’

• powerful language of illness and disease - something that is uncontrollable and destined to affect lots of people

Question 17

finish the quote + analysis: ‘marriage

Answer 17

hearse’

• oxymoron : looks the happy image of marriage with death - everything has been destroyed

Question 18

context

Answer 18

wrote 2 volumes of poetry which explored the state of the human soul - one was positive whereas London focuses on the negatives of society