London Flashcards
What does the quote “I wander thro each charter’d street, Near where the charter’d Thames does flow,” show
-The speaker wanders aimlessly through London’s streets, suggesting a feeling of melancholy and a lack of purpose
-“Charter’d” implies order imposed on nature and society
What does the quote “And mark in every face I meet Marks of weakness, marks of woe.” Show
The speaker observes misery and despair on every person’s face, emphasised by the use of alliteration, suggesting the widespread, permanent impact of London’s problems.
What does the quote “In every cry of every man, In every infant’s cry of fear,” show
The use of repetition suggests the suffering is universal, affecting even innocent infants, eliciting readers’ sympathy — as if all are destined for misery.
What does the quote “The mind-forg’d manacles I hear:” show
Blake suggests that people are socially and emotionally shackled by the metaphor of “mind-forg’d manacles”, representing their repression and imprisonment.
What does the quote “How the chimney-sweeper’s cry Every black’ning church appalls,” show
The church, meant to care for the poor such as chimney sweeps, is instead appalled by their presence, exposing its hypocrisy and tarnished reputation.
What does the quote “And the hapless soldier’s sigh Runs in blood down palace walls.” Show
Blake offers a social and political critique of wars waged by the monarchy and elite and the effect of this violence, with the emotive description of “runs in blood” conveying the impact on innocent people.
What does the quote “How the youthful harlot’s curse Blasts the new-born infant’s tear,” show
Blake’s description of a young prostitute cursing her newborn offers a stark contrast between innocence and brutality, and implies the moral decay of society.
What does the quote “And blights with plagues the marriage hearse.” Show
The oxymoron of “Marriage hearse” and the diction associated with disease (“blights” and “plague”) suggests the destruction of marriage, a pillar of society.
What does the quote “midnight streets” show
Blake’s reference to prostitution highlights the social issues and moral corruption present in London at the time that the poem was written.
What is the form of the poem
Dramatic monologue
What is the structure of the Poem
-The narrative presents relentless images of downtrodden, deprived people.
-The first two stanzas focus on people he sees and hears, before the focus shifts in stanza three to institutions he holds responsible
-The final stanza returns to look at people, showing how even newborn babies are affected
What is the rhetoric in the poem
-The narrator used rhetorical language to persuade you of his point of view
-he uses powerful,emotive words to reinforce the horror of the situation
-Repetition is used to emphasise the number of people affected and to show how society needs to change
