London Flashcards
London quotes
“Chartered streets” - owned/controlled by wealthy
“Mark of weakness, marks of woe” - repetition of “marks” express the permanent impacts of authority that cannot be removed. Breaks from iambic pentameter - shows people can rise up against institutions to free themselves from restraint
“Every infant’s cry of fear” - babies are supposed to be innocent. Evokes sympathy, youth are destined for misery
“mind-forged manacles” - alliteration, mental handcuffs restricting citizens
Context of London
- William Blake: English poet, lived in London most of his life & saw it as corrupted by greed & inqeuality largely due to political issues
- At the time, government gave wealthy exclusive rights to land & resources previously owned in common
About the same time as French revolution, hated political capitalist Biritsh system - many thriving on the suffering of the poor
Form of London
Dramatic monologue - poem has a first-person speaker adressing his own personal experiences almost in conversational tone (emphasising how his words feel accessible to all members of society)
Quatrain (4 line stanza) - compact, restricting, much like society in London at time, obeying rules - population brought up to accept their position in society
Structure of London
Cyclical structure - 1st/2nd stanzas focus on the impact on people, 3rd explores source of suffering & 4th goes back to the impact: this emphasises that the suffering is endless. Implies that they will keep suffering until they break the cycle & rebel (like French did during revolution)
Imabic Tetrameter - order & control: consistency of rhythm provides sense of relentless oppression
ABAB rhyme scheme and consistent stanza lengths. Uses quatrains: the fixed structure creates a sense of control. Sometimes the lines break this flow, representing the small opportunities to break free from oppression. Also shows Blake’s frustration that the public wont stand up to the institutions of power
