London

Question 1

Who was William blake and what were his political views?

Answer 1

William Blake was an english poet, painter and printmaker. He questioned heirarchies and religion and was an admirer of the French Revolution.

Question 2

Analyse lines 1 and 2:
‘I wander through each chartered street,
Near where the chartered Thames does flow,’

Answer 2

• opens with a first person narrator, speaking directly to the reader, this removes any seperation between the reader and narrator. This makes the images of suffering later in the poem feel more tangible for the reader.
• the dynamic verb “wander” sounds aimless and reflects the stagnant nature of london and the lack of power to change.
• the repetition of the word “chartered” implies the obsesive need for control of the government

Question 3

Analyse lines 3 and 4:
‘And mark in every face I meet
Marks of weakness, marks of woe.’

Answer 3

• repetition of “mark” emphisises how widespread general feelings of bleakness are in London.
• “weakness” and “woe” create a semantic field of suffering. The alliteration of the “w” also connotates with a wailing sound.

Question 4

Analyse lines 5 to 8
‘In every cry of every man,
In every infant’s cry of fear,
In every voice, in every ban,
The mind-forged manacles I hear:’

Answer 4

• anaphora and repetition of “in every” shows how widespread suffering is, from “men” to “infants”
• the phrase “mind-forged manacles” comment on how the government has normalised suffering and so the lower class can’t even realise how oppressed they are

Question 5

Analyse lines 9 and 10
“How the chimney-sweeper’s cry
Every black’ning church appalls,”

Answer 5

• chimney-sweepers are the epitomy of child labour and so are a strong symbol of oppression
• “black’ning” suggests how the church is slowly degrading and corrupt, perverting is purpous of helping people.

Question 6

Analyse lines 11 and 12:
“And the hapless soldier’s sigh
Runs in blood down palace walls.”

Answer 6

• “hapless soldier” - dispire being a tool of the oppressive heirarchy they are still people who have been forced into this position.
• “blood down palace walls” - Whose blood? Could be either people being masacured outside or monarchy being killed inside. An intentionally ambiguous way for Blake to imply revolution without incriminating himself.

Question 7

Analyse lines 13 to 15:
‘But most through midnight streets I hear
How the youthful harlot’s curse
Blasts the new-born infant’s tear,’

Answer 7

• “youthful harlot’s curse” innocence of juxdeposed by prostitution

Question 8

Analyse line 16:
‘And blights with plagues the marriage hearse.’

Answer 8

• “Plagues” - Biblical imagry, semantic field of disease and decay.
• “marriage hearse” oxymoron, marriage is meant to lead to new birth but a hearse gives a negative image. A life of death.

Question 9

What is the form and structure of London?

Answer 9

• 4 quatrains, creates a visually organised and clean image. A reflection of london’s clean exterior.
• controlled and simple structure of stanzas reflects the governments controll and a lack of individuality
• semi dramatic monologue
• ABAB rhymescheme, reflects the controll of the government. Can also suggest the sound of footsteps as the narrator ‘wanders’
• acrostic message hidden in stanza 2 spelling ‘HEAR’ - an imperative command to the upper class who ignore the suffering of the lower class

Question 10

What are the attidudes and feelings in London

Answer 10

• a sence of agression, anger and helplessness
• Oppression, people are systematically adn ruthelessly oppressed
• helplessness, a sence of immense sadness that nothing will ever change

Question 11

What poems can you compare to London

Answer 11

Themes of Power and controll:
- Ozymandias
- My Last Duchess
- Check out me History

Anger:
- War photographer
- Remains

Place:
- The Prelude
- The Emigree
- Storm on the Island