London

Question 1

Quote 1 “ Marks of weakness, marks of woe”

Answer 1

iambic tetrameter and repetition gives a sense of oppression that is inescapable
caesura shows the gap between the people and government and the quatrains and ABAB rhyme scheme also reflect tight control
“marks” is a harsh noun as they are permanently branded by poverty which links to the theme of conditions of the poor which Blake experienced first hand
“weakness…woe” negative alliterative nouns

Question 2

Quote 2 “Every black’ning church appalls”

Answer 2

“black’ning” colour imagery has connotations of pollution caused by the industrial revolution yet also implies evil which is biblical allusion
shows how people suffered due to societal powers and links to Blake’s criticisms of the church (although he was Christian) as he uses acrostic in the stanza
dramatic monologue in first person - conversational and accessible and seems personal
semantic field of suffering

Question 3

Quote 3 “plagues the marriage hearse”

Answer 3

“plagues” climax of misery as all good is cancelled out by evil
presents Blake as a non-conformist who was critical of the government - links to French Revolution and how he wanted the English monarchy to fall, like the French monarchy (Louis XVI executed)
oxymoron as every new marriage is doomed to suffer
cyclical structure implies never-ending oppression