London Flashcards
What narrative perspective is used in the poem?
First-person narrator personalises the poem and makes it seem more real.
What does the phrase ‘mark in every face I meet’ suggest?
It means ‘notice’, but also suggests everyone he sees is marked by experience.
What does repetition in the poem emphasise?
Repetition emphasises the feeling of bleakness — despair affects everyone and there’s no relief from it.
What do ‘mind-forged manacles’ refer to?
People are trapped in every way, even by thoughts and attitudes.
What might the reference to the French Revolution imply?
It suggests that ordinary people suffer while those in the palace are protected behind walls.
What contrast is presented in the poem?
Contrast between the innocence of youth and the sordidness of prostitution.
What does the phrase ‘blights the marriage hearse’ suggest?
It links the happy image of marriage with death, suggesting that everything has been destroyed.
What is implied by the imagery of the ‘black’ning church’?
It suggests that the church is corrupt or tarnished by its failure to look after people.
What does the speaker hear that contributes to the poem’s tone?
The speaker hears various distressing noises, making this seem like a vivid, hellish experience.
What does the term ‘chimney sweeps’ evoke?
Chimney sweeps were usually young boys — this is an emotive image of child labour.
What does the language of illness and disease imply?
Destruction is implied by ‘blights’, and ‘plagues’ hints at something uncontrollable and destined to affect many people.
How does the poem depict the River Thames?
Even powerful, natural features like the River Thames are under human control and affected by the city’s problems.
