London Flashcards
Who was London written by?
William Blake
When was London written?
1789
What are some context points about William Blake?
- English poet, painter and printmaker
- Respected the Bible but disliked organised religion such as the Church of England, was an English Dissenter
- Born, grew up and spent most of time in London
- Romantic poet who appreciated nature and freedom
- Supported the French Revolution
- Wrote London in the industrial revolution
- Industrial revolution had factories which created pollution and had dangerous, poorly-paid jobs
- Class divisions grew in the industrial revolution
What is significant about the title of London?
Establishes poem’s topic. Declarative and unadorned suggesting the poem will depict London as it is
“charter’d street…
…Near where the charter’d Thames does flow”
“marks…
…weakness, marks of woe.”
How many times is “every” repeated in London?
6
“every cry…
…of every Man”
“every Infant’s…
…cry of fear”
“mind-forg’d…
…manacles”
“black’ning…
…Church appals”
“Runs in…
…blood down Palace walls”
“midnight…
…streets”
“youthful…
…Harlot’s curse”
“Blasts…
…the new born Infant’s tear”
“blights with…
…plagues the Marriage hearse”
What is the significance of the structure of London?
Regular structure and strong ABAB rhyme scheme mirrors the restrictiveness of the control the wealthy have in London
What is London’s poetic form?
Dramatic monologue that can only observe, mirrors powerlessness of people of London
What is London about?
Blake writes London to criticise the control the wealthy have over the people of London and the negative effect it has had. He condemns the industrial revolution and lambasts the monarchy
