London Flashcards
Who is the author of the poem ‘London’?
William Blake
What is the primary theme of Blake’s ‘London’?
The critique of social injustice and the suffering of the urban poor.
True or False: ‘London’ is a part of Blake’s collection titled ‘Songs of Experience’.
True
Fill in the blank: The poem ‘London’ describes the __________ of the city.
darkness and despair
What imagery does Blake use to convey the state of children in ‘London’?
He uses imagery of ‘chimney-sweepers’ and ‘child labor’.
In which year was ‘London’ published?
1794
What is the structure of the poem ‘London’?
It consists of four quatrains with an ABAB rhyme scheme.
Multiple Choice: Which of the following is a symbol in ‘London’? A) The River Thames B) The Sun C) A Garden
A) The River Thames
What does Blake mean by ‘mind-forged manacles’?
It refers to the mental constraints and societal limitations imposed on individuals.
True or False: The speaker in ‘London’ expresses a sense of hope for the future.
False
What does Blake criticize about the Church in ‘London’?
He criticizes its indifference to the suffering of the poor.
Short Answer: How does Blake portray the impact of industrialization in ‘London’?
He portrays it as contributing to the degradation and oppression of the city’s inhabitants.
Fill in the blank: The phrase ‘chartered streets’ suggests that the streets of London are __________.
controlled and owned
What emotional tone does Blake adopt in ‘London’?
A tone of despair and lamentation.
Multiple Choice: Which societal issue is NOT addressed in ‘London’? A) Child labor B) War C) Poverty
B) War
“ I wonder through each charted street”
What are the 2 structural points of this quote
And analysis
Structure: This is a first person narrative and regular quatrains
Blake casts himself as a witness, guiding us stanza by stanza through the city. The four quatrains (ABAB rhyme scheme) give a controlled, almost monotonous framework- ironically mirroring how the “charted” streets are regimented and owned.
“Marks of weakness, marks of woe.”
What are the 2 structural points of this quote
And analysis
Structure: Caesura and repetition
The comma between the repeated “marks” forces a break pause, isolating each suffering individual. repetition underlines the ubiquity of misery, as though each face in London wears the same branded sorrow.
“And in every cry of every Man,/ In every Infants cry of fear,”
What are the 2 structural points of this quote
And analysis
Structure: Anaphora and enjambment
The repeated opening “in every..” (anaphora) amplifies the relentlessness of suffering across all ages. The enjambment across the stanza break sweeps the reader forward - much like the continual flow of cries through the streets.
“The mind-forged manacles I hear:”
What are the 2 structural points of this quote
And analysis
Structure: Metaphor embedded in auditory imagery
Structurally, this line closes stanza 3 with a colon- holding the reader in suspense before the final stanzas revelations. The metaphor of self-imposed chains encapsulates physiological as well as physical oppression , turning an internal horror into something “heard” in the city’s soundscape.
“Runs in blood down Palace walls.”
What are the 2 structural points of this quote
And analysis
Structure: Volta and darker tone in the final stanza
The poems turn arrives in stanza 4, shifting focus from individual suffering to systemic guilt. The stark image of royal walls stained with “blood” breaks the earlier ABAB softness with a harsh, irregular stress pattern- suggesting that the ruling classes themselves are comp,icit in the violence.
