London

Question 1

Who wrote London?

Answer 1

William Blake

Question 2

What does the use of “I” show?

Answer 2

The use of a first person narrator personalises the poem and makes it seem more real

Question 3

What verb seems purposeless and could reflect how he feels powerless to change what’s happening?

Answer 3

“Wander”

Question 4

What phrase suggests the whole city is affected and not just one area?

Answer 4

“Each chartered street”

Question 5

Which phrase shows that natural features like the River Thames are under human control?

Answer 5

“Chartered Thames”

Question 6

What does the repetition of “marks” and “every” show?

Answer 6

It emphasises the feeling of bleakness as despair affects everyone and there’s no relief from it

Question 7

What quotations shows that the speaker heard distressing noises which makes it seem like a vivid, hellish experience?

Answer 7

“infant’s cry of fear” “i hear”

Question 8

What quotation implies that people are trapped in every way, even by thoughts and attitudes?

Answer 8

“The mind-forged manacles”

Question 9

What does “chimney-sweeper’s cry” suggest?

Answer 9

Chimney sweeps were usually young boys - this is an emotive image of child labour

Question 10

What does the quotation “black’ning church” suggest?

Answer 10

He seems to be angry at all forms of power, describing the church as “black’ning” suggests that it is corrupt or that it is tarnished by its failure to look after people. It’s also a grim visual image of the ugliness caused by the industrial revolution.

Question 11

What quotation may be a reference to the French revolution - suggesting it sounds like he thinks ordinary people suffer while those in the palace are protected behind walls?

Answer 11

“Runs in blood down palace walls”

Question 12

What does the quotation “youthful harlot’s curse” show?

Answer 12

A contrast between innocence of youth and sordidness of prostitution

Question 13

What does “curse” suggest?

Answer 13

He hears the prostitutes swearing, but he might also mean that they’re a curse on London

Question 14

What quotation emphasises that the innocence of newborn babies is lost immediately as society damages its members?

Answer 14

“Blasts the new-born infant’s tear”

Question 15

What does “blights with plagues” hint at?

Answer 15

The Powerful language of illness and disease suggest Destruction is implied by “blights”. And “plagues” hints at somethings that’s uncontrollable and destined to affect lots of people.

Question 16

What quotation is an oxymoron that links the happy image of marriage with death and that suggests that everything has been destroyed.

Answer 16

“marriage hearse”

Question 17

What is the context of the poem?

Answer 17

Blake wrote two volumes of poetry which explored the state of the human soul. The “songs of innocence” are positive poems which focus on childhood, nature and love. “Songs of experience” look at how that experience is lost and how society has been corrupted.

Question 18

What is the form of the poem?

Answer 18

It is a dramatic monologue. The first person narrator speaks passionately and personally about the suffering he sees. The ABAB rhyme scheme is unbroken and seems to echo the relentlessness misery of the city

Question 19

What is the structure of the poem?

Answer 19

The first two stanzas focus on people he sees and hears, before the focus shifts in stanza three to the institutions he holds responsible. The final stems returns to looking at people, showing how even newborn babies are affected.

Question 20

What is the language of the poem?

Answer 20

The narrator uses rhetorical language to persuade you of his point of view. He uses emotive words and images to reinforce the horror of the situation. Repetition is used to emphasise the number of people affected and to show how society needs to change

Question 21

What are the mood/tone of the poem?

Answer 21

Anger and hopelessness