London Flashcards
What context is related to this poem?
It was published as part of ‘songs of innocence and experience’. this poem is one of the songs reflecting the more negative aspects of life. Also Blake lived In London during the Victorian era, a time of great poverty and industrial change.
What is the tone like in London?
The tone of London is rather low. it is rather emotional to read because of the language Blake has used. you can see this where it says “in every infants cry of fear”. the fact he has used an innocent infant as an example of someone suffering makes it emotional. The fact that he says every infant suggests that everyone is like this.
what is the structure like in London?
Blake uses a lot of repetition which could imply the cycle of poverty and that there is now escape for the lower social classes. Blake begins the poem with exploring the streets of London. then he is observing all of the problems - “in every infants cry”. going on and is angry at institutions such as the church and the government for not doing anything to help the situation - “every black’ning church” the poem ends negatively with implications of death which is also suggesting that there are no happy endings for the poor - “blights with plagues”
what does the title show?
Blake probably chose this title because he observed what misery the poor people had to endure in the capital city of England even though the capital city is supposed to be the most stable and strongest city in England.
Give me a quote that shows Blake is walking through London streets:
“I wander thro’ each charter’d street”
This quote is showing that because Blake is writing in the 1st person it is signifying it is a first-hand account of problems in London. Also the fact that Blake uses the word charter’d suggests that everything in London is mapped out and owned by the government meaning they are responsible for the problem however, the people just feel as if they have been robbed of their rights.
give me a quote that shows that the people of London are trapped:
“the mind-forg’d manacles”
This quote is showing that the people are trapped emotionally in society and their social class and also how they are trapped within the cycle of poverty.
give me a quote that shows it is related to the monarch:
“runs in blood down palace walls”
this quote is showing how the soldiers are dying in pointless wars. Blake is blaming the monarchy for the deaths of these soldiers as the metaphor implies the monarchy is murdering these soldiers. the fact that he says it is running down the wall suggests the extremity of the event.
give me a quote about prostitutes:
“how the youthful harlots curse”
Harlots are prostitutes. By using the adjective useful Blake is observing how young women / girls in London have to go to desperate lengths to survive the word curse could imply that they are punished because they are born into poverty and they are Forever trapped.
Give a quote to show there are no happy endings:
” and blights with plagues the marriage hearse”
The word plague could suggest that there is no cure for the level of suffering and the pain is like an infestation that is attack in London also a hearse is a funeral carriage Blake ends London with this oxymoron to create a ominous tone he seems to be implying that there are no happy endings for the poor people and that being born into a lower social class equals pain and death.
Who wrote london?
William Blake
