London Flashcards
Poet?
William Blake
About?
The narrator goes on a walk around London. Everywhere he goes, the people are affected by misery and despair. It is the fault of people in power; the church, landlords, monarchy. Not even the young and innocent can escape it.
Context?
London is one of his ‘songs of experience’, they focus on the loss of innocence and the corruption of power in society.
Q - Repetition of …
Every
shows that despair is inescapable and there is no relief from it.
&
Marks
shows that despair is leaving scars in the city
Q - The whole city is affected
‘each charter’d street’
Q - First line, purposeless, powerless
‘I wander thro’’
Q - Emotive language, child labour
‘the chimney-sweeper’s cry’
Q - Blaming those in power
‘black’ning church’
‘‘Runs in blood down down Palace walls’
Form:
- Dramatic monologue
- ABAB unbroken rhyme scheme echoes the relentless misery of the city
- Regular rhythm
Structure:
- Relentless images of deprived people
First two stanzas focus on people suffering
Third stanza is who is responsible
Final stanza is returning to people
Q - Last line, oxymoron
‘Marriage hearse’
Oxymoron links marriage to death which suggests even the happiest days have been destroyed by despair
