London Flashcards
Who wrote London?
William Blake
When was William Blake born?
1757
Where did Blake live for most of his life?
London
Why could it be argue that Blake is the eye in the poem?
He lived in London for most of his life
Despite being Christian, what did Blake dislike?
Organised religion
What did Blake dislike strongly about power?
The misuse of power
When was London published?
1794
What cluster of poetry does London come from?
Songs of experience
What does songs of experience focus on?
-A critique of human power, exposing the distance between those in power and those suffering
What was the main cause of the increase in population in London?
The Industrial Revolution
What did Blake dislike that came about in 1760?
The industrial revolution
What was being ruined by the Industrial Revolution?
Nature
What were some of the horrific features of the Industrial Revolution?
- Child labour
- London becoming smoke ridden
What is the rhyme scheme?
ABAB
What structure are the paragraphs written in?
Quatrains
What does the rhyme scheme and the quatrains create the image of?
A repetitive, cyclical structure
Why is the poem a cyclical structure?
The topic focused on in the start is the same as the topic focused on at the end.
What does the cyclical structure suggest?
Suffering is relentless and inescapable-just as you reach the end you are right back where you start, reflecting the suffering of those in London
Despite the controlled, repetitive structure, what does the enjambment suggest?
The inner chaos during Victorian Britain was hidden.
What does the adjective “charter’d” mean?
A document issued by government officials stating who owned what.
What does the “charter’d Thames” suggest?
Those in power have gone so far to try and control something as uncontrollable as a river, suggesting the heavy misuse of power.
What does the repetition of “in every” suggest?
That the suffering is cumulative.
What does the “mind-forged manacles” mean?
The manacles are kid of like handcuffs. This suggests that those in power are trying to cuff their minds, suggesting that they are attempting to control those inferior to them.
What does “every black’ning church” suggest literally?
The churches are becoming black as a result of the smoke from the industrial revolution.
What does “every black’ning church” suggest metaphorically?
-A criticism through color imagery. “Black” can be interpreted as evil, suggesting that the church is enforcing pain on those suffering.
What happened during the French revolution?
Those in the working class over through those in power
What does “runs in blood down palace walls” suggest?
The monarchy are not doing their job.
What does the noun “walls” suggest?
Those in power are protected
