London

Question 1

Form

Answer 1

“London” has a controlled, repetitive structure that consists of four quatrains. This could be used to suggest that the suffering within the city itself is ruthless and never ending, which is further reinforced by the poem’s repetitive ‘ABAB’ rhyme scheme. The poem has a cyclical structure, which infers that the city is is a cycle of suffering that Blake is looking to break.

Question 2

Structure

Answer 2

First two stanzas focus on the consequences of the people- major pathos (1st shows sights, 2nd shows sounds)

Stanza 3 discusses the institutions responsible, this juxtaposition increases the sense of blame. Visual and aural.

Stanza 4 back to people, exacerbating blame as we are forcefully reminded of the horrible situation. Visual and aural.

Repetition of ‘every’ highlights universality of pain, and how every aspect of life is hopeless
Repetition of ‘charter’d’ shows repression
Repetition of ‘marks’ how every experiences not just one sorrow, and that every aspect of their life involves suffering. general repetition shows Blake’s demand for change- trying to push past the repression to bring reform

Question 3

Language

Answer 3

Bleak semantic field -> links to the French Revolution

Question 4

Mood

Answer 4

Bleak but also angry tone

Question 5

wander

Answer 5

Sense of purposlessness and powerlessness

Question 6

Charter’d street

Chart’d Thames

Answer 6

Confinement, symbol of repression
Also shows how everywhere is affected

Even nature (something as powerful as the river) is being repressed

Question 7

Mark

Answer 7

Means notice

Could suggest that people have been physically altered by the suffering

Question 8

Every, cry

Answer 8

Repetition

Shows ubiquitous and unanimous nature of suffering

Aural imagery disturbs the reader

Question 9

Mind-forg’d manacles

Answer 9

Brainwashing
Repression
Trapped physically and mentally
Unable to help themselves

Question 10

Every black’ning Church appalls

Answer 10

Literally the industrial revolution-> context, yay!

Symbolically judgmental religious allusion- not focusing on true Light - Romanticism
Church becoming corrupt, tarnished by callousness. Grim imagery on a place of hope- juxtapostition

Colour imagery

Question 11

the hapless Soldier’s sigh Runs in blood down the palace walls

Answer 11

Signifies rebellion and the addressing of the imbalance of power
Juxtaposition, emotive language
Also French Revolution
Blood -> giving life for what? Insignificance
Those is palace are protected while ppl die for them -> equality, context

Question 12

‘Midnight streets’

Answer 12

Without colour insinuates perpetual darkness

Question 13

the youthful Harlot’s curse Blasts

Answer 13

Powerful verbs

Sense of pathos for the immediately juxtaposition between the pure connotation of youth, and sordid ones of prostitution

Question 15

Blights with plagues

Answer 15

Sick and diseased imagery

Contagious?

Question 16

Marriage hearse

Answer 16

Oxymoron -> marriage and death. Nothing is truly alive, even love. Profoundly bleak final image

Question 17

Context

Answer 17

French Revolution

Part of the ‘songs of experience’ describe how innocence is lost, and how society has been corrupted. Paired with ‘songs of innocence’- positive poems which focus on childhood, nature and love

1794- English poet and artists who has quite radical social and political views of social and racial equality, questioning the church’s teachings

‘Chimney-sweepers’ ; young boys- emotive and distressing image of child labour

Question 18

new born Infant’s tears

Answer 18

Innocence is lost immediately
Distressing image
Survival?