London Flashcards
Who wrote in poem London?
William Blake
Why does the poem have a repetitive structure?
Repetitive stanza structure and rhyme scheme reflects the relentless, repetitive and overwhelming suffering in the city.
Why are words such as “chartered”, “Mark” and “every” repeated?
The repetition of these words reflects how life of suffering is inescapable; there is no relief from it because of choices made by people in power.
What is important about the text structure?
Stanza one and two focuses on the suffering of people.
stanza three explores the causes of the suffering: the church, industrialisation, land owners and the monarchy.
The final stanza returns to focus on those who are suffering. The poet implements a cyclical structure which again highlights inescapable fate of those in the city.
What meter does Blake employ?
Most of the poem is written in iambic tetrameter the repetition of the meter is another example of suffering of the poor in London. However not every line in written in this meter. Some lines contain seven syllables like line four.
“Marks of weakness, marks of woe”
Blake weaknes the line here to reflect the weakness of those who are suffering.
Which quotes show the suffering of the people of London?
“marks of weakness, marks of woe”, “cry of every man”, “cry of fear”, “mind-forged manacles”, “chimney-sweeper’s cry”, “hapless soldier’s sigh”, “newborn infant’s tear”, “blights with plagues” . There is an overwhelming long list of negative language, showing the suffering of the people.
What is the importance of the word “chartered”?
The first reference to “chartered streets” could be referring to the fact the properties around the speaker were taking into private ownership.
The second repetition for the word is more ironic “chartered Thames does flow”. Here we see man forcing its power and control onto something which is natural: a river. Man seeks to charter, control and organise everything. So, thus one of the causes of suffering is the misuse of power by chartering, which sees the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
Why does Blake use the repetition of the word “Mark” in the following stanza?
“And Mark in every face I meet
Marks of weakness, marks of woe”
In the first example “marks in every face” means notice is every face. The second “marks of weakness, marks of woe” has a different meaning signs of weakness, signs of woe. Blake repeats the word “Mark” to highlight the inescapable suffering of those in the poem. The changing meaning of the word “Mark” could also reflect the frustration of the poet at changing nature of London.
What is the literal and metaphorical meaning of the quote
“the chimney-sweeper’s cry Every
black’ning church appeals”?
The literal meaning is that the church building is “black’ning” with smoke from the chimneys of the industrial revolution. The poet could also be criticising the revolution in reference to the chimney sweepers who were very young children. So the industrial revolution exploited children for labour.
On a metaphorical level the black’ning church can be seen as a criticism through colour imagery (black symbolises evil and therefore is turning bad) so the church should be helping the poor but isn’t. The church is being blackened by the shame of its failure to help the poor. So we can blame the suffering of the people on those in power in the church and the government.
The poor are suffering because of the abuse of power by the church, monarchy, government and the rich land owners.
What does the following quote mean
“ the hapless soldier’s sigh Runs in
blood down palace walls”?
“Blood running down the walls” suggests the British soldiers are unhappy and could lead to a similar uprising against the monarchy as the French Revolution if the suffering of the people is not addressed. The reference to the palace is that the monarchy is also to blame for the suffering.
Explain the oxymoron “the marriage hearse”?
This negative image suggests that what is good in London is destined to be destroyed. A powerful ending to criticise those in power. The misuse of power by the church, government, monarchy and rich land owners will lead to widespread suffering and despair.
