London V1

Question 1

What does the 4 stanzas, 4 lines in each stanza, 4 feet in each line; mostly regular iambic tetrameter (4 beats); regular alternating rhyme (abab) show (London)

Answer 1

T- regular iambic tetrameter and 4 stanza structure. S- inescapable nature of the suffering. B- it shows order and control as the consistency of a rhythm provides a sense of relentless oppression.

Repetitive stanza structure and rhyme scheme , reflecting the relentless, repetitive, and overwhelming suffering in the city

Life of suffering is repetitive and inescapable

Question 2

What does the End-stopped stanzas convey

Answer 2

conveys the sense of confinement and oppression that pervades the city. This contributes to a feeling of constriction and suffocation, as if the people of London are trapped in their situation with no escape no hope for change or improvement, that the cycle of oppression will continue indefinitely.

Question 3

What does the Position of Blake/ narrator as just ‘wander[ing]’ – helpless to change anything convey

Answer 3

• The act of wandering implies a lack of direction or purpose. This can be seen as a reflection of the narrator’s feelings of hopelessness and the futility of seeking improvement in a city mired in systemic misery. The narrator’s aimlessness mirrors the desolation and the repetitive, inescapable nature of the suffering he witnesses.
• Wandering can also imply a transient experience. The narrator moves through the city without stopping, suggesting that the suffering observed is both widespread and unending, with each encounter being just a glimpse into the ongoing misery that characterizes London.

Question 4

Use of present tense

Answer 4

Shows that the life of suffering is ongoing, no escape

Question 5

What does the repetition of ‘chartered’ suggest

Answer 5

Refers to the fact that the properties around the speaker sre privately owned and its a criticism of that

Satirical attack of the obssession with property rights and as an extension of that human power and control. River is irony as it can’t be controlled

Rich getting richer and poor being more heavily controlled due to charter’d areas which widens the gap between the poor and those in power

Question 6

What does the repetition of ‘mark’ suggest

Answer 6

Ambiguous

Reflects the inescapable suffering of those who aren’t in power but also could reflect the poet’s frustration at the changing nature of London from those who are in power

Question 7

What does the alliteration of ‘weakness’ and ‘woe’ suggest

Answer 7

repetition of the “w” sound in “weakness” and “woe” creates a harsh and oppressive tone that reflects the difficult conditions of life in London at the time. Also a powerful rhetorical device that draws attention to the poem’s central message and helps to create a memorable and impactful reading experience.

Question 8

What does the repetition of ‘every’ suggest

Answer 8

Suggests that the suffering is inescapeable and omnipresent, it affects all demographics highlighting that no one us exempt from the harsh realities of life in London.

Question 9

What does the metaphor of ‘mind-forged manacles’ convey

Answer 9

• Suggests it is the fears of the citizens that prevent change as they are physically free but enslaved by concepts instead.
• Manacles are associated with slavery and lack of freedom which shows people are enslaved by their own mindset and fear.

Question 10

What does the juxtaposition (placing next to each other) of ‘black’ning’ and ‘church’ and the church with the ‘chimney-sweeper’ suggest

Answer 10

• Implies that the institution, which is supposed to be pure, holy, and a moral beacon, is instead tainted and corrupt.
• This blackening can be seen as a metaphor for moral and spiritual decay within the church, highlighting its failure to live up to its ideals.

Question 11

What does the alliteration/ sibilance in ‘hapless soldier’s sigh’ suggest

Answer 11

• suggesting that the soldier’s are the victims of the corrupt government
• because repetition of ‘s’ sound can convey a sense of subdued desperation, his sigh is a form of silent protest or a cry for help that goes unheard.

7 syllables not 8 -broken tetrameter, rhythm feels broken- contribute to idea of sighing (sibliance) feeling of helplessness and powerlessness

Question 12

Use of ‘runs in blood down palace walls’ as an image of the monarchy signifies

Answer 12

Metaphor. Suggests that the lives and well-being of the oppressed are being sacraficed because their blood is metaphorically staining the walls od the palace. Critiques the way the ruling class maintains its security at the expense of the lives of ordinary citizens

Question 13

What does the image of darkness again in ‘midnight’ suggest

Answer 13

Darkness ususally represents evil and those who are evil usually cause suffering so midnight could be the suffering from the evil people being passsed to the powerless

Question 14

What does the repeated imagery of youth (‘infant’ twice, and ‘youthful’ harlot) highlight

Answer 14

highlighting the fact that even the youngest members of society are not immune to the suffering and oppression that is pervasive in London which also suggests the idea of innocence and vulnerability being exposed to the harsh realities of life in London.

Question 15

What does the alliteration of voiced plosive in ‘blasts’ and ‘blight suggest

Answer 15

• creates a harsh and oppressive tone
• “blasts” suggests the damaging impact of industrilisation and pollution, “blights” suggests the pervasive and insidious effects of the moral and physical decay in the city

Question 16

What does the ‘marriage hearse’ suggest

Answer 16

• “marriage” has connotations of new beginnings, joy and happiness whereas “hearse” has connotations of death and grief.
• Blake is making a societal criticism of how, for women, marriage was like death.
• because they were often sent to marriages where they would have all their rights and property lost. The new bride becomes subject to oppression by their husband.
• blake was in favour of liberating women, he felt that marriage itseld is an abuse of power as it gave men the opportunity to abuse their wives with no questioning whatsoever.

Question 17

What does ‘Every cry of every man in every infant’s cry’ suggest

Answer 17

Suffering everywhere adults and children effected shows the severity of suffering in London at the time