London (William Blake)

Question 1

CONTEXT (AO3)

Answer 1

written by William Blake
- pro-Renaissance and Libertarian poet
purpose
- condemn the capitalist power and control
- present the oppression within London
- reflects on the social, political and religious circumstances during the 18th century. “London” analyzes and points out cruelty and injustice occurring in the society and criticizes the church and the British monarchy
- acts as a to call to those in authority to listen
written in Victorian Era
- industrial revolution and poverty

Question 2

STRUCTURE

Answer 2

• iambic pentameter
• stanza 2 = acrostic ‘HEAR’
• regular rhyme scheme (ABAB)

Question 3

FORM

Question 4

‘I wander thro’ each charter’d street,

Near where the charter’d Thames does flow.’

Answer 4

‘charter’d’ - ADJECTIVE - reflects the oppression and the overcrowded/busy streets

‘charter’d Thames’ - REPETITION - comments on the capitalist power and control - subverts the Romantic genre (since even nature (Thames) has been subjugated by the oppression)

Question 5

‘And mark in every face I meet

Marks of weaknesses, marks of woe.’

Answer 5

‘Mark’ - REPETITION - presents the idea of METAPHORICAL scarring due to the oppression.

‘weakness’ + ‘woe’ - ALLITERATION - emphasises the weakness and despair and also creates a sense of dreariness (reflective of the people in London)

‘mark’ + ‘woe’ - SEMANTIC FIELD of suffering

Question 6

‘In every’

‘cry’

Answer 6

‘In every’ + ‘cry’ - powerful REPETITION - conveying the torture and suffering

‘In every cry’ - ANAPHORA - adds rhythmic emphasis and reinforces the meaning

Question 7

‘The mind-forg’d manacles I hear’

Answer 7

‘mind-forg’d manacles’ - ALLITERATION + METAPHOR - represents Blake’s perception of self-limitation and the restraint of the human imagination - (A03) Blake explores this idea of self-limitation in his poems entitled Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience.

Question 8

‘How’
‘Every’
‘And’
‘Runs’

Answer 8

Forms the acrostic poem (HEAR) - a call out to those in authority, for change and acknowledgment of the problems facing London.

Question 9

‘How the Chimney-sweepers cry

Every blackning Church appalls,’

Answer 9

‘Chimney’ + ‘Church’ - CAPITAL LETTERS + ALLITERATION - showing the association between the two - In this stanza ‘the chimney sweepers cry every blackening church appals’ provide an association which reveals the speakers attitude. The money is spent on churches while the children live in poverty, forced to clean chimneys – the soot from which blackens the church walls.

Question 10

‘Runs in blood down Palace walls’

Answer 10

‘Palace’ - criticising those in power (British Monarchy) - they’ve sent many men to war and therefore have blood on their hands

‘Palace’ - since the blood is on the hands of those in power it shows how London as a whole is affected - London seems to be centred around ideals of capitalism and those in power.

‘hapless Soldiers sigh’ - the soldiers feel powerless and defeated - this line presents the powerless (soldiers) and the powerful (Palace)

Question 11

‘How the youthful Harlots curse
Blast the new-born Infants tear
And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse.’

Answer 11

‘hearse’ - SYMBOLIC of death

‘Marriage hearse’ - OXYMORONIC - marriage presents opportunity and life, whereas ‘hearse’ presents ideas of death and finality.

‘Marriage’ has been plagued both figuratively and literally.

‘curse’ - SYMBOL to present the disease transferred between a prostitute and a married man.

‘plague’ - haunts the married couple.