London - William Blake

Question 1

Structure

Answer 1

Dramatic monologue
Rhyme scheme - ABAB, CDCD, EFEF

Question 2

Themes

Answer 2

Corruption of power / innocence
Religion and the Church

Question 3

Context

Answer 3

The author was a Romantic and therefore held very strong views on nature
He lived in London during the period he wrote
A very devout Christian
He held very strong revolutionary views - anti-monarchist
Hated the Industrial Revolution as he thought it was destroying nature

Question 4

I wander thro’ each charter’d street

Answer 4

The phrase ‘I wander thro’ ‘ creates the impression that the speaker is walking aimlessly around the bustling, frightening city which could imply that he currently sees the city as aimless. As he is wandering through, he finds the worst in terms of poverty and suffering. The adjective ‘charter’d’ holds several meanings. Royal charters were a form of patent granted by the King to give a company the power to manage their own affairs which suggests that the streets are all owned by the rich. However, it could also mean the verb ‘freighted’ and refer to the extremely busy streets. In the original version he used the adjective dirty

Question 5

Near where the charter’d Thames does flow

Answer 5

In the 18th century, the Thames was one of the busiest waterways in the world and therefore very polluted. Nothing could survive in its waters except water and eels which lead to many people committing suicide in it. With this phrase, Blake rejects the earlier romanticised portrayals of the river and he purposely repeats the word ‘charter’d’ for clarity which uses a technique known as diacope

Question 6

And mark in every face I meet

Answer 6

The verb ‘mark’ could mean that they have been marked by their experiences and the sights around them. This creates an image of a sea of suffering all around.

Question 7

Marks of weakness, marks of woe

Answer 7

The noun ‘Marks’ could mean the metaphorical scars left behind by the controlling, oppressive system they currently live in. However, it could also be literal as the majority of the population ate quite a cheap, monotonous, nutrient-deficient diet that would have likely left them severely malnourished. The repetition is an example of syntactic parallelism and helps to add a sense of poignancy to the lines, also helped by the alliteration

Question 8

In every cry of every Man,
In every Infant’s cry of fear,
In every voice, in every ban

Answer 8

The repetition of ‘every’ and ‘cry’ emphasises the torturous conditions many people face in London. Meanwhile, the use of both ‘Man’ and ‘Infant’ suggests that the pain and suffering is constant from birth to death but the phrases could be seen as hyperbolic. There is also a use of anaphora through the repetition of ‘In every’. The fact that the men are crying is in itself quite a shocking sight as it contrasts the stereotypical masculine qualities

Question 9

The mind-forg’d manacles I hear

Answer 9

The poet suggests that the system of authority and control that exists has been put in place to keep the poor poorer and the rich richer. The compound adjective of ‘mind-forg’d’ highlights how the poet believes that everyone in their mind creates their own limitations and cages to keep themselves safe

Question 10

How the Chimney-sweepers cry
Every black’ning Church appalls

Answer 10

The noun ‘chimney-sweepers’ refers to the young boys who were often forced into a dangerous, exploitative industry due to their poor living conditions and it highlights the constant abuse of the innocence. Their ‘cry’ metaphorically blackens the Church and it demonstrates the inadequate care religious institutions provide for their flock and in doing so highlights the blatant hypocrisy. The adjective ‘black’ning’ could also have a more literal meaning referring to the blackened faces of the chimney sweepers due to the ash. Throughout the poem, the character names are capitalised as to show they each represent a different pillar of society

Question 11

And the hapless Soldier’s sigh

Answer 11

This line speaks to the destructive stupidity of war and the lack of agency they are given over their own lives due to events mostly being controlled by people and forces far beyond their control. The tone of the phrase expresses anger and despair to the reader whilst adding a sense of irony as soldiers shed blood to protect a system that made them fight in the 1st place without any consultation

Question 12

Runs in blood down Palace walls

Answer 12

Blake held deep anti-monarchist views and clearly envisions a big revolution, using blood as a symbol of fight against their oppressors. It may refer to the corrupt monarchies and Governments of the time in Central Europe as they wasted lives on what he saw as pointless wars. The walls provide a barrier between the people in power and ordinary citizens

Question 13

H
E
A
R

Answer 13

The 3rd stanza itself is an acrostic with the use of synaesthesia (sight and sound). It could represent a plea for help that is often ignored by people in power

Question 14

But most thro’ midnight streets I hear

Answer 14

The beginning phrase of ‘but most’ really emphasises this final stanza. Darkness is most often associated with fear and more specifically in this case the fear of the people living in such a damaged, oppressed city. The noun ‘midnight’ is closely associated with death and London was a place with a notoriously low life expectancy caused by a high infant mortality rate. There is a sort of supernatural sense to this line

Question 15

How the youthful Harlot’s curse

Answer 15

The people’s desperation is summed up by the cursing of the prostitute. It’s unclear whether she’s screaming at or cursing someone. However, in the next line, he implies the curse has harmed her infant as she was so focused on her tears, she didn’t recognise their’s. The women who become prostitutes were often very young, vulnerable and easily exploited as their only other employment option was as a domestic servant which didn’t pay well at all

Question 16

Blasts the new born Infant’s tear

Answer 16

This line suggests that the Harlot’s curse is sullying her child and it’s innocence. It could also have a more literal meaning as prostitutes often contracted syphillis and babies born to them often had red, seeping eyes that looked almost like tears

Question 17

And blights with plagues the Marriage hearse

Answer 17

It could be suggested that the curse has marred the institution of marriage and that London itself has been marred with depravity caused by its oppression of its poorest citizens. The final phrase ‘Marriage hearse’ is in itself oxymoronic as a ‘marriage’ marks the beginning of a new life whilst a ‘hearse’ is marks the end of one and clearly displays the poet’s attitudes towards marriage which he considered another form of religious control. It also highlights the double standard as women were expected to remain pure whilst men were not held to the same regard.

Question 18

Whys

Answer 18

Blake criticises the institutions of power such as the church and monarchy, who act out of self- interest and fail in their duty to protect the vulnerable and afflicted.
Through his repeated invocation to ‘hear’, Blake strives to lift a veil of complacency from the streets of London, raising awareness to the systemic oppression prevalent within the city.
In keeping with his Romantic notions of childhood innocence, Blake promotes justice for the children of London, many of whom were victims of poverty and exploitation.