London - William Blake Flashcards
What were the themes involved?
- Power of Humans.
- Loss and absence.
- Anger.
- Individual experience.
Who was William Blake?
‘London’ was published in 1794. William Blake was an English poet and artist who held quite radical social and political views for the time - he believed in social and racial equality and questioned Church teachings.
What is some context for London?
Blake wrote and illustrated two volumes of poetry which explored the state of the human soul. The ‘Songs of innocence’ are positive poems which focus on childhood, nature and love, whereas the ‘Songs of experience’, including London, look at how that innocence is lost, and how society has been corrupted.
What is London about?
1) The narrator is describing a walk around the city of London.
2) He says that everywhere he goes, the people he meets are affected by misery and despair.
3) This misery seems relentless. No one can escape it - not even the young and innocent.
4) People in power (like the Church, the monarchy and wealthy landowners) seem to be behind the problems, and do nothing to help the people in need.
What is the form of London?
This is a dramatic monologue - the first-person narrator speaks passionately and personally about the suffering he sees. The ABAB rhyme scheme is unbroken and seems to echo the relentless miser of the city. The regular rhythm could reflect the sound of his feet as he trudges around.
What is the structure of London?
The narrator presents relentless imagery of downtrodden, deprived people. The first two stanzas focus on people he sees and hears, before the focus shift in stanza three to the institutions he holds responsible. The final stanza returns to looking at people, showing how even newborn babies are affected.
What is rhetoric of London?
The narrator rhetorical language to persuade you of his point of view - he uses powerful, emotive words and images to reinforce the horror of the situation. Repetition is used to emphasize the number of people affected, and to show how society needs to change.
What is use of the senses in London?
The poem includes the depressing sights and sounds of the city - the first stanza is about what he sees, the second what he hears, and the last two stanzas combine the visual aural.
What is the use of contrasts in London?
These are used to show how everything is affected and nothing pure or innocent remains.
What are the feeling and attitudes in the poem?
- Anger.
- Hopelessness.
How is anger explored?
Emotive language and repetition show the narrators anger at the situation. He mentions ‘‘every black’ning church’’ and ‘‘palace walls’’, suggesting he’s especially angry at the people in power, who could do something to change things but don’t.
How is hopelessness explored?
The ‘‘mind foraged manacles’’ suggest that the people themselves are also to blame - they’re trapped by their own attitudes. They appear hopeless because they’re not able (or not even trying) to help themselves.
What is 1 quote that represents individual experiences?
‘And mark in every face I meet
Marks of weakness, marks of woe.’
What is the device used?
Conciseness.
Why was this device used?
The brevity of the statement creates a stark and direct impact, conveying the gravity of individual suffering without embellishment.
What is some analysis?
This phrase succinctly portrays the visible signs of suffering and distress in individuals. The “marks of weakness” and “marks of woe” allude to both physical and emotional struggles, highlighting the profound impact of societal conditions on personal well-being. In essence, it encapsulates the heavy burden carried by individuals in the face of oppressive circumstances.
