London (William Blake) Flashcards
“I wander through each chartered street” b
‘wander’ - aimlessness, speakers disconnection
repetition ‘chartered’ - control & restriction, hinting at oppressive systems governing the city, everyone affected
juxtaposition between wander and chartered, not a choice to be restricted
(themes of restriction & loss of freedom, conflict between human autonomy & societal control)
“Near where the chartered Thames does flow”b
repetition “chartered’ - unnatural imposition of control, even of natural entity like river
Juxtaposition with ‘flow’ - natures resistance to human oppression
Irony - rivers usually symbols of freedom
(conflict between industrialization and nature, the city’s corruption intruding on natural beauty)
“And mark in every face I meet” b
verb ‘mark’ - duality, physical marking & emotional observation
‘Every face’ - universality, widespread suffering, collective misery of oppressed
(Bleak and despairing tone, individual suffering to larger social issue - microcosm)
“The mind-forged manacles I hear” m
metaphor - psychological oppression, people enslaved by own acceptance of societal constraints
alliteration - sounds heavy, confinement enhances entrapment
(industrial and political systems perpetuate mental imprisonment)
“How the chimney-sweeper’s cry / Every black’ning church appalls” m
juxtaposition, chimney sweepers & church - critiques institutional failure
juxtaposition- purity and love expected of religious institutions
adjective ‘blackening’ - literal soot (ind revolution) and moral corruption within religious institutions
(Denounces the Church’s complicity in exploiting the vulnerable)
“And the hapless soldier’s sigh / Runs in blood down palace walls” m
imagery of blood - alludes to French Revolution & monarchs exploitation of soldiers
suffering of powerless fuels the prosperity of the rich
(anger and injustice, disparity between ruling class and oppressed)
“But most through midnight streets I hear” e
midnight - darkness and secrecy, sinister undertones of urban life
hear emphasis - suffering inescapable & pervasive
(Reinforces the oppressive atmosphere,omnipresent suffering of the city)
“The youthful harlot’s curse” e
oxymoron youthful harlot - innocence with corruption, exploitation destroys purity
curse - anger and despair, social neglect
(Criticises societal systems, commodify exploit individuals, particularly women)
“And blights with plagues the marriage hearse” e
oxymoron -unites love & death, societal corruption poisons even sacred institutions
Blights” & “plagues” evoke disease and decay - moral degradation
(Ends the poem with a grim image of inevitable decay, hopelessness)
What is the context of “London”?
Industrial Revolution 18 to 19 century, transformed rural areas, stark contrast between rich and poor - led to overcrowded cities, poor working conditions
Influenced by Romantic ideals, he was a romantic poet - nature over man
- French Revolution, happened during when poem written, political change in France - overthrow of monarchy & execution of King Louis XVI (perhaps Blake encourage his reader to start revolting)
How do structure and form contribute to “London”?
Structure: Four regular quatrains with an ABAB rhyme scheme, reflecting the monotonous, controlled life of industrial London.
Form: Written in iambic tetrameter, but frequent breaks in rhythm mirror the disruption caused by oppression.
What does the title “London” signify?
directly references the city, immediately anchoring the poem in a specific, real-world context
poem’s focus on urban life and its consequences during the Industrial Revolution
microcosm of societal oppression, making London symbolic of broader issues like inequality and corruption
What are some possible exam questions and themes for “London”?
Social and political oppression
impact of industrialization
Loss of innocence and moral corruption
suffering
