London, William Blake

Question 1

,

“London”

Answer 1

Establishes poem topic
Declarative and unadorned with description suggesting that it will depict London ‘as it is’.

Question 2

Repetition of the word “charter’d”

Answer 2

Makes the increasing amount of control seem inescapable.
Suggests London is owned and people have been robbed off their rights.

Question 3

Repetition of “every”

Answer 3

Emphasises the misery of all the londoners.
Suggests the enormity of poverty from children through to adults.

Question 4

“blights with plagues the Marriage Hearse”

Answer 4

By suggesting London is like a disease or illness, Blake suggests that it will corrupt many people and is uncurable.

Oxymoron. ‘Marriage’ = new life, ‘hearse’ = death.
Suggests London can destroy even the purest thing.

Question 5

Structure

Answer 5

Blake uses a lot of repetition which could imply the cycle of poverty and that there is no escape for the lower social classes.

Strong ABAB rhyme scheme - no escaping the rhyme scheme. Suggests very very controlled place.