London - William Blake Flashcards
CONTEXT - What poetry collection is this poem from?
“Songs of Experience”
What does pacifism mean? IS there a quote that presents this idea?
Pacifism is against war. “soldier’s sigh… in blood down palace walls”
CONTEXT - Which era was this written in? How is this related to the poem?
Industrial Revolution. It is related because this was a time of discovery and claiming things such as cities.
What is the rhyming pattern? What can be commented from this?
ABAB all the way through. This means that the poem is restricted to just that, which reflects the “chartered streets” of London
CONTEXT - William Blake was not a romantic. True or False?
False. He was a romantic
Name the final 2 words of the poem
“marriage hearse” - oxymoron. This shows how happiness is actually just death, therefore there is no happiness.
The second stanza uses the repetition of what word? Why?
“Every”. This emphasises how there is no exception, and no escape from the sadness in London
Why did WiIlliam Blake write it in tetrameter?
This creates a stressed then unstressed rhythm which sounds like marching or creates a bored tone of voice reading it. This reflects the restrictions on people in London
CONTEXT - Where did William Blake come from?
He came from London himself, and he was a very strong Christian.
CONTEXT - When it was published (1793), why was London seen as an extremely big city worldwide?
This was during the time of the British Empire, so seen as the centre of the world.
Complete the quote - “Mind-forged ____”
manacles (I hear)
William Blake was a strong Christian. Why would he have wrote “Every black’ning church appalls” if it would offend his own religion?
HE believes that the church is becoming corrupt, and not doing what it should (caring for the people). ALso, “black’ning” is present, so it hasn’t stopped yet
CONTEXT - WIlliam Blake believed that the Thames shouldn’t be owned, and mentions this in the poem. True or False?
True - “… the chartered Thames does flow”
