London

• William Blake Wrote London which comes from Blakes collection "Songs of Experience," in 1794. This collection was a companion piece to the earlier "Songs of Innocence," in 1789.
• London

  The collection "Songs of Innocence," focuses on simple moral lessons for children to learn, with poems often focusing on nature.

  The collection "Songs of experience," focuses on a much harsher view of a world corrupted by humans.
• How does London fit with the power and conflict cluster?

  "London" is a critique of human power, exposing the distance between those in power and those who are suffering. The suffering is inescapable because of the fact that its caused by the misuse of power by those in control.
• William Blake Biography (London)


  Born 1759 in London, died 1827. In 1800 moved from London to a village then returned to London in 1804.

  Profession : poet, painter and print maker
• William Blakes religion. -London 


  Was a Christian. He respected the Bible

  He disliked organised religion such as the church of England
• Industrial Revolution - London 


  Began in 1760- shift from country life to city life

  The conditions were terrible.

  Children were used for intensive labour.

  London became a smoke ridden city. Nature was being ruined and replaced with machines and industrial factories.

  Blake was against this
• London- Structure analysis

  The repetitive stanza structure and the repetitive rhyme scheme reflects the relentless repetitive overwhelming suffering in the city.

  The poem is implementing a cyclical repetitive structure which highlights the inescapable fate of those in the city
• London - Structure

  Poem is written entirely in quatrains (stanzas of four lines each)

  ABAB rhyme scheme

  Much of the poem is written in iambic pentameter (lines of 8 syllables with alternating stressed and unstressed syllables). Some lines contain 7 syllables. William Blake is weakening this line to reflect the weakness of those who are suffering.

  1. Stanzas 1 and 2 focus on the people who are suffering
  2. Stanza 3 explores the causes of the suffering
  3. Stanza 4 focus on the people who are suffering
• London quotes and analysis 


  'Charter'd' . - repetition

  • Charters originated where the monarchies were the preferred form of government. A charter was a document issued by a government or political official that granted certain rights or privileges
  • 1st usage of 'Charter'd' refers the properties around the speaker are privately owned - A criticism of that.
  • The repetition of 'Charter'd' is a satirical attack of the obsession with property rights, human power and control.
• London quotes and analysis

  'Marks'- Repetition

  The repetition highlights the inescapable repetitive suffering of those in poem

  The use of 'mark' with changing meanings reflect the poets frustration at the changing nature of London at the hands of those in power
• London quotes and analysis

  'Charter'd Street' 'Charter'd Thames'

  Irony pointed out by Blake is that a river cannot really be controlled by the passing of the law. So one of the causes of suffering is the misuse of power thru the chartering of each 'Charter'd Street' and 'Charter'd Thames'

  It shows that as the rich are getting richer, the poor are being more heavily controlled and governed, widening the gap between the poor and those in power.
• London quotes and analysis

  "Mind forged manacles I hear"

  • A forge is a blacksmiths workshop where they'd make manacles
  • The manacles is also a link to the Swiss philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau who wrote in 1762 "Man is born free but everywhere he is in chains"
  • So this quote is an intertextual reference to Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The idea that our outlook is imposed on is by external authority (the government of charters)
• London quotes and analysis

  "Runs in Blood down palace walls"

  Blood is red. Red is the universal colour of the working class. This implies that the establishment abuse their power by putting down the working class through violence, fear and massacre

  Representation of Blakes hatred towards the industrialisation (as a romantic poet) the Blood could also be a metaphor for all the jobs lost and all the nature destroyed.
• London quotes and analysis

  "Runs in Blood down Palace walls"

  'Wall'

  • Symbolises society dividing the lower and upper classes. The wall is a barrier to preventing the lower class into power and keeping them in a repetitive lifestyle that they're unable to escape.
  • The wall is also a barrier to protect the people on the inside (upper class, monarchy, the government). However the lower classes are suffering on the outside. This quote is a metaphor for the safety of the upper class and how the lower class are left to suffer.
• London quotes and analysis

  "Runs in Blood down Palace walls"

  • Related to the French Revolution
  • The French Revolution was influenced by the Enlightenment with its overthrow of the monarchy striving for political freedom
  • Blake (as a romantic) supported this to begin with.
  • It evolved Into bloodshed and chaos bringing home the evil of mankind so it lost support
  • There was so much blood shed that the hyperbolic phrase "Blood was running down the walls' became popular at the time
• London quotes and analysis

  "Hapless Soldiers sigh"

  Relating to the French Revolution

  • Blake is suggesting that the unhappiness of the British Soldiers may lead to a similar upbringing if it continues to be ignored.
• London quotes and analysis 


  "And Blights with plagues the marriage hearse"

  • Oxymoron.
  • This overwhelming negative image suggests that the London Blake used to love was destined to destroyed
  • Ending line- it's a powerful ending to a challenging poem which criticises those in positions of power.
  • Shows that the misuse of power (by the monarchy, government,organised religion, landowners) lead to widespread suffering and despair