London

• Who wrote 'London'?

  William Blake
• "And mark in every face I meet/ marks of weakness marks of woe"

  • REPETITION - the repeated use of 'mark' suggest that there is a permanent impact on the common people, with wide-reaching effects.
  • STRUCTURE - the second line strays from the iambic tetrameter used for most of the poem, the line has less syllables, so it is weaker. This could reflect the weakness of the people of London, or that if people rose up they could free themselves from their oppressors.
• "The mind forged manacles I hear" 


  • RHYTHM - This sentence is hard to say, with its alliteration and harsh sounds, slowing down the rhythm. This could reflect the harsh lives or feeling of entrapment of the people.
  • Mind forged conjures imagery of imagination, Blake could be suggesting that people think they are trapped, but if we all stood up together we could break free of our hand cuffs, links to French revolution.
• "Every blackening church appals"

  • Literally, the adjective blackening is used to acknowledge the soot and smoke in churches from all of the pollution from the Industrial Revolution.
  • Metaphorically, 'blackening' suggests the moral blackening of the church. Blackness is a symbol of evil and corruption, Blakes criticism of organised religion.
  • IRONY - The word appals is used to how the anger that Blake felt to the church. They should help those suffering, but they are more focused on there own wealth.
• Repetition of "In every" in the second stanza.

  • Anaphora - signifies the overwhelming nature of the suffering felt by the people of London. Everybody is affected.
• What was Blake inspired by and what were his views?

  He was inspired by the French revolution, and so wanted to overthrow the British monarchy. He was a Christian but hated organised religion, who he believed were corrupt and hypocritical.
• What collection of poems was London in?

  The Songs Of Experience poems, which outlined the harsh reality of the new and changed world and the social issues attached to it.
• What is the structure and form of London?

  1. London is written with simple language. Blake wanted to allow all members of society to read the poem as he believed his message needed to be heard by all.
  2. It is a cyclical structure, reflecting the never ending suffering of the people of London, and that they wont escape this unless they break the cycle.
  3. The poem uses an ABAB rhyme scheme and uses quatrains (4 lined) stanzas. This fixed structure highlights the complete control institutions have over people. Or it is mimicking the repeated suffering and repetitive lives of the people of London.
• What is Blakes overall message?

  That powerful institutions will abuse their power and oppress individuals, and that they will continue to do this until the people realise their power and rise up.