London

    Cards (20)

    • Who wrote 'London'?
      William Blake
    • What is Blakes message in London?
      to criticise the government's control over society
    • What does it mean by 'chartered street'
      A charter grants rights of ownership, something being chartered means it is regulated, Blake feels that even the public streets and nature( the Thames) is controlled by the rich
    • Analysis of 'mark in every face I meet/ marks of weakness, marks of woe'
      Refers to the general misery the speaker witnesses within London
      Blake is suggesting that those without wealth and power are in misery.
      The term mark can be a metaphor for a brand, as though they are banded with a look of misery to show their place in society.
    • Importance of the repetition of 'every'
      Highlights the universal affects of oppression and the large scale of suffering
    • Analysis of 'mind-forged manacles I hear:'
      Here, the metaphor conveys entrapment in psychological chains created and maintained by ideas/beliefs.
      The alliteration draws attention to this metaphor
      Blake is suggesting people are not being physically held back but they have been indoctrinated to believe they are weaker because they are less wealthy and this holds them back
    • importance of 'chimney sweeper's cry'
      in 18th century London, children of poor families were made to work to increase the families income, the job of chimney sweeper was common. Blake is criticising how poverty and oppression means children who should be having fun and laughing have to 'cry' because of their status
    • Importance of 'hapless soldier's sigh' and 'blood down palace walls'
      This draws links to the war at this time. The blood running down palace walls signifies their sacrifice to protect the power of those who live in the palace. Blake is criticising how members of society are at the mercy of the control of superiors who often pay with their lives, like the chimney sweepers. They are powerless
    • Importance of 'every black'ning church appalls'
      Churches are traditionally a symbol of religion, holiness and divinity in literature. However, Blake juxtaposes this symbolism with the imagery ‘blackning Church’ which suggests impurity and corruption. This is significant as, in Blake’s eyes; the church has failed in its duty to protect the orphans in its care that were picked out to become chimney sweepers. Consequently, the blood of such children is on the church’s hands, so to speak, and this appals Blake.
    • importance of 'youthful harlots curse' and 'new-born infants tear'
      A ‘Harlot’ is a prostitute. The adjective ‘youthful’ links to the ‘chimney sweeper’ ,both sharing the theme of exploitation and injustice to the youth in society, who have been failed by the environment of 18th century London that they grew up in. The image of her cursing illustrates her state of despair, which Blake goes on to describe as being directed at the tears of a new-born baby. The torment of one of society’s most vulnerable and emotionally damaged members being channelled towards an innocent, defenceless newborn.
    • When was 'London' written?
      1794
    • importance of 'marriage hearse'
      the oxymoron links death to marriage and juxtaposes the joy of marriage with the misery of death, perhaps implying that society ruined everything in life, nothing can be enjoyed
    • What is the importance of the French revolution with the 'London'?
      Blake was known to be a supporter of the French Revolution, the French revolution began because of great inequality between social classes. Lower classes revolted and attacked the centres of power. The poem explores some injustices between classes and control the aristocracy have, so Blake may be suggesting a revolution needs to occur in England too
    • What is the structure and form of Blake's 'London'?
      A 4 stanza poem, separated into quatrains that follow rhyme scheme ABAB, third stanza is acrostic and spells out HEAR, written in iambic tetrameter- however changes when speaker confronted with people
    • What themes does Blake explore?
      social structures and power, resisting oppression, responsibility
    • ' I wander through each chartered street'
    • ' the mind-forged manacles I hear'
    • ' How the black'ning church appalls'
    • 'Runs in blood down palace walls'
    • 'marriage hearse'