London

• Who wrote 'London'?

  William Blake
• When was William Blake born?

  1757 - In London
• What was William Blake's opinion of the bible?

  He respected the bible , but disliked organised religion such as the Church of England
• What did Blake often write about?

  Rebelling against the misuse of power , and class
• What movement ,that started in around 1760, was Blake against and why ?

  The Industrial revolution - It brought about the introduction of machinery that took over jobs that humans used to do. The conditions of factories were terrible and children were made to work in them as they were small and could fit around the machinery. London became filled with smoke
• What narrative is the poem "London" written from?

  First person speaker
• The poem of London is written entirely in quatrains. What does this mean?

  The poem is written in stanzas with 4 lines each
• What type of rhyme scheme does the poem London have?

  an ' AB AB' rhyme scheme
• Does the poem London have a regular rhyme scheme?

  Yes
• Why might Blake use repetition in the poem London?

  To emphasise the relentless and overwhelming suffering in the city - It is inescapable and is a result of the choices from those in power
• The poem London uses a cyclical structure. Why might Blake have decided to use this ?

  To highlight the inescapable fate of those in the city - You go wander round the streets and end up in the same place again
• What type of meter is the majority of the poem London written in?

  Iambic Tetrameter - lines of 8 syllables with alternating stressed and unstressed syllables - the repetition of this meter may depict the repetitive and inescapable lives that poor people have
• In the poem London, why might the line : 'marks of weakness, marks of woe' only contain 7 syllables instead of 8?

  The line points out the weakness of those who are suffering, So Blake has weakened the line to highlight the weakness of those who are suffering, by adding less syllables
• The poem London uses Imagery of suffering in MANY phrases. Why?

  To overwhelm the reader and highlight the overwhelming suffering of those in London - which is caused by those in power
• Why might Blake have been against charters?

  Because he disliked the idea of people owning nature - He is a romantic poet
• Why might Blake use the juxtaposition 'charter'd Thames'?


  To show how humankind have been able to project their control on something natural like a River - this is a criticism of humankind, as satirical attack
• In London, why might Blake use the repetition of charter'd with different meaning?

  To show his frustrations with the changing nature of London
• Why might Blake use the phrase 'mind forged manacles'?

  They're a link to Swiss philosopher Jean Jacque Rousseau, who states that "Man is born free , but everywhere he is in chains " - this is Blake agreeing with the fact that Mans lack of freedom is caused by external authority (government)
• Why might Blake use the phrase - 'the hapless soldier's sigh Runs in blood down palace walls" ?

  Contextually, the French revolution had happened, and Romantic poets were in support of it until it there was too much bloodshed. Blake may be suggesting that the soldiers sigh may lead to bloodshed in London if nothing changes. The use of the word palace refers to the government who are to blame for the suffering
• Why might Blake use the oxymoron marriage hearse?

  To suggest that the once good London is destined to be destroyed