London

• What ryhme scheme does London have? What impact does this have?

  -ABAB rhyme scheme

  -The repetitiveness reflects the relentless and inescapable suffering in London

  -Juxtaposes the life of the rich and the poor
• What kind of structure does London have?

  -Cyclical Structure

  -Stanza 4 returns to focus on those who are suffereing

  -Shows the repetitive cycle of suffering
• What key themes are in London?

  -Abuse of power

  -Control
• In ... ... cry ... ...'

  'In every infant's cry of fear
• In every infant's cry of fear'

  -Children have no hope of a good future as the cycle of poverty will never end

  -Repetition of 'every' shows an overwhelming sense of opression that no one can escape from
• Marks ... ... ... I ..., marks ... ..., marks ... woe'

  'Marks in every face I meet, marks of weakness, marks of woe
• Marks in every face I meet, marks of weakness, marks of woe'


  -Repetition

  -Stresses how permanent the suffering will be as it is scaring

  -Shows how everyone is weakened by the governments conrol
• Mind ... ... I ...'

  'Mind forged manacles I hear
• Mind forged manacles I hear'

  -Shows how the poor were stereotyped to be crimminals

  -No free thinking of ability to fight agaisnt the government
• Why would Blake write a poem like London?

  -Blake used poetry to express his poltical views

  -He believed he could make a change through his poetry or at least show his contempt
• In what key event was London published?

  -the french revolution

  -Inspired many 'radicals' such as Blake
• What revolution was happening in England when Blake wrote London and how did he reflect it in his poem?

  -The industrial revolution

  -'chartered' shows that only allowed the wealthy to buy land and build monopolies and didn't help the poor, making wealth disparity larger.
• Near ... the ... Thames ... ...'

  'Near where the chartered Thames does flow
• Near where the chartered Thames does flow'


  -'chartered' shows that only allowed the wealthy to buy land and build monopolies and didn't help the poor, making wealth disparity larger.