Analysis

• "London" - Blake probably chose the title ‘London’ because he observed what misery the poor people had to endure in the capital city of England.
• "I wander thro' " - Blake writes this poem using 1st person signifying a personal first-hand account of the problems in London.
• "charter'd" - This word could suggest that everything in London is mapped out and is owned by the government
• "mark(s)" - the repetition of the word 'mark' symbolises the physical scarring of the people of London. It could also suggest the obvious

  suffering that was happening.
• "charter'd thames" - This could suggest even the nature in London is owned by the government and they have control over everything in London.
• "In every" - The repetition of ‘every’ implies the size of the problem because it impacts on children and adults. No-one can escape the poverty.
• "The mind-forg'd manacles" - ‘Manacles’ are handcuffs. The image of

  ‘mind-forg’d manacles’ implies that the people are trapped emotionally in society and in their social class.
• "Chimney sweepers cry" - Blake is criticising the exploitation of children in London. Children were expected to do dangerous jobs to survive.
• "Every black'ning Church" - Blake is angry that the Church is not helping the poor people of London. By using the adjective ‘blackening’ this implies that the church is corrupt.
• "Runs in blood down Palace walls" - This could suggest that soldiers are dying in pointless wars. Blake is blaming the monarchy for the deaths of the soldiers as the metaphor of ‘runs in blood’ implies that the Monarchy is murdering the soldiers.
• "youthful harlots curse" - ‘Harlots’ are prostitutes. By using the adjective

  ‘youthful’, Blake is observing how young women/girls in London have to go to desperate lengths to survive. The word ‘curse’ could imply that they are punished because they are born into poverty and they are forever trapped.
• "blights with plagues" - The word ‘plague’ could suggest that there is no cure for the level of suffering and the pain is like an infestation that is attacking London.
• "marriage hearse" - A ‘hearse’ is a funeral carriage. Blake ends London with this oxymoron (two opposite words) to create a ominous tone. He seems to be implying that there are no happy endings for the poor people and that being born into a lower social class equals pain and death.