London

• Context: Set in a time where England was overrun with poverty, child labour and war

  • Death rates and disease were common due to the Industrial Revolution
  • Blakes poem went against this as people thought London was perfect
• Structure: Regular rhyme, may reflect the regular walking pace of writer walking through London
• “ Marks of weakness, marks of woe “


  Repetition emphasises everyone suffers and no one is safe
• “ In every cry of every man “


  Repetition shows the scale of suffering
• “ The mind forged manacles I hear “

  Control

  • Mind is being controlled - cannot be seen
  • Alliteration helps us draw attention
• HEAR found in stanza

  Hidden in text - no one can hear
• “Runs in blood down palace walls”


  Links to the army

  “blood” from the soldiers on the monarchy’s walls, blaming then for deaths