London
Key Quotes
Quote Language technique Analysis
Chartered Thames Repetition Shows Capitalism and that the
government are controlling the river as
well as streets.
Marks of weakness, Metaphor, alliteration Every person he walks past has the same
marks of woe and repetition sad expression. Everyone has a
melancholy expression despite them
being rich or poor.
In every infant’s cry of Anaphora Mimics a nursery rhyme which
fear represents innocence- should be in
Songs of Innocence but is in Songs of
Experience. Shows that the next
generation is fearful of what will happen
to them.
Mind forged manacles I Metaphor The metaphor represents the handcuffs,
hear showing that people have a lack of
freedom and expression. Rich have total
control- brainwashing people or
Industrial Revolution. Metal of
handcuffs- restriction- factory owners
rich and possess all the power, so people
are trapped in every way such as their
thoughts and attitudes.
How the chimney Sensory description Represents the child labour of the city
sweepers cry due to the Industrial Revolution. The
reality was many people were suffering
but behind closed doors.
Every black’ning church Metaphor Can represent smoke or soot or moving
appalls away from God as the Church is looking
after young boys or orphans and they
are doing a bad job as they are abusing
the children.
Runs in blood down Metaphor Soldiers die- criticising the King’s army as
palace walls the monarchy was in control of the
military and people are dying for the
country but the King is guilty and
responsible for the death of the people.
French Revolution had taken place as
ordinary people suffered so those in the
palace are protected behind the palace
walls.
Youthful harlots curse Metaphor Prostitutes as young as 12 cursing
blasts the new-born people or are spreading STI’s. possibly
infants tear because they’re having babies out of
, wedlock which was seen as sinful and
shameful.
Marriage hearse Oxymoron Marriage tarnished as many women died
during childbirth. Marriages are corrupt
as STI’s are carried onto the babies so it
is a metaphor for spreading STI’s as
many people were cheating on their
wives with prostitutes. Then these
people who were unmarried had to
marry the prostitutes due to society’s
pressure.
Key Context
William Blake was a romantic poet who rejected the idea of established religion and
questioned the Churches teachings.
He worked as an engraver and was not well known as a poet during his lifetime.
He was seen as ahead of his time as he had radical social and political views for the
time as he believed in social and racial equality.
His poem is a social commentary as he often tackled issues in London in his poems
such as Child labour, abuse of power and illness.
He wrote 2 volumes of poetry which explored the state of a human soul. ‘Songs of
Innocence’ which are positive poems which focus on childhood, nature and love.
‘Songs of Experience’, including London, look at how innocence is lost and how
society has been corrupted.
A charter grants right of ownership and use. Blake felt that Charters gave rights only
to the wealthy, often allowing people and companies to own and control land and
resources which previously had not been privately owned but had been available for
the public to use.
Blake was known to be a supporter of the French Revolution and wore a bonnet
rouge in the streets during the year when he was writing London. These bonnet
rouges had been given to freed slaves by the Ancient Romans to mark their new
liberty and were therefore a symbol of freedom. The French revolution came about
due to the inequality between classes; lower classes revolted against injustice and
eventually attacked all central power including the aristocracy, monarchy and the
Church. This led to the end of the monarchy with the execution of Louis XVI. At its
roots, the French revolution was about the oppression of the people as the
aristocracy sought more power and wealth. ‘runs in blood down place walls’-
implying we could have a revolution here in England.
What is the poem about?
The narrator is describing a long walk around London.
He says that everywhere he goes people he encounters are affected by misery and
despair.
The misery seems relentless- no one can escape I, not even the young and innocent.
People in power, such as the monarchy, Church and Aristocracy, are behind the
problems and do nothing to help the people in need.
, Form
Dramatic monologue- 1st person narrator speaks very passionately and personally
about the suffering he sees.
ABAB rhyme scheme- echoes relentless misery of London.
8 syllables- iambic tetrameter- reflects the monotony of life
Present tense which reflects that you cannot escape the misery of the city, so the
reader is too in the predicament.
Nursery rhyme style- melodic- should be in Songs of Innocence.
Structure
The poem describes relentless images of downtrodden, deprived people. The first 2 stanzas
focus on the people he sees and hears, before in stanza 3 the focus shifts to institutions he
holds responsible for the downturn of London. The last stanza returns to looking at people,
showing how even new born babies are affected.
Key Quotes
Quote Language technique Analysis
Chartered Thames Repetition Shows Capitalism and that the
government are controlling the river as
well as streets.
Marks of weakness, Metaphor, alliteration Every person he walks past has the same
marks of woe and repetition sad expression. Everyone has a
melancholy expression despite them
being rich or poor.
In every infant’s cry of Anaphora Mimics a nursery rhyme which
fear represents innocence- should be in
Songs of Innocence but is in Songs of
Experience. Shows that the next
generation is fearful of what will happen
to them.
Mind forged manacles I Metaphor The metaphor represents the handcuffs,
hear showing that people have a lack of
freedom and expression. Rich have total
control- brainwashing people or
Industrial Revolution. Metal of
handcuffs- restriction- factory owners
rich and possess all the power, so people
are trapped in every way such as their
thoughts and attitudes.
How the chimney Sensory description Represents the child labour of the city
sweepers cry due to the Industrial Revolution. The
reality was many people were suffering
but behind closed doors.
Every black’ning church Metaphor Can represent smoke or soot or moving
appalls away from God as the Church is looking
after young boys or orphans and they
are doing a bad job as they are abusing
the children.
Runs in blood down Metaphor Soldiers die- criticising the King’s army as
palace walls the monarchy was in control of the
military and people are dying for the
country but the King is guilty and
responsible for the death of the people.
French Revolution had taken place as
ordinary people suffered so those in the
palace are protected behind the palace
walls.
Youthful harlots curse Metaphor Prostitutes as young as 12 cursing
blasts the new-born people or are spreading STI’s. possibly
infants tear because they’re having babies out of
, wedlock which was seen as sinful and
shameful.
Marriage hearse Oxymoron Marriage tarnished as many women died
during childbirth. Marriages are corrupt
as STI’s are carried onto the babies so it
is a metaphor for spreading STI’s as
many people were cheating on their
wives with prostitutes. Then these
people who were unmarried had to
marry the prostitutes due to society’s
pressure.
Key Context
William Blake was a romantic poet who rejected the idea of established religion and
questioned the Churches teachings.
He worked as an engraver and was not well known as a poet during his lifetime.
He was seen as ahead of his time as he had radical social and political views for the
time as he believed in social and racial equality.
His poem is a social commentary as he often tackled issues in London in his poems
such as Child labour, abuse of power and illness.
He wrote 2 volumes of poetry which explored the state of a human soul. ‘Songs of
Innocence’ which are positive poems which focus on childhood, nature and love.
‘Songs of Experience’, including London, look at how innocence is lost and how
society has been corrupted.
A charter grants right of ownership and use. Blake felt that Charters gave rights only
to the wealthy, often allowing people and companies to own and control land and
resources which previously had not been privately owned but had been available for
the public to use.
Blake was known to be a supporter of the French Revolution and wore a bonnet
rouge in the streets during the year when he was writing London. These bonnet
rouges had been given to freed slaves by the Ancient Romans to mark their new
liberty and were therefore a symbol of freedom. The French revolution came about
due to the inequality between classes; lower classes revolted against injustice and
eventually attacked all central power including the aristocracy, monarchy and the
Church. This led to the end of the monarchy with the execution of Louis XVI. At its
roots, the French revolution was about the oppression of the people as the
aristocracy sought more power and wealth. ‘runs in blood down place walls’-
implying we could have a revolution here in England.
What is the poem about?
The narrator is describing a long walk around London.
He says that everywhere he goes people he encounters are affected by misery and
despair.
The misery seems relentless- no one can escape I, not even the young and innocent.
People in power, such as the monarchy, Church and Aristocracy, are behind the
problems and do nothing to help the people in need.
, Form
Dramatic monologue- 1st person narrator speaks very passionately and personally
about the suffering he sees.
ABAB rhyme scheme- echoes relentless misery of London.
8 syllables- iambic tetrameter- reflects the monotony of life
Present tense which reflects that you cannot escape the misery of the city, so the
reader is too in the predicament.
Nursery rhyme style- melodic- should be in Songs of Innocence.
Structure
The poem describes relentless images of downtrodden, deprived people. The first 2 stanzas
focus on the people he sees and hears, before in stanza 3 the focus shifts to institutions he
holds responsible for the downturn of London. The last stanza returns to looking at people,
showing how even new born babies are affected.
