London. William Blake

Transcription

1 London By William Blake

2 AO1: What is the poem about? The poem is about the oppression of people in London now everything is chartered. The speaker highlights the plight of child workers and soldiers particularly and is critical of institutions such as the church and monarchy. Finally, the speaker reflects on the terrible state of the streets in the city he loves, as a result of this oppression. He discusses prostitutes, new-born babies, disease, marriage and death. AO1: Themes Oppression by power- Blake blames institutions (monarchy, government, organised religion) for the suffering and oppression of the people because they are the ones who can change things but they don t. AO2: Structure & form First person narrative- the I of the poem is most probably Blake himself. He lived in London and thought of it as his city. Regular rhyme scheme- follows an a-b-a-b rhyme scheme. Quatrains- the poem is structured in to four quatrains (stanzas of four lines each) Repetition- the repetitive nature of the rhyme and structure of the poem reflects the relentless and overwhelming suffering of the people Repetition charter d mark every reinforces the idea that the suffering of the people is repetitive and inescapable. Cyclical narrative- quatrain 1 & 2 discusses the people that are suffering, quatrain 3 discusses the causes of the suffering and the final quatrain returns to focus on the people who are suffering. Iambic tetrameter- most of the poem is written in this rhythm, adding to the strict structure. The lines that are not in iambic tetrameter draw attention to the weakness of the people by being weak in their structure.

3 AO3: Context Blake was a Romantic poet and regarded as a radical thinker. He believed strongly in the idea of revolution. He viewed rebellion against oppression as morally right. This poem summarises his frustrations about his home city, which he viewed as corrupted by greed and inequality. Blake was a supporter of the French Revolution and believed that a similar revolution could happen in England. The cause was the massive inequality between classes. Blake respected religion and believed in God but disliked organised religion See also the industrial Revolution Glossary charter'd- grants rights of ownership and use woe- sadness manacles- metal bands joined by a chain, for fastening a person's hands or ankles hapless- unfortunate, unlucky Harlots- prostitutes blights- spoil, harm, or destroy hearse- a vehicle for conveying the coffin at a funeral

4 LONDON BY WILLIAM BLAKE I wander through each chartered street, Near where the chartered Thames does flow. And mark in every face I meet Marks of weakness, marks of woe. In every cry of every man, In every infants cry of fear, In every voice: in every ban, The mind-forged manacles I hear READ THE POEM Vocabulary check Chartered mapped out Woe sadness Ban a curse or to stop Manacles - handcuffs

5 How the chimney-sweeper s cry Every black ning church appals, And the hapless soldier s sigh Runs in blood down palace walls. But most through midnight streets I hear How the youthful harlot s curse Blasts the new-born infant s tear, And blights with plagues the marriage hearse.

6 First person personalises poem London Lacks direction, almost as if he s killing time I wander through each chartered street, Near where the chartered Thames does flow. Suggests that the whole city, even the Thames, is affected by problems. And mark in every face I meet Marks of weakness, marks of woe. Marked by experience, repetition emphasis the feeling of bleakness despair affects everyone, there s no relief.

7 In every cry of every man, Marked by experience, repetition emphasis the feeling of bleakness despair affects everyone, there s no relief. In every infants cry of fear, In every voice: in every ban, The mind-forged manacles I hear The noises he hears are distressing making this sound like an awful & upsetting experience. People are trapped in every way, even their thoughts & attitudes are stuck

8 How the chimney-sweeper s cry Chimney sweeps, usually young boys = emotive image of child labour Every black ning church appals, And the hapless soldier s sigh Runs in blood down palace walls. Black ning suggests that the church is corrupt or that it or it is failing to look after people. It s ugliness is linked to the dirt created by the Industrial Revolution. Reference to French Revolution ordinary people suffer whilst the rich are protected.

9 Contrast between the innocence of youth and the seediness of prostitution. But most through midnight streets I hear Powerful language associated with illness & disease. Blights with plagues hints at uncontrollable destruction that affects many. How the youthful harlot s curse Blasts the new-born infant s tear, And blights with plagues the marriage hearse. Prostitutes swearing or that they are curse on London. Oxymoron happy image linked to death, suggests there is no hope.

10 Technique Form Structure Language Senses Contrasts FORM, STRUCTURE & LANGUAGE Key information Dramatic monologue, ABAB rhyme is unbroken, mirroring the relentless misery. Could also copy the sound of his walking. Relentless images of deprivation. Stanza 1 & 2 focuses on ordinary people, Stanza 3 focuses on those that are responsible, Stanza 4 the impact on ordinary people Rhetorical language used to persuade, emotive language to reinforce the desperation, repetition to emphasise the vast amounts of people affected and how society needs to change. Sights & sounds of the city. The poem shows how everything is affected, innocence and purity has gone. That s all that is left is anger and hopelessness.

11 The mind-forged manacles I hear: How the youthful harlot s curse Blasts the new-born infant s tear, What does Blake mean by mind-forged manacles? What are the juxtaposing images here? Why are they significant? What is he trying to say about the people of London? Why does Blake focus on the senses? Can you consider an alternative interpretation? There is a use of first person throughout the poem why is this important? Why is the image of the Thames running through the city significant as a symbol of power & conflict? London, William Blake What is Blake suggesting about the church as an institution? What does the line runs in blood down palace walls refer to? Links to power/conflict? I wander through each chartered street, Near where the chartered Thames does flow, Every black ning church appalls, And the hapless soldier s sigh Runs in blood down palace walls.