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London by William Blake analysis (Grade 9)
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- WJEC EDUQAS
Indepth notes for the WJEC English Literature (9-1) specification.
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London by William Blake (P.06)Narrative In London, William Blake is describing as he walks through “each charter’d street” in London,
noting what he sees around in a strongly pessimistic light.
Contexts William Blake was born and lived in London. London was published as a part of the anthology in
1794 which was highly pessimistic alongside a contrasting highly optimistic anthology. Blake was
disillusioned with authority and industrialisation and was critical of the Church of England for not
doing enough.
Themes Restriction – Blake explores an Religion – Blake was religious Hardship – across the poem
inner constriction through outer but sought out criticisms in the Blake describes the struggle
imagery. church. of these Londonders.
Literary Anaphora – Blake uses anaphora to emphasise the scale of the “mind-forg’d manacles” that he
Devices hears, hearing it in every “man”, “infant’s cry of fear”, “voice” and “ban”. The manacles have
connotations of restriction and entrapment, a theme common to The Songs of Experience in particular
and a criticism of authority, a very central idea in London.
Symbolism using colour is achieved in describing Oxymoron – in the final line we see the semi-
the “blackening” of the church. As chimney oxymoronic “Marriage hearse” which has
sweeps were often in care of Christian orphanages, been plagued, corrupted – a hearse is an
Blake is holding them responsible for literally institution of death which attaches a silver
“blackening” these children. “Blackening” also lining to marriage, what is supposed to be a
symbolises loss of purity through this deplorable happy occasion. This creates a feeling of
action. unrelenting and omnipresent suffering across
all.
Key “Charter’d” is repeated to describe both each “Mark[s]” is also repeated, again creating this
Language street and the river Thames, which emphasises the feeling of demerit with revealing something is
poem’s central theme of constriction and the lack of amiss but not alluding to what it actually is.
freedom, with chartered being legally defined or Furthermore, it ties into the imagery of poverty
already mapped out – contributing to this feeling well as it could literally mean dirt on
that something is amiss. This is particularly everyone’s face, presented in a negative light
notewrothly when describing a river, often free as they are described as “marks of weakness”
flowing and natural and not at all confined. and “woe”.
“mind-forg’d manacles” is ambiguous and is “The hapless Soldier’s sigh” is juxtaposed by
possibly alluding to the woeful mood of the poem the symbolism of the solidity of “Palace
reflecting the lives of these Londoners is simply walls”, symbolising the structure of society –
result of their approach to life. This places some the government. This shows how ineffective
blame on these people for continuing to live their the soldier’s protests are, showing an
lives in this way, possibly calling for a revolution imbalance of power. “Blood” that is running
(William Blake fully supported the French down the walls symbolises the marking of the
revolution five years prior). palace walls with bloodshed that the soldier is
forced to carry out.
Form and Written for the most part in iambic pentameter A consistent and regular rhyming scheme
Meter across its equal-length four line stanzas. across the poem follows the pattern of ABAB
Structure Blake uses heavy vowel sounds in “woe”, “cry” The description of sound structures the latter
and “sigh” which reflects the interminable nature three stanzas, acting as “marks of woe” and
of their suffering. discontent in the city.
A sense of relativity is achieved with the comparative phrase “but most”, which comes across as the
punchline of the poem, in the last stanza.
Compare Living Space by Imtiaz Dharker The Prelude by William Wordsworth
s with…
Quotations to remember
I wander thro’ each charter’d street, Marks of weakness, marks of woe.
… charter’d Thames…
In every cry of every Man, The mind-forg’d manacles I hear
[Infant’s cry of fear, voice, ban]
Every black’ning Church appals But most…
And the hapless Soldier’s sigh …
Runs in blood down Palace walls. … plagues the marriage hearse
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