2.1.1

Summary

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Summary of London

William Blake's London describes a narrator's experience of walking through London. The poem was published as part of a collection in 1794.

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Summary

  • The speaker describes his experience of walking through the streets of London.
  • He is struck by the poverty, disease and misery he sees and expresses anger that those in power do nothing to help.
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Blake's radical views

  • Blake’s views were radical at the time he was writing – he was critical of the rich’s lives of luxury compared to the suffering of the poor.
  • He was also against religion and saw the Church as corrupt.
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Blake's works

  • Blake wrote two famous groups of poems – “Songs of Innocence” and “Songs of Experience”.
    • “Innocence” poems explored ideas such as childhood and nature and were positive in their outlook.
    • “Experience” poems had a darker tone and focused on the corruption of society. This poem was published in the “Song of Experience” collection.
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Influence of the French Revolution

  • Blake saw the French Revolution of 1789 as the mark of a wonderful new beginning.
  • In response to events in France, the authorities in London limited freedom of expression to prevent a repeat in their country.
  • This is referred to in the poem through the links to the streets being “chartered” and the “mind-forged manacles”.

Key Concepts in London

The poem is very negative and lacks any sense of hope for the future.

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Being trapped

  • The inhabitants of London are trapped in their suffering. This idea is consistently reinforced by Blake using vocabulary relating to entrapment and imprisonment.
  • Blake suggests that the poor, in particular, cannot escape their circumstances.
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Church and monarchy

  • Blake is very critical of the Church and the monarchy. Even though these powerful institutions have a supposed duty to the people of London, they contribute to their oppression rather than relieving it.
  • Blake is also critical of these institutions for spending money on buildings and luxuries when there is so much suffering and poverty on their doorstep.
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Impact of industrialisation

  • The reference to chimney sweepers (often young children) reminds readers of the price people paid for urbanisation that resulted from the Industrial Revolution.
  • Children – who are meant to be carefree and innocent – are forced to take on responsibilities and endure hardship.

Jump to other topics

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2London - William Blake (1757-1827)

3Storm on the Island - Seamus Heaney (1939-2013)

4Exposure - Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)

5War Photographer - Carol Ann Duffy (born 1955)

6My Last Duchess - Robert Browning (1812-1889)

7The Prelude - William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

8Charge of the Light Brigade - Alfred Tennyson

9Bayonet Charge - Ted Hughes (1930-1998)

10Poppies - Jane Weir (Born 1963)

11Tissue - Imtiaz Dharker (Born 1954)

12The Emigree - Carol Rumens (Born 1944)

13Kamikaze - Beatrice Garland (Born 1938)

14Checking Out Me History - John Agard (Born 1949)

15Remains - Simon Armitage (Born 1963)

16Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

16.1Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

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