2.1.4

Key Quotes & Comparisons

Test yourself

Key Quotations in London

Here are key quotations to remember for your exam:

Illustrative background for “Chartered street…chartered Thames…”Illustrative background for “Chartered street…chartered Thames…” ?? "content

“Chartered street…chartered Thames…”

  • Trapped imagery.
  • Something that is chartered is listed and regulated.
  • Repetition of “chartered” highlights the extent of government authority: they even have control over rivers, which are usually associated with nature and freedom.
Illustrative background for “Marks of weakness, marks of woe”Illustrative background for “Marks of weakness, marks of woe” ?? "content

“Marks of weakness, marks of woe”

  • Emotive language.
  • The emotive language expresses not only the extent of the suffering but also Blake’s anger at the institutions that fail to help.
Illustrative background for “In every cry of every Man / In every Infant’s cry of fear…”Illustrative background for “In every cry of every Man / In every Infant’s cry of fear…” ?? "content

“In every cry of every Man / In every Infant’s cry of fear…”

  • Emotive language.
    • The emotive language expresses not only the extent of the suffering but also Blake’s anger at the institutions that fail to help.
  • Repetition of “every” throughout heightens the sense that the problem is widespread.
Illustrative background for “Every black’ning church appalls”Illustrative background for “Every black’ning church appalls” ?? "content

“Every black’ning church appalls”

  • Colour imagery.
  • “Black’ning church” is associated with ideas of corruption and even death.
Illustrative background for “Runs in blood down palace walls”Illustrative background for “Runs in blood down palace walls” ?? "content

“Runs in blood down palace walls”

  • Metaphor.
  • This metaphor emphasises that the monarchy is guilty of living in luxury while doing nothing to help the struggles of the city.

Key Comparisons: London

Here are some themes that come up in London and other texts:

Illustrative background for Human power and the misuse of powerIllustrative background for Human power and the misuse of power ?? "content

Human power and the misuse of power

  • You may want to compare the theme of human power and the misuse of power in London to the following texts:
    • My Last Duchess.
    • Ozymandias.
Illustrative background for Unpleasant and/or powerful experiencesIllustrative background for Unpleasant and/or powerful experiences ?? "content

Unpleasant and/or powerful experiences

  • You may want to compare the theme of unpleasant and/or powerful experiences in London to the following texts:
    • The Prelude.
    • Exposure.
    • Bayonet Charge.
    • Remains.

Jump to other topics

1Ozymandias - Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)

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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