Analysis of Blake's London Poem

Sep 18, 2024

Lecture Notes: Power and Conflict Anthology - London by William Blake

Introduction

  • Lecturer's request for students to behave appropriately during the session.
  • Clarification of the subject - Power and Conflict Anthology cluster.
  • Focus of the lecture: Poem "London" by William Blake.
  • Reminder: Previous poem studied was "Ozymandias."

Overview of "London"

  • Title Significance: "London" suggests a focus on the capital city, symbolizing the entire country (England).
  • First Impressions: Negative portrayal of London—bleak, depressing, associated with poverty and doom.

Poem Analysis

First and Last Line

  • First Line: "I wander through each chartered street"

    • Wandering suggests being lost or open, exploring.
    • "Chartered" implies ownership by the powerful (nobility/government).
  • Last Line: "Blights with plague the marriage hearse"

    • Imagery of disease (blights, plagues) and death (hearse).
    • Oxymoron: "marriage hearse" implies the doomed nature of societal institutions.

Imagery

  • Key Imagery: Third stanza
    • "Blackening church appalls" and "blood down palace walls."
    • Criticism of corrupted authority (church and monarchy).
    • Religion and monarchy not helping the poor or fulfilling their roles.

Repetition

  • Repetition of "Every": Highlights the universality of suffering among the powerless.
  • Repetition of "Chartered": Emphasizes ownership and control by the powerful.

Context

  • William Blake: Romantic poet critical of the Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution.
  • Industrial Revolution: Widened the gap between rich and poor, increased pollution and exploitation.
  • Songs of Innocence and Experience: "London" is part of the "Experience" section, reflecting a more cynical worldview.

Themes and Comparisons

  • Themes: Inequality, power, oppression, and societal corruption.
  • Comparison with "Ozymandias":
    • Power and Tyranny: Both poems explore the misuse of power.
    • Inequality: Highlight the divide between the rich and the poor.
    • Ongoing vs. Faded Power: "London" depicts current corruption, "Ozymandias" shows the downfall of tyrants.
    • Temporal Contexts: "Ozymandias" is past, "London" is present, reflecting ongoing societal issues.

Examination Tips

  • Comparison question structure: Compare a named poem with another from memory.
  • Focus on evidence-based comparisons and thematic links.
  • No set rule for similarities vs. differences; both are valid.

Conclusion

  • The poem "London" serves as a critique of societal power dynamics and industrialization.
  • Future lessons to cover additional poems and comparative essay writing.

Upcoming Lessons: More on essay comparisons and examination preparation.

  • Reminder: Keep questions and continue engagement in future sessions.