What is the summary of the poem London?
The poem describes a walk through London, which is presented as a pained, oppressive, and impoverished city in which all the speaker can find is misery. It places particular emphasis on the sounds of London, with cries coming from men, women, and children throughout the poem.
What is the central idea of William Blake’s poem London?
The overall theme of “London” is that the city is a dark and miserable place. Words like “hapless,” “weakness,” “woe” and “manacles” contribute to that sense of gloom. Even descriptions like “Every blackning Church” and “thro’ midnight streets” quite clearly depict a darkness.
What does woe mean in London poem?
“Marks of weakness, marks of woe” refers to the general misery the speaker sees on the faces of the Londoners he sees around him.
What is William Blake’s poetry mainly about?
A spiritual writer throughout his life, Blake wanted to expose religious corruption and refocus modern worship on its pure origins. Like much of his religious work, this poem contains subtle sexual imagery and violence, themes Blake explored on a larger scale with the “Prophetic books.”
What is the structure of the poem London by William Blake?
Structure and Form ‘London’ by William Blake is a four stanza poem that is separated into sets of four lines, known as quatrains. These quatrains follow a rhyme scheme of ABAB throughout. The first stanza explores the sights around the city of London while the following three focus more on the sounds the speaker can hear.
London Summary & Analysis. “London” is among the best known writings by visionary English poet William Blake. The poem describes a walk through London, which is presented as a pained, oppressive, and impoverished city in which all the speaker can find is misery.
How did William Blake come up with the title London?
The illustration, that accompanies this song originally, represents a crippled beggar (or, perhaps, a lame prophet), led by a child. Through this child’s song, Blake laments here over human cruelty, infirmity and impiety. The title ‘London’ apparently has no link with the poem.
What does Blake say in line 9 of London?
Perhaps the most poignant reference to childhood corruption is in line 9, when the speaker discusses the chimney-sweepers. Chimney-sweeping was a brutal but very common profession in London in Blake’s day, and it was work that children were frequently sold or forced into.
