London

Poetry | William Blake

London Poem

London By William Blake I wander thro' each charter'd street, Near where the charter'd Thames does flow. And mark in every face I meet Marks of weakness, marks of woe. In every cry of every Man, In every Infants cry of fear, In every voice: in every ban, The mind-forg'd manacles I hear How the Chimney-sweepers cry Every blackning Church appalls, And the hapless Soldiers sigh Runs in blood down Pal...
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London Literary Device

Symbols Thames River: Symbolizes the controlled and restricted nature of London. Black'ning Church: Represents the corruption of the Church of England.  Chimney Sweeper: Symbolizes the plight of child laborers and lost innocence. Harlot: Represents the suffering and degradation of young women in poverty. Palace: Critique of the monarchy and aristocracy as responsible for societal suffering. Cry of...
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London Summary

The poet walks through the streets of London. He sees that every street and even the River Thames is controlled by people in power. He notices sadness and pain on everyone’s face in this city. He hears the cry of every man and every child. He feels that people are trapped. People are trapped by the rules made by society and “mind-forg’d manacles” or chains made by the mind. The speaker then hears...
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London key Facts

Title: London Author: William Blake (1757-1827) Tile of Author: Precursor of Romanticism Year Published: 1794 Collection Name: "Songs of Experience" Genre: Poetry Tone: Melancholic and sorrowful Point of View: First person Stanza and Lines Number: The poem consists of four stanzas, each containing four lines. Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme varies throughout the poem, but generally follows an ABAB...
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London Themes

The Suffering of City Life: This poem shows how life in the big city of London is full of pain and sadness. The poet walks through the streets and sees that everything—even the river—is controlled by people in power. He sees that people are not free or happy. They suffer because of the rules and ideas made by society. Children work in danger, soldiers die for the rich, and women become prostitutes...
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London Quotes

And mark in every face I meet Marks of weakness, marks of woe. Explanation: The poet sees people’s faces as he walks through the streets of London. Every face looks tired, sad, and full of pain. People are unhappy and weak. In every cry of every Man, In every Infants cry of fear, In every voice: in every ban, The mind-forg'd manacles I hear Explanation: The poet hears people crying everywhere...
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Notes

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