Birling

structure

• The em is made up of 4 stanzas (4 quatrains)
• controlled structure- reflects the restricted London 
• the alternate rhyme scheme
• Reflects the "chartered streets"
• sibilance
• synaesthesia 

Context 

• William Blake was a Romantic poet who lived and worked in London. He wrote ‘London’ in 1792.
• 18th century
• lost faith in religion
• Criticised city life

"Charter'd street"

• The repetition of "charter'd" - emphasises Blake's attitude towards the rich and poor in terms of housing
• “charter’d” means that public land had been sold to the wealthy depriving the poor of land and housing.  
• a clear distinction between wealthy and poor
• the poor are restricted to what they have

"charter'd Thames"

• A river is supposed to run and flow freely
• A river is often used to symbolise freedom and power, but here it is has been sold and its freedom denied.
• represents all of London
• it is restricted
• repetition

"Marks of weariness, marks of woe"

• In every face, he sees there are signs of sorrow and poverty
  
• The repetition of the word "marks" emphasises signs of
• vulnerability and weariness
• the physical marks may represent poverty and diseases 
  

" infants cry of fear"

Tone of fear and despair

"every" emphasises the lack of contrast and difference

hear the sadness in every voice 

the burdens put upon the poor 

 "Mind forg'd manacles"

Dark imagery of manacles and chains shows how he sees people imprisoned in their own minds

they are restrained

Metaphorical- society imprisons people depending on their status, wealth e.c.t

thoughts, ideals of society are under scrutiny

The poor cannot escape poverty "manacles"

" Blackening church appals"

The adjective "Black'ning could relate to the tarnished and corrupt image of the church 

it is no longer symbolically white and innocent 

turns a blind eye to the plight of the children- corrupt

Religious imagery- "every" how he has lost faith in religion

"Youthful harlots curse"

listens to the sounds of the streets in the evening he hears the "youthful harlot's curse" 

suggesting the youth is exploited by the city- perhaps cursing the baby

"youthful" direct criticism of the conditions for young working class women

"Plagues the Marriage hearse"

"blights"- destroys

Blake scrutinises criticises the harlot and how she has deranged the marriage 

views on marriage overall

"marriage hearse" oxymoron marriage start of new life

capital "M" marriage is juxtaposed with "hearse"