London - William Blake

CONTEXT 
Published in 1794 
Blake was an English romantic poet and artist who held quite radical social and political views. 
Believed in social and racial equality
Questioned the churches teachings

STORY OF THE POEM
The narrator is describing a walk around the city of London
Everywhere he goes, the people he meets are affected by misery and despair
The misery seems relentless - no one can escape, even the young and innocent
People in power (e.g. The Church, The Monarchy or wealthy landowners) seem to be behind the v problems, doing nothing to help the people in need

KEY THEMES IN THE POEM
Power of Humans
Loss and Absence
Anger/Hopelessness
Individual experience 

FORM
A dramatic monologue - 1st person speaker, he speaks personally and passionately
A strict ABAB rhyme scheme is unbroken through the whole poem - echoes the relentless misery   of the city and that no one wants to break out of this routine (repressed society) /also could reflect   the sound of his feet walking

STRUCTURE
Stanza 1&2 - focuses on the people he sees and hears
Stanza 3 - shifts to focus on the institutions he holds responsible for this misery 
Stanza 4 - shifts…