William Blake 'London'

William Blake

“London” was published in 1794. William Blake was an English poet and artist who held quite radical social and political views for the time he believed in social and racial equality and questioned Church teachings

You've got to know what the poem's about

The narrator is describing a walk around the city of London.
He says that everything he goes, the people he meets are affected by misery and despair.
This meet seems relentless. No one can escape it not - even the young and innocent.
People in power (like the Church, the monarchy and wealthy landowners) seem to be
behind the problems and do nothing to help the people in need.

Learn about the form, structure and language

Form - This is a dramatic monologue - the first-person narrator speaks passionately and personally about the suffering he sees. The ABAB rhyme scheme is unbroken and seems to echo the relentless misery of the city. The regular rhythm could reflect the sound of his feet as he trudges around.

Structure - The narrator presents relentless images of downtrodden, deprived people The first two stanzas focus on people he sees and hears, before the focus shifts in stanza three to the institutions he holds responsible. The final stanza returns to looking at people, showing how even newborn babies are affected.

Rhetoric - The narrator uses rhetorical language to persuade you to his point of view - he uses powerful, emotive…