Question 1: Identify two literary devices used in this excerpt and explain their effect.

Answer: Examples include imagery (visual and auditory) creating a stark depiction of London’s social issues, and alliteration ('charter'd street', 'charter'd Thames') emphasising restriction and control.

Question 2: What is the significance of the phrase 'mind-forg'd manacles'?

Answer: It suggests that mental restrictions, rather than physical barriers, imprison society.

Question 3: Describe the tone of the poem and how Blake's choice of words contributes to this tone.

Answer: The tone is bleak and critical, conveyed through words like 'appals', 'blights', 'sigh', and 'curse', which evoke despair and injustice.

Question 4: Analyse the use of structure in the poem. How does Blake's arrangement of lines affect the reading experience?

Answer: The irregular rhyme scheme and enjambment create a flowing, urgent rhythm that emphasizes the relentless suffering depicted.

Question 5: How does Blake use imagery to depict social injustice in London?

Answer: He employs vivid images such as 'black'ning church', 'blood down Palace walls', and 'curse' to illustrate corruption and exploitation.

Question 6: What is the overall message Blake is communicating about London in this poem?

Answer: He criticises the social inequalities, corruption, and moral decay of London, highlighting widespread suffering and oppression.

Question 7: Suggest how Blake's imagery might relate to the wider context of the Industrial Revolution.

Answer: Imagery such as 'black'ning church' and 'blood' reflects the moral and physical pollution associated with industrialisation and urbanisation, which led to social strife.

Question 8: Creative task: Write a short poem inspired by Blake's 'London', focusing on a social issue you feel passionate about.

Answer: See full answer key