Question 1: What is the significance of the repeated phrase 'In every' at the beginning of lines 2 and 4?

Answer: It emphasizes the universality of suffering and corruption in London, suggesting that these issues are widespread and inescapable.

Question 2: Analyze the line 'Runs in blood down Palace walls.' What does this metaphor suggest about power and violence?

Answer: It suggests that violence and bloodshed are embedded in authority and monarchy, symbolized by the Palace, indicating corruption and brutality at the heart of power.

Question 3: Identify and explain the effect of the personification in 'The mind-forged manacles.'

Answer: It personifies mental constraints as 'manacles' (chains), illustrating how oppressive societal beliefs and fears imprison people psychologically.

Question 4: What does Blake imply about the social conditions of London through the line 'Every black'?

Answer: The line highlights the pervasive despair and corruption affecting all classes, with 'black' symbolizing gloom or moral darkness.

Question 1: Quote explosion: 'Chimney-sweepers' cry...'. What devices are used here, and what is their effect?

Answer: The use of auditory imagery ('cry') evokes a sense of suffering. The alliteration of 'Chimney-sweepers' emphasizes their plight, highlighting social injustice and innocence lost.

Question 2: Examine the metaphor 'Every black' and discuss its connotations.

Answer: The metaphor suggests moral darkness and despair pervades London, symbolizing corruption, suffering, and societal decay.

Question 3: Identify the use of irony in the phrase 'Runs in blood down Palace walls.'

Answer: The irony lies in the contrast between the majestic 'Palace' and the violent imagery of blood, indicating that bloodshed and violence are inherent in authority, contradicting the idea of a noble palace.

Question 4: Describe Blake's use of repetition and its impact in the poem.

Answer: Repetition of phrases like 'In every' emphasizes the pervasive nature of societal issues, creating a rhythmic and insistent tone that underscores the poem's message.

Question 1: Discuss how the theme of power is presented in the poem.

Answer: Power is depicted as corrupt and oppressive, with references to monarchy ('Palace') and societal control, illustrating how authority maintains inequality and suffering.

Question 2: How does Blake portray societal suffering in 'London'?

Answer: He portrays it as widespread, affecting all levels of society, through images of disease, despair, and mental imprisonment, emphasizing social injustice and human misery.

Question 3: Identify how Blake's context as a Romantic poet influences the themes of social critique in 'London'.

Answer: As a Romantic poet, Blake emphasizes individual emotion and social reform, criticizing industrialization and the corrupting influence of power, reflecting his concern for social justice.

Question 1: Outline key similarities and differences in how power is portrayed in 'London' and 'Ozymandias'.

Answer: Both poems explore the corrupting and transient nature of power. 'London' presents power as oppressive and destructive within society, while 'Ozymandias' depicts the hubris of a ruler whose empire has crumbled, emphasizing the inevitable decline of tyranny. Students should compare the poets' intentions and the effects on the reader.

Question 1: Using specific examples from the poem, analyze how Blake's choices in language and structure deepen the reader's understanding of societal suffering and oppression.

Answer: Students should discuss the use of repetition, vivid imagery, and metaphors, along with the poem's regular rhyme scheme and tone, to emphasize the pervasive despair and critique societal institutions. They should consider Blake's overall message and writer's purpose.