Question 1: Briefly explain the historical and social context in which William Blake wrote 'London'. How does this context influence the themes of the poem?

Answer: Blake wrote during the late 18th century, a time of industrial revolution and social upheaval, which influenced his critique of urban suffering, inequality, and the loss of innocence.

Question 2: Identify two key themes in 'London' and briefly explain their significance.

Answer: Themes include social inequality and oppression, highlighting the suffering of the city’s inhabitants, and loss of innocence, reflecting Blake’s critique of societal corruption.

Question 1: Read the opening lines: 'I wander thro' each charter'd street, / Near where the charter'd Thames does flow.' How does Blake’s use of 'charter'd' contribute to the poem’s message about control and restriction?

Answer: 'Charter'd' suggests that even natural elements like the Thames are subject to human control, emphasizing themes of societal restriction and loss of natural freedom.

Question 2: Explain the significance of the line: 'Runs in blood down Palace walls.' What does this imagery reveal about power and violence?

Answer: The imagery of blood on palace walls symbolizes the violence and suffering caused by oppressive rulers, linking authority with brutality and human cost.

Question 1: Quote: 'Every blackening church appalls.' Analyze the metaphor and discuss its effect on the reader.

Answer: The metaphor 'blackening church' suggests corruption and moral decay within religious institutions, evoking a sense of societal decline and criticizing hypocrisy.

Question 2: Identify and explain the effect of the personification in: 'The mind-forged manacles I hear.'

Answer: Personification of 'mind-forged manacles' suggests self-imposed mental restrictions, emphasizing how societal oppression is internalized, limiting individual freedom.

Question 1: Discuss how the theme of power is presented in 'London' and compare this with its presentation in 'Ozymandias'.

Answer: In 'London', Blake depicts power as oppressive and corrupt, leading to societal suffering. Conversely, 'Ozymandias' presents power as fleeting and hubristic, emphasizing the impermanence of human achievements. Both explore the corrupting influence and ultimate decline of power.

Question 2: Examine how the theme of societal conflict is conveyed through imagery and diction in 'London'.

Answer: Blake uses stark imagery like 'blights' and 'marks' to depict societal wounds, and diction such as 'cry' and 'curse' to evoke suffering and unrest, illustrating widespread conflict.

Question 1: Outline key similarities and differences in how Blake and the other poet portray power and oppression.

Answer: Both poets depict power as destructive—Blake through societal suffering and the other through hubris or decay. Differences lie in Blake’s focus on societal critique versus the personal or political critique in the other poem.

Question 1: Draft an analytical paragraph or outline highlighting Blake’s use of structure, language, and imagery to present his critique.

Answer: Blake's structured quatrains create a rhythmic and condemning tone, with stark imagery such as 'charter'd streets' and 'blood' that evoke societal suffering. His use of metaphors like 'mind-forged manacles' reveals internalized oppression, collectively emphasizing societal decay and the need for social change.