Question 1: Briefly describe the historical context of William Blake's 'London' and its relevance to the themes explored in the poem.

Answer: William Blake wrote 'London' in 1794 during the Industrial Revolution, highlighting social issues, oppression, and the loss of innocence in urban life.

Question 2: What is the main theme of 'London', and how does Blake convey this theme through his tone and imagery?

Answer: The main theme is social injustice and human suffering; Blake conveys this through a tone of despair and imagery of misery, such as 'marks of weakness, marks of woe'.

Question 1: Interpret the significance of the line 'In every cry of every man,' and discuss its impact on the reader.

Answer: It emphasizes the universality of suffering, creating a sense of collective despair that engages the reader emotionally.

Question 2: How does Blake use repetition in the poem, and what effect does it have on the overall message?

Answer: Repetition of 'charter'd' and 'every' emphasizes the pervasiveness of restriction and suffering, reinforcing the poem's critique of societal control.

Question 1: Quote: 'Black'ning Church' – identify the device and discuss its connotations and purpose.

Answer: This is a metaphor implying corruption and moral decay within the Church, suggesting religious hypocrisy and failing societal institutions.

Question 2: Quote: 'The mind-forged manacles' – analyze the metaphor and its significance.

Answer: This metaphor suggests mental constraints and societal indoctrination that imprison individuals, highlighting psychological oppression.

Question 1: Describe how the theme of power is depicted in 'London' and provide examples from the poem.

Answer: Power is depicted as oppressive and corrupt, shown through imagery of institutions like the church and monarchy, such as 'black'ning church' and 'charter'd streets'.

Question 2: How does Blake portray human suffering in the poem, and what might be his purpose in doing so?

Answer: Blake portrays suffering as widespread and systemic, aiming to evoke awareness and provoke social change.

Question 1: Identify two similarities and two differences in how power is portrayed in 'London' and your chosen poem.

Answer: Similarities include the destructive effects of power and its association with loss and decay; differences include Blake's focus on societal oppression versus Ozymandias' depiction of imperial arrogance.

Question 1: Draft an outline for a paragraph comparing the poets' perspectives on power, including topic sentence, evidence, and analysis.

Answer: Topic sentence: Both Blake and [poet] critique the corrupting influence of power, but they approach it differently. Blake highlights societal oppression through imagery of decay, e.g., 'black'ning church', whereas [poet] emphasizes the arrogance of rulers, as seen in '[quote]'. This contrast underscores [analysis].